How She Brought a Legendary HBCU Football Classic Back to Life

The Orange Blossom Classic was gone for more than 40 years. Then Kendra Bulluck helped bring it back. But how do you resurrect a historic HBCU football tradition — and turn its comeback into a sustainable business? In this episode of Just Talking Business, I sit down with Kendra Bulluck, Executive Director of the Orange Blossom Classic, to uncover the business story behind the return of one of HBCU football’s historic events. Kendra takes us behind the scenes of the Classic’s 2021 revival and shares what it really takes to rebuild an event with history, cultural significance and a community that cares deeply about its legacy. And bringing it back was only the beginning. We get into the decisions most fans never see: protecting the brand, attracting sponsors and small-business partners, generating economic impact, navigating the sports and entertainment industry, and building a strategy designed to keep the Classic alive for years to come. In this conversation: 🏈Why the Orange Blossom Classic was brought back after decades away 🏈The business strategy behind reviving a legacy event 🏈Why protecting the Orange Blossom Classic brand mattered 🏈How sponsorships and small-business partnerships help power the event 🏈The economic impact of major sporting events on their host communities 🏈Kendra’s experience as a woman leading in sports and entertainment 🏈What it takes to build an event that can survive beyond the excitement of its comeback This is bigger than a football game. It’s a story about business, culture, legacy — and what it takes to bring an important idea back to life. Kendra Bulluck: Resurrecting a Classic Premieres Thursday, August 27 at 5:30 PM ET on StephanieCreatesTV. SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the conversation. #OrangeBlossomClassic #HBCUFootball #sportsbusiness #justtalkingbusiness #theentrepreneurspodcast