- Hampton University and University of Arkansas Pine Bluff selected by fans
as final two bands in 2025 HBOB lineup
- Nick Cannon, star of the classic
film "Drumline," will serve as HBOB celebrity host
- Tickets for Feb. 1, 2025 showcase
now on sale at www.hondabattleofthebands.com
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 12,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda Battle of the Bands
(HBOB), the nation's premier showcase for Historically Black
College and University (HBCU) marching bands, today revealed the
full lineup of participating schools and announced that
multi-hyphenate entertainer and entrepreneur Nick Cannon will serve as the celebrity host for
the event's first-ever West Coast show on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in
Inglewood, California. Watch the
reveal video of the full marching band lineup at
https://honda.us/HBOB2025Lineup.
Tickets for HBOB 2025 are on sale now at
www.hondabattleofthebands.com.
HBOB fans have made their voices heard, casting votes online to
select the final two bands to perform at the live event:
Hampton University and University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.
The full HBOB 2025 lineup includes:
- Alabama A&M University –
Marching Maroon and White Band
- Alabama State University – Mighty
Marching Hornets
- Hampton University – The Marching
Force
- North Carolina A&T University – Blue and Gold Marching
Machine
- Southern University – Human Jukebox
Marching Band
- University of Arkansas Pine Bluff –
Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South
Honda will provide an institutional grant to each of the six
schools for their respective music education programs and support
the bands' travel expenses to the Invitational Showcase in
Los Angeles. All 52 bands that
participated in the voting process will also be awarded an HBOB
Legacy Grant from Honda.
"Honda is thrilled to continue our longstanding support of the
HBCU community through HBOB which is a core part of our Drive the
Legacy initiative," said Jasmine
Cockfield, the project leader for Honda Battle of the Bands
at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We congratulate each of this
year's participating HBCU bands and are confident that they will
put on a memorable show for HBOB fans that promises to be a
showcase for the ages."
Honda has supported HBCUs for over 35 years, recognizing their
critical role in providing higher education and opportunities for
advancement to the Black community. This support includes
scholarships, programming, and initiatives that celebrate the
dreams and potential of HBCU students, helping shape them into
future leaders. Through HBOB and the Honda Campus All-Star
Challenge, Honda has awarded over $14
million in grants in support of HBCU education programs and
facilities improvements, impacting the lives of more than 300,000
students.
Nick Cannon to Serve as HBOB
Celebrity Host
The host for the 2025 Honda Battle of the Bands will be
multi-hyphenate entertainer and entrepreneur Nick Cannon. Among his many film and TV credits,
Cannon starred in the classic 2002 film "Drumline," that elevated
public awareness and enthusiasm about the ingenuity and creativity
that is synonymous with HBCU marching band and dance troupe
culture.
"Honda Battle of the Bands has been a cherished celebration for
fans of HBCU marching bands, resonating deeply with generations who
hold Black culture close to their hearts," said Cannon. "Hosting
HBOB's first-ever West Coast show is an honor. We're going to
create unforgettable moments together."
New Band Selection Process for 2025 Event
In addition to hosting its first-ever West Coast showcase, HBOB
also reimagined its approach to the band selection process. In
July, the Honda Legacy Council selected North Carolina A&T
University and Southern University to
perform at HBOB 2025. From there, each university issued a
challenge to one other eligible HBCU marching band to perform at
the upcoming live event, with North Carolina A&T University
challenging Alabama A&M University,
and Southern University challenging
Alabama State University.
Honda launched a public voting phase on July 16 and invited fans to help determine the
final two bands in the lineup. Fans could vote for their favorite
band once per day through August 15.
The two bands receiving the highest number of votes from a roster
of 52 eligible schools were awarded the final two spots in the HBOB
2025 lineup.
Tickets & Additional Event Information
Tickets for HBOB 2025 are on sale now at
www.hondabattleofthebands.com.
In addition to the Invitational Showcase, Honda is collaborating
with National College Resources Foundation (NCRF) to host NCRF's
annual Black College Expo™. The Black College Expo will be held at
SoFi Stadium prior to HBOB on Saturday,
February 1, and feature over 200 colleges, including HBCUs
and other private and public colleges, with over $10 million available in scholarships. Students
have the opportunity to be accepted on the spot to select colleges
and HBCUs. More details are available at
www.blackcollegeexpo.com.
"We are so excited to partner with Honda Battle of the Bands,
changing lives by providing access and opportunities to higher
education," said NCRF founder and CEO Dr. Theresa Price. "It is heartwarming to work with
an organization that shares the same vision as NCRF."
For the latest HBOB news, including exclusive content, follow
along on social media and join the conversation using #HBOB.
- Instagram – @the_honda / Instagram.com/the_honda
- Facebook – Facebook.com/HondaBattleoftheBands
- X – @The_Honda / Twitter.com/The_Honda
Honda and Historically Black Colleges and
Universities
Honda has supported the success and dreams of Historically Black
College and University (HBCU) students for 35 years, through
programs such as the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge and Honda
Battle of the Bands. These initiatives have impacted the lives of
more than 300,000 students and provided over $14 million in grants toward HBCU education
programs and facilities improvements.
Through its "Drive the Legacy" initiative, Honda also partners
with HBCUs and organizations such as the Thurgood Marshall College
Fund, National Urban League, and local UNCF chapters, to provide
annual scholarship funding and offer development opportunities to
HBCU students. Through these efforts, Honda aims to recruit top
talent for its future workforce. To advance its leading investment
in HBCUs, Honda also is a member of the HBCU Partnership Challenge,
a Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus initiative that brings
together government, industry and HBCUs to create strategic, more
sustainable HBCU partnerships.
Learn more at
https://www.honda.com/community/diversity-reports.
About SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium, the home of the
Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, is located at Hollywood
Park, a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination being
developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E.
Stanley Kroenke in Inglewood, Calif. The 3.1
million-square-foot SoFi Stadium is the largest
stadium in the NFL, as well as the first indoor-outdoor stadium. It
seats approximately 70,000, expandable up to 100,000, with more
than 260 luxury suites and more than 13,000 premium seats.
SoFi Stadium was host to Super Bowl LVI in 2022,
the College Football National Championship in 2023,
WrestleMania in 2023, the annual LA Bowl Hosted By
Gronk, and was ranked the No. 1 stadium in the world for
top-grossing concert and live event ticket sales in 2023.
SoFi Stadium is set to host eight FIFA World Cup
'26 matches, Super Bowl LXI in 2027, and the Opening
and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2028. Adjacent to
the stadium and sitting under the same roof canopy is the 2.5-acre
American Airlines Plaza and the 6,000-seat YouTube
Theater.
About National College Resources
Foundation
National College Resources Foundation
(NCRF) was founded in 1999. The nonprofit hosted its
first Black College Expo™ in 2000 in California with over 35,000 people in
attendance. National College Resources Foundation
(NCRF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
educational enhancement organization, located in California with a broad national reach, whose
mission is to curtail the high school dropout rate and increase
degree and/or certificate enrollment among
underserved, underrepresented, at risk, low resource,
homeless and foster students. The vision to close the gap in
educational achievement, workforce and economic disparities with
the goal to end racism and racial inequality. NCRF has
helped more than 600,000 students get into college and secured more
than 5 billion dollars in
scholarships and grants for students. NCRF has
collaborated with HBCU Huston-Tillotson University
(HT) to bring an HT Satellite campus to California in Spring of 2025.
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