Host of Factors Deflates BCRBlack College Reunion entered the world in 1984 as a gathering of African American students mainly from Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M universities. Crowds grew bigger over the years. An estimated 75,000 came in 1992 and 125,000 in 1995.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to remember Black College Reunion. Respect the corpse, please, because this bad boy is officially DOA.
Traffic gridlock snarling Atlantic Avenue and vehicles clogged routes to the beachside. Beachside residents relentless complaints of rowdiness. Visitors deriding the poor treatment from businesses -- some of which closed during the event -- and a tense, intimidating police presence. Want more reasons why the place to be is now just a memory?
Tensions resulting from the BTR hit a peak in 1998 when a gun-wielding Orlando man was shot dead and four law enforcement officers were wounded as they attempted to arrest him.
With the party now only a shadow of its former boisterous self, we asked who -- or what -- is killing BCR. As Bethune-Cookman University senior Keon Williams said of BCR, "It just doesn't attract me."
After Black Entertainment Television moved its show to South Florida in 2006, attendance has dipped and fell below 10,000 in 2007. This weekend's gathering was small again.
So, if the annual event's downward slide can be attributed to a fickle fan base, many wonder if there weren't some contributing factors. We take a look at a few of those most commonly cited.
The story continues...
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to remember Black College Reunion. Respect the corpse, please, because this bad boy is officially DOA.
Traffic gridlock snarling Atlantic Avenue and vehicles clogged routes to the beachside. Beachside residents relentless complaints of rowdiness. Visitors deriding the poor treatment from businesses -- some of which closed during the event -- and a tense, intimidating police presence. Want more reasons why the place to be is now just a memory?
Tensions resulting from the BTR hit a peak in 1998 when a gun-wielding Orlando man was shot dead and four law enforcement officers were wounded as they attempted to arrest him.
With the party now only a shadow of its former boisterous self, we asked who -- or what -- is killing BCR. As Bethune-Cookman University senior Keon Williams said of BCR, "It just doesn't attract me."
After Black Entertainment Television moved its show to South Florida in 2006, attendance has dipped and fell below 10,000 in 2007. This weekend's gathering was small again.
So, if the annual event's downward slide can be attributed to a fickle fan base, many wonder if there weren't some contributing factors. We take a look at a few of those most commonly cited.
The story continues...