McDonald’s of North Texas Sees Great Results from 20-Year-Plus Sponsorship of the HBCU State Fair Football Classic

 

Established in 1925, the State Fair Classic between Prairie View A&M and Grambling State University is more than just a football game. It’s a space for the Black community to connect and support historically Black colleges and universities.

McDonald’s Owners of North Texas have been a sponsor of this event for more than 20 years.

Each year, more than 50,000 people file into the Cotton Bowl to see Prairie View A&M, a Houston-area HBCU, beat Grambling State, a Louisiana HBCU in the State Fair Classic.

Let the Fun Begin

  • Radio Announcements + Giveaways so fans are prepared for the fun to come

  • Press Release + Pitches to ensure media awareness and attendance

  • Experiential + In Real Life (IRL) opportunities for students, alumni, family and friends. Includes a fair booth, a McDonald’s VIP section with gift bags, halftime donations to each HBCU, and branding

  • McDonald’s VIP: The first 50 attendees have an opportunity to claim their seats, and when great prizes at the end of each quarter and the final prize is given at half time. Prizes include McDonald’s branded items like socks, hats, pens, T-shirts and one person in the VIP area is eligible to win a McDonald’s iPad

The Excitement

“Are you ready for the baddest band in the land?” The crowd erupted. Through the cheers, Prairie View’s band took the field.

Drums pounded. Horns blared. College students arranged and rearranged themselves in different shapes: circles and semi-circles; rows, columns, and half squares. Once the sun set during Grambling’s performance, the entire lower bowl turned on their phones’ flashlights and waved side to side in harmony. 

There’s no ignoring the State Fair’s history when two Black football teams take the field.

Why the State Fair Classics?

It’s important to authentically meet the consumer where they are and not where you think they should be. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has very limited HBCU events, but has one of the largest HBCU alumni population. This event allows us to reach the local Black consumer market and through social media and broadcast television (ESPN, BET Sports) we’re able to showcase the McDonald’s sponsorship nationally.