Tony Mason ’88 Addresses Black Alumni 2010 Luncheon

Miami University’s Black Alumni group did its part in keeping up with the theme of a ‘Super’ Alumni Weekend, hosting Tony Mason ’88, Senior Vice President of the Indianapolis Super Bowl XLVI Host Committee, as the featured speaker at its annual luncheon.

More than 25 people were in attendance for food, fellowship, and Mason’s inside look at bringing the Super Bowl to Indianapolis, putting on an unforgettable event, and using the opportunity to build a stronger community.

Mason, who earned both his bachelor’s and master’s (1993) degrees from Miami, also worked on campus as an assistant director  of intramural sports and special events, playing a significant role in the planning of the Recreational Sports Center, which opened in 1994. He is a 2005 recipient of the Black Coaches Association Images of Excellence Award and a 2004 Indianapolis Business Journal “Forty under 40” Award honoree.

Mason previously served as Executive Director of the Circle City Classic, which showcases the spirit, energy and tradition of America’s historically black colleges and universities on the football field while raising funds to support scholarships and youth initiatives. His responsibilities included two weeks of events and managing a staff of hundreds of volunteers.

According to Mason, more than 73,000 will fill Lucas Oil Stadium for Super Bowl XLVI, with the tickets in the nosebleed section running more than $800, but the event’s impact on the community goes far beyond what happens in the stadium. The city is planning nearly 130 events over 10 days, including an Olympic Village-style celebration downtown that could attract more than 300,000 people.

Along with the traditional festivities that accompany ‘America’s Unofficial Holiday,’ the Indianapolis community also is hoping to strengthen the community as a whole. Two of Mason’s responsibilities include the Near Eastside Legacy Initiative and the NFL’s Emerging Business Program for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses.

“We wanted to find a way to balance the NFL’s wishes with our own community interests,” Mason said. “We’re partners working together for the greater community, and we’re looking at how we can leverage this opportunity to truly make a difference.”

The Near Eastside Legacy Initiative focuses on an area of the city that is struggling with a near 40 percent vacancy rate and a high school graduation rate under 50 percent. The priorities for the project include housing redevelopment, business corridor redevelopment, and the construction of an NFL Youth Education town in the community that will serve as many as 5,000 patrons daily.

The NFL’s Emerging Business Program for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses is designed to provide maximum opportunity for women and minority-owned businesses to participate in the Super Bowl procurement process through information, access to industry leaders, and business development programming.

While only 14 full-time individuals comprise the host committee, Mason notes that the community is providing immense volunteer support. The overall committee is sub-divided into eight divisions, 64 committees and more than 350 sub-committees, and the city has already surpassed its minimum requirement for volunteers with the game nearly 600 days away. Additional volunteers are still being sought at www.Our2012SB.com.

According to Kim Bugg ’01, president of the Black Alumni Group, Mason’s presentation was almost as fascinating as his example is inspiring.

“These are the types of individuals we need to showcase for our current students,” Bugg said. “They need to be able to see that they can get there too.”

Mason is married to Joy Smith Mason ’89, and they have two sons, Miles and John Michael.