Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed Saturday, February 28, 2015
After a rousing first year in Atlanta, Steve Harvey's Ford Neighborhood Awards is coming back for a second time from August 6 to 9.
Tickets went on sale last Friday at 10 a.m. and you can pick them up here. Many of the events sell out quickly so move fast. (Four days since the on-sale date, there are only a handful of tickets left for the the 7:30 p.m. Thursday comedy show.) About 80,000 people showed up for various events over the weekend. The goal this year: 150,000.
UPDATE 6/23/15: The celebrity line-up was announced later in the spring. Here's the list, which includes Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, Salt-n-Pepa and Doug E Fresh.
Harvey, with his talk show, "Family Feud," his morning radio show and best-selling books, is one of the biggest names in pop culture today. He is seen or heard by more than 15 million people any given week.
He began the awards show 13 years ago to showcase regular folks who normally don't get to stand on a big stage in competitions such as best barber shop, best church choir and best car wash. It has only gotten bigger and better over time, with more events and more concerts. Moving to Atlanta last year from Las Vegas has enabled more of his core East coast fan base to come.
Rushion McDonald, Harvey's manager who oversees the entire operation, said they expanded the expo to three days in Atlanta and added a college expo and Greek step show to draw a younger crowd. Amazingly, he said, all elements of the weekend worked so they are all coming back. What blew him away the most was the popularity of Sunday's choir competition, which drew 4,000 people. "I thought we'd be lucky to draw 250," he said.
This year, the choir competition is sponsored by McDonald's and will be even bigger, he said.
Other popular events will be back including the taping of "Family Feud" live, the Steve Harvey Morning Show live and the big awards show at Philips Arena. Cupid will be holding a "Curobiks" fitness program. Harvey will host an "Act Like a Success" business seminar based off his best-selling book. There's a Ford VIP After Party after the awards, a Table Classics game room and a singing competition to get into the All White (in dress, that is) Freedom Friday party.
New elements: a health pavilion and a drum line showcase.
McDonald is encouraged by early sales, even without any big celebrity announcements, which will be named next month.
I'll update this story with those names when they come out.
Here are prices, after Ticketmaster fees:
- Standup Comedy Jam with Nephew Tommy: $57.30 for both the early and late show on Thursday, August 6, Sidney Marcus Auditorium, Georgia World Congress Center. As of Tuesday, March 3, the early show is virtually sold out but the late show still has half the venue available. (Given the event is on Thursday night, people probably don't want to stay out until well past midnight.)
- Three-day VIP pass for the State Farm expo: $35
- Freedom Friday All White Party: $57.30
- 13th Annual Ford Neighorhood Awards at Philips Arena: $95.50-$119.60 (Half the venue is sold already as of March 2.)
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