BCR 2010 – A ghost town

Daytona Beach is a ghost town. No BCR signage and the hotels are empty. The once grand event that was BCR has rode off into the sunset. It’s a shame that Black College Reunion has dwindled to nothing, due to the of lack of support by the City of Daytona. From the complaints of noise from local residents to the occasional violence BCR has always had strong opposition. True, there have been isolated incidents of trouble at these events, but when you have 200 to 300,000 people in one area there are bound to be some bad apples. Instead of focusing on the majority of the crowd – The media, the city government and the residents used the negative factors to fuel their hatred for this event. Instead of living with blinders on, true leaders would be looking at the big picture. In a time where city governments around the country are laying off employees and cutting back on services, the top brass should be trying to exercise all avenues for revenue. This is short sighted planning. Everything that is here today is not guaranteed tomorrow. Depending on the NASCAR season to fuel Daytona’s budget for the year is reckless. To expect tourist to spend their vacations in an area with older hotels that have not been remodeled or update in years in silly. To bank on visitors coming to a beach that has increased their entry fees while reducing the lifeguard staff is laughable.

A major reason older businesses fail is from operating with a “Business as usual” attitude. Philosophies that worked 50 years ago will most likely be outdated. In the information age, ideas and processes die even faster. That being said, the City of Daytona needs to rethink, retool and reinvent itself. It IS possible to satisfy the residents and bring in millions in revenue at the same time.

Who suffers from demise of BCR? The businesses.

Daytona Beach is an aging city, from the residents to the hotels on the strip. What incentives are available to business owners to renovate? Why pour millions into repairs or renovations for rooms that are at 20 percent occupancy year round? Where is the money going to come from to pay the city’s employees? Property tax? Hotel tax? Sales tax? All of these revenue streams are drying up with foreclosures and the reduction of tourist dollars to the area.

This snowballing effect is based on old school thinking and older residents who will not be living there much longer.

…The ghost of BCR is watching and waiting to be revived.

How to get BET Spring Bling 2010 tickets

Short and sweet…

To request tickets visit: http://106andpark.com/springblingcasting

Good Luck Fam!

Freaknik Atlanta 2010??

There has been some SERIOUS buzz going around about Freaknik 2010 in Atlanta. Although the promoters of this event have created a huge following, the facts do no support what they are saying. The promoter’s website promote this event as if it was cleared by the City of Atlanta. As of today, they have not been issued any permits by the city. The mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed has gone on the record saying:

“It’s not my intention for the city to be supportive of it,” Reed said.

When asked about a PG version:

“No. And ‘no G’ version.” Reed answered. “I think we have too many challenges in the public safety space to deploy those kind of resources around a program or an event that is not well run or well managed.”

There you have it. Athough the idea of bringing back such an iconic event back to life is fantastic, it will not become a reality without going through the proper channels. If you are interested in finding out more about this event check out the promoter’s website.

Memorial Day Miami 2010

Memorial Day Miami 2010 a/k/a/ Urban Week Week 2010 will take place May 27 – May 31, 2010, on the sunny beaches of South Beach ( Miami Beach, FL ). Last year saw a slight reduction in the crowd size, but it was the largest black event of 2009.

Where should I stay for Memorial Day Miami 2010?

The area where all the haps happen is: Lincoln Road to 5th Street (North to South) and from Ocean Drive to Washington Avenue (East to West). There are some historic Art Deco themed hotels on Ocean Drive, these hotels will have you in the middle of the action the entire weekend. They fill up quickly, but don’t worry – Any hotel in Downtown Miami or on Collins Avenue up to 41st Street will have you close enough.

Details of artists, club specials and more coming soon.

Search For A Hotel In Miami

Become a fan of Black College Reunion on FACEBOOK to get updates on Memorial Day Miami 2010 as they become available.

Official dates of Black College Reunion 2010

The official dates are March 19 – 21, 2010. Verified with the City of Daytona, which is a welcomed change. Last year (2009) BCR wasn’t even on Daytona Beach’s event calendar.

BET’s Spring Bling 2010 Information

Official Update:

BET’s 2010 Spring Bling concert will be held on Singer Island, which is part of Riviera Beach, FL. The dates: April 9 – 11, 2010.

To request tickets visit: http://106andpark.com/springblingcasting

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CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR HOTEL NOW!

The Sprite Stepoff

Fraternity and sorority step teams from across the country are competing for a piece of our $1.5 million prize pool, and a place in history. Find your favorite teams, and see who’s battling it out for a national championship title!

For tickets visit: http://spritestepoff.cadence-inc.com/showevents.aspx

Winter Ski Fest – Gatlinburg, TN

The 4th Annual Winter Ski Fest takes place January 15-18, 2010.

• Friday Pajama Party
an excuse to break out the sexy nighties!

• Saturday Sexy Pool Party
no one is shy at this party

• Sunday’s Winter White Final Party
the wildest party all weekend

• Comedy Show
featuring 3 comedians featured on P. Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy

• Party Buses leaving from ATL and NC

• 3 HAPPY HOURS with Open Bar

• Prices Starting at $280
including 4 Days & 3 night accommodations

• GROUP SKI DAY with discounted ski packages including lessons, snowboarding, and ice skating

For more information visit: Winter Ski Fest

Rumor: BET Spring Bling back to Daytona?

The BCR crew are back in the building ready to bring you the hot news for 2010’s spring break season! Last year saw crowd reductions at all major events… This year the crowd totals should start to bounce back. On that note: I got an email asking if its true that BET will be bringing their Spring Bling concert back to Daytona. The short answer: I don’t know. The long answer: Sadly, the internet makes it really easy for people to fabricate stories without consequence. I believe shady promoters do this to make a quick dollar, but hey… I can’t say for sure. I do have a contact at BET and I will correspond with her tomorrow and see what she says. For the last couple of years BET has held it’s Spring Bling concert in Riviera Beach, FL. Based on crowd size and accommodations in the area I would not be surprised if they chose a more ‘commercial’ or ‘happening’ spot. Daytona has history no doubt, but the final say so on this issue is in the hands of BET.

Stay tuned, I will update you as soon as I hear something.

Negril Dream Weekend – Negril, Jamaica

Red Stripe’s Dream Weekend will take place August 6-9, 2009 in Negril, Jamaica. This event is also know as Jamaica Indepence Weekend.

This year the event’s organizers have chosen to combine A.T.I. (Appleton Temptation Island) and R.T.I. (Red Stripe Temptation Island) into one massive event.  This way visitors will not have to chose which concerts or events to attend.

Super parties:

Xtreme Wet N’ Wild
Twisted Spiritz Beer
Vibes Daydreams
Absinthe Yush
Margarita Dayz + Jungle Nites

Tickets for all the events will cost: $150

Traveling info:

• You will need a passport to travel to Jamaica from the U.S.
• Book your hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica
• Map of Jamaica – Negril is on the left corner of the island.
• If not familiar with Jamaica, take a shuttle to the hotel.
• Negril is a 75 mile ride from the airport.

Reserve your air + hotel to Montego Bay, Jamaica here.

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