Birmingham City Hall Photograph Exhibition Celebrates Magic City Classic’s Legacy

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Two universities. One city. Generations of pride.

The City of Birmingham is celebrating one of its most enduring traditions with a new photo exhibition highlighting the history, culture and legacy of the Magic City Classic, the annual football rivalry between Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University.

A Classic Tradition: The History, Culture & Legacy of the Magic City Classic was unveiled Thursday, Oct. 22, on the second floor of Birmingham City Hall. The free exhibition features archival photographs and historical images spanning the 1950s to the present and will remain on display through the end of the year.

Presented in partnership with Alabama A&M, Alabama State and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the exhibition captures the traditions that have made the Classic a cultural institution in Birmingham, extending beyond the football field to marching bands, tailgating, the fifth quarter and generations of alumni and fans.

“The Magic City Classic is bigger than football. It’s a tradition rooted in HBCU excellence, fierce school pride and a shared love for Birmingham that spans generations,” said Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “This exhibition honors the people, the moments and the memories that have made the Classic a cornerstone of our city’s culture and a tradition worth celebrating for generations to come.”

Woodfin said the exhibition reflects the city’s responsibility to preserve and share its history, particularly as Birmingham prepares for the 2026 Classic on Saturday, Oct. 31.

“Part of City Hall’s responsibility is the narrative,” Woodfin said. “And reminding people that beyond the gridiron of next Saturday, this year’s Classic … you have an actual story to tell. You have history, you have this lineage of what this Classic means to so many people.”

The exhibition brings that history into focus through photographs documenting the rivalry and the people who have helped shape it. For Marcus Watts, a team member who helped organize the display along with Bre Rudolph, the images also offer a personal connection to the generations who came before.

Although he did not attend either university, Watts said growing up in Birmingham meant growing up around the Classic and its traditions.

“When I look at this stuff, I think about my grandparents,” he said, reflecting on the generations represented in the photographs and the history captured on the walls.

The exhibition also highlights the broader significance of the two historically Black institutions and their contributions to education, culture and community life.

Travis Brooks, president of the Metro alumni chapter representing Alabama A&M, emphasized that the rivalry’s competitive spirit exists alongside a shared commitment to educational opportunity.

“All jokes aside, we’re two institutions trying to further education of our kids in the city and around the area,” Brooks said.

Brooks also pointed to the Classic’s economic impact on Birmingham, noting the significance of hosting an event that draws alumni, students, and fans into the city each year.

Representatives from Alabama State and the SWAC echoed that the exhibition represents more than a football game. The Classic brings families, students, and alumni together, creating an annual gathering that passes school traditions and community connections from one generation to the next.

The friendly competition was clear during the unveiling, as representatives from both universities exchanged playful remarks about the upcoming game and halftime performances. Beneath the jokes, however, was a shared appreciation for the institutions and the tradition they have built together.

For Birmingham, the Magic City Classic is still both a celebration of HBCU excellence and a defining part of the city’s cultural identity.

Through A Classic Tradition, visitors can explore the moments, memories and traditions that have sustained the rivalry for decades and understand why its significance extends far beyond the final score.

The exhibition is free and open to the public on the second floor of Birmingham City Hall through Dec. 31.