2012 Cleveland Classic! | Events

CLEVELAND, OH - The Winston-Salem State Rams and the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers will roll into Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday at noon for the second annual Cleveland Classic presented by McDonald’s. More than just a football game, the Cleveland Classic is a celebration of historically black colleges and universities and education that will also include the KeyBank Marching Band Halftime Show.  

Tickets to the 2012 Cleveland Classic start at just $15 and are on sale now at www.clevelandclassicfootball.com. Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets for $10 each.

Action gets underway on the field at noon on Saturday, when national radio host Tom Joyner joins the captains of both teams for the ceremonial coin toss and recording group Dru Hill sings the national anthem. 

“The 2012 Cleveland Classic is set to be an outstanding event that highlights HBCUs and promotes the importance of a strong education to the youth of our city,” said David Gilbert, CEO and President, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. We could not be more excited to welcome two great institutions to Cleveland for the 2012 Classic. This weekend’s event will be a positive, uplifting experience, while adding significant economic impact to our community.” 

The KeyBank Marching Band Halftime show will highlight the marching bands from both institutions, Morehouse College’s House of Funk and Winston-Salem State University’s Red Sea of Sound.  The show will be opened by The Mighty Shaw High School Marching Band, a local band from East Cleveland, who will perform with local hip-hop artist Ray Jr.

Saturday’s game and halftime show end a dynamic weekend of Cleveland Classic events, most of which are free with the purchase of a Cleveland Classic game ticket. Saturday’s game day experience begins at 10:00 a.m. with Tailgate Party presented by University Hospitals and the College and Career Experience presented by Verizon. The United States Marine Corps presents the Cleveland Classic Greek Step Show at Quicken Loans Arena ends a Friday filled with events that include the College Readiness Fair presented by McDonald’s and College Now, an Education Symposium, and PNC Praisefest 6 presented in partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For more information and a full listing of event details, please visit http://www.clevelandclassicfootball.com/. 

Cleveland Classic Weekend Schedule

*Unless noted, admission for all events is free with purchase of a Cleveland Classic game ticket.

Tickets start at just $15 and are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.clevelandclassicfootball.com. 

Friday, Sept. 14

College Readiness Fair presented by College Now and McDonald's

Cleveland Browns Stadium | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

*Event Closed to the Public

Symposium to Advance Educational Excellence

Great Lakes Science Center | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

*RSVP by Sept. 7 to Tiearra Hayes of The President’s Council to attend

PNC PraiseFest 6 presented in partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers

Quicken Loans Arena | 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

The United States Marine Corps presents the Cleveland Classic Greek Step Show

Quicken Loans Arena | 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 15

Tailgate Party presented by University Hospitals

Cleveland Browns Stadium | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

College and Career Experience presented by Verizon

Cleveland Browns Stadium Concourse | 10:00 a.m. - Noon

Cleveland Classic Football Game presented by McDonald's

Cleveland Browns Stadium | Noon Kickoff

KeyBank Marching Band Halftime Show

Cleveland Browns Stadium | Halftime

About the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission

The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission prides itself on being one of the most distinguished Sports Commissions in the country, effectively leveraging sports events and activities to further economic development in Northeast Ohio. The philosophy of the Sports Commission sets it apart from others by operating as an economic and community development organization utilizing sports as a vehicle to forward other community agendas. The organization takes the unique approach of becoming a management and financial partner in each event with the goal of producing events that are more successful in Cleveland than other cities in which they have been held. Since 2000, the Sports Commission has been responsible for attracting over 125 sporting events, contributing to more than $385 million in economic activity. For more information, visit www.clevelandsports.org.