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Honda Battle of the Bands facts for kids

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The Honda Battle of the Bands, also known as The Honda or HBOB, is a yearly event in the United States that showcases the incredible talent of marching bands from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It's a huge celebration of music, dance, and school spirit.

The main event, called the Invitational Showcase, is sponsored by the American Honda Motor Company. From 2003 to 2020, it was held in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2023, the showcase moved to the campus of Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2025, the event took place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Even though it's called a "battle," it's not a typical competition where a winner is chosen. Instead, the bands perform to impress the audience and each other, creating an amazing show for everyone. The event is very popular, with more than 50,000 fans coming to watch each year.

How Bands Get Chosen

To perform at the Honda Battle of the Bands, bands have to go through a selection process. It's a mix of fan voting and expert choices.

First, fans vote online for their favorite bands. The band with the most votes automatically gets an invitation. After that, more bands are chosen based on votes from the presidents and band directors of the HBCUs. Finally, the last few spots are filled by a committee that looks at things like a band's showmanship and how much excitement they create online.

In the end, a total of 8 bands are invited to perform their special halftime shows in front of the huge crowd.

History of the Event

The Honda Battle of the Bands started in 2003. It was created to celebrate and support the amazing marching bands of HBCUs. Honda gives over $205,000 in grants to the bands that participate. Before the main showcase, there is also a college fair to help students learn more about attending an HBCU.

Over the years, the event has taken a few breaks. It was paused in 2019 because the Super Bowl LIII was in Atlanta. It was also paused in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and again in 2024. However, the event has always returned, bringing its energy to new locations. The 2025 showcase was the first time the event was held on the West Coast.

Past Performers

Here is a list of the HBCUs that have performed at the Invitational Showcase over the years.

Year CIAA MEAC SIAC SWAC Independents
2003 Johnson C. Smith Florida A&M Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, Tuskegee Grambling Morris Brown, Tennessee State
2004 Johnson C. Smith, Virginia State Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M Clark Atlanta, Tuskegee Alabama State, Prairie View A&M Savannah State, Tennessee State
2005 North Carolina Central, Virginia State Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M Clark Atlanta, Tuskegee Alabama A&M, Prairie View A&M Langston, Savannah State
2006 North Carolina Central, Virginia State Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M Clark Atlanta, Tuskegee Jackson State, Prairie View A&M Central State, Langston
2007 NC Central, Virginia State Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State Albany State, Clark Atlanta Alabama State, Prairie View A&M Central State, Langston
2008 Virginia State, Shaw Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State Albany State, Tuskegee Texas Southern, Arkansas–Pine Bluff North Carolina Central, Winston-Salem State
2009 Fayetteville State, Virginia State Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T Kentucky State, Tuskegee Jackson State, Texas Southern Edward Waters, North Carolina Central
2010 Virginia State Florida A&M Albany State, Clark Atlanta, Tuskegee Prairie View A&M, Southern North Carolina Central
2011 Virginia State, Winston-Salem State Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State Albany State, Clark Atlanta Jackson State Tennessee State
2012 Virginia State, Winston-Salem State Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State Albany State Jackson State, Prairie View A&M Tennessee State
2013 Winston-Salem State Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T Albany State Alcorn State, Jackson State Edward Waters, Tennessee State
2014 Winston-Salem State Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State Morehouse Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Arkansas–Pine Bluff None
2015 None Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T, Howard None Alabama State, Jackson State, Southern Talladega, Tennessee State
2016 Lincoln (PA) Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State None Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Jackson State, Prairie View A&M Tennessee State
2017 Winston-Salem State Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T Benedict College Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Texas Southern None
2018 None Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T, Hampton Miles College Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Prairie View A&M Tennessee State
2020 None Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T Benedict College Jackson State, Grambling State, Prairie View A&M Hampton, Tennessee State
2023 Virginia State Morgan State Savannah State Alabama State, Texas Southern Langston
2025 None None None Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Southern Hampton, North Carolina A&T

Fun Facts

  • The 2002 movie Drumline featured a fictional band competition that was very similar to the Honda Battle of the Bands. The main difference is that in the movie, a winner was chosen.
  • Only once in the event's history has an official winner been declared. In 2014, the marching band from North Carolina A&T was named the winner.
  • The marching band from Bethune-Cookman University holds the record for the most appearances, with 13 invitations.

See also

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