TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 FAMU\u2019s Homecoming weekend is here as thousands of rattlers are expected to \u201cslither\u201d back to Tallahassee and business owners are expecting an influx in business.<\/p>\n
\u00a0FAMU\u2019s annual Homecoming generates an estimated $6 million in income for the university and Tallahassee.The event draws more than 50,000 visitors, leading to more customers and income for local restaurants and hotels.Watch the video to hear about the main drivers for this economic impact.<\/p>\n
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
\u00a0
Homecoming week can easily be named one of the largest events at any HBCU.<\/p>\n
With Florida A&M University here in Tallahassee, the business impact is especially prominent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, Homecoming is the biggest time of the year here in Tallahassee for businesses,\u201d Burgess said.<\/p>\n
For Samuel Burgess who\u2019s been part of the event for nearly 10 years, prep begins months out.<\/p>\n
As owner of restaurant Pineapp\u00e9tit<\/a>, Burgess says the week means more food and more cash.<\/p>\n \u201cI can say it’s a heavy increase in income around this time frame\u2026 just because of the influx and foot traffic. You’re having around 50,000 to 80,000 people coming to town at one time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n So, just how much does one week at Florida A&M University bring in?<\/p>\n ABC 27 talked to FAMU\u2019s Acting Vice President for University Advancement Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, who says the impact is massive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re going to see about a $6 million economic impact, not only for FAMU, but for the city of Tallahassee,\u201d Tatum-Fedrick said. \u201cWe are going to see that in our hotels, in our restaurants, in our small businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n About $5.1 million of that came directly from visitors in 2024, according to Visit Tallahassee<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tatum-Fedrick estimates more than 50,000 visitors will travel to Tallahassee this year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a big homecoming student government concert\u2026 our homecoming game is completely sold out,\u201d she said. \u201cI think that’s where we’re seeing our biggest drivers in those areas.\u201d<\/p>\n Homecoming at FAMU, according to the university\u2019s website<\/a>, dates back as early as 1959 with events like a parade, a formal ball, and a football game.<\/p>\n Since then, FAMU has obtained multiple corporate partnerships, hosted star-studded concert headliners, and increased its enrollment.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the brand of FAMU has definitely tripled,\u201d Tatum-Fedrick said.<\/p>\n But the focus rests on welcoming back long-time Rattlers.<\/p>\n \u201cHomecoming is nostalgia, right? It allows alums to come back and remember their time on the hill,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n This is especially true for Burgess, an alum, who loves seeing\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cFormer classmates, professors, friends, colleagues, people who I\u2019ve run into years ago. It’s like a big family reunion, and that’s the thing that I love about FAMU’s Homecoming,\u201d Burgess said.<\/p>\n Tatum-Fedrick says the university will continue to promote faculty innovation to attract more corporate partnerships to continue economic growth for next year\u2019s Homecoming.<\/p>\n Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. <\/a><\/p>\n Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram <\/a>and X.<\/a><\/p>\n