The entire Greensboro community is feeling the A&T homecoming spirit. Around the city, A&T homecoming is being advertised as the “The Greatest Homecoming on Earth!”

This weekend from Oct. 26 to Oct. 28 the Aggie family will be celebrating 81 years of Aggie Pride. Soon the aroma of fresh food and tailgating will fill the air, you will see a throng of smiles and people embracing, you will hear the vibrating sounds of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine and the undeniable pride that is in each heartfelt “Aggie Pride”?

Shuttle services will be provided to the Aggie Stadium from the Sheraton Hotel, J. Douglas Galyon Depot, Davie Street Parking Deck and Bellemeade Street Parking Deck between the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., transporting people every 20 minutes to and from the campus.

Along with the range of homecoming events, many of A&T’s alumni will enjoy the reunion of old friends around the city, the booked hotels and crowded malls to hour-long waits at restaurants. A&T Homecoming has become widely known as an attraction in the city of Greensboro. As a result this has made “The Greatest Homecoming on Earth”? one of the top revenue makers for the city. Denise Marble, a group reservation manager at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel, said, “We get prepared for a fun day,”?

Marble handles the bulk of homecoming reservations and makes sure special requests are carried out. Room rates are normally $172 per night, however for homecoming they offer group rates starting at $130 to $140 per night, not including suites.

According to Marble, the Sheraton Hotel was already booked for this year’s event after last years homecoming. “When employees start working here the first thing we tell them is about A&T homecoming weekend,” said Marble.

Marble added that the A&T homecoming crowd is one of two groups that bring in the most money to the city from the hotel. Marble said that of their A&T crowd approximately 85 percent are alumni, 10 percent are non-alumni and 5 percent are city locals that want to participate in the fun. Aside from having somewhere to sleep, one must look the part for homecoming. Other than maybe the big game, some festivities require you to dress to impress. Reuniting with old friends and colleagues is one reason to buy a new outfit and show off a new hairstyle.

Shopping malls, hair salons, barber shops and restaurants feel the draft of the homecoming spirit blow through their facilities. Horace Harris, head of Gate City barber shop on Market Street said, “Business has gotten busy earlier for homecoming this year than last year,”? He said they expect it to be real busy this week. At their neighboring hair salon, Studio 10, Cedrick Hart said that they stay real busy; especially right before homecoming. Last year Studio 10 opened for 24 hours at homecoming time. This year they will stay open Friday from 9 a.m. to midnight and will be closed, the day of homecoming.

“We have some staff from the two Durham Studio 10 locations coming down during homecoming so we can have a full staff,”he said.

Most businesses in Greensboro know they must be prepared for a lot of people during Homecoming eventful weekend. Regardless of any weather, the Aggie family continues to reunite each year to a place they all call home; Greensboro at A&T.

Shante Holiday, a new manager at Charlotte Russe’ women’s clothing store in Four Seasons Town Centre, said they are starting to pick up a lot more business on Thursdays, Fridays and on into the weekend.

Although starting her employment in May 2007, Holiday said she has been made fully aware of how busy business can get nearing homecoming weekend.

Aside from hair and clothing, you must also consider getting something to eat and finding somewhere to party. Greensboro restaurants and night clubs also accumulate large profits from the weekend’s affair.

On Oct. 14, 2005, the Greensboro News & Record estimated that the city of Greensboro would generate revenue of approximately $12 million from A&T homecoming. This would include everything from the gas stations, restaurants to department stores.

• Elizabeth Gladding