SWAC Moves Fall Sports To Spring, Postpones Magic City Classic

BIRMINGHAM, AL — One of Birmingham's longest — and most profitable — sporting events will not happen this fall, as the Southwestern Athletic Conference voted to postpone fall sports in 2020, which includes the annual Magic City Classic in Birmingham between Alabama A&M and Alabama State.

The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors approved the move Monday, postponing all fall sports to the spring amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. The fall sports impacted include men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball. The conference has started the process of formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for the fall sports during the 2021 spring semester.

Fall sports teams and student-athletes will have the opportunity to attend classes and practices in preparation for a spring 2021 competitive schedule upon return to campus, according to a statement by the conference. Student-athletes will have the ability to participate in conditioning, strength training and practices in all sports provided all required local, state, and federal health and safety guidelines are met. No final decisions have been made regarding competitive schedules for the league’s winter sports.

"The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors felt this action was necessary out of growing concern for the health, safety and well-being both mentally and physically of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, team staff, campus faculty, fans and supporters," the statement said. "The continued increase of COVID-19 cases across many portions of the league’s geographic footprint and Southern regions of the country played a significant role in the council’s decision, along with data that suggests African-American communities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."

According to the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Magic City Classic brings in 50,000 attendees and an economic impact of $22.7 million to the city.

The move also affects Auburn's football schedule, as the Tigers were scheduled to play SWAC member Alcorn State September 5.

Several athletic conferences in the country have either canceled fall sports or altered their fall sports schedules over the last few weeks amid uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.