Ahead of the Commanders’ New Years Eve game, SeatGeek Legends Plaza was bustling as the 2023 Shop Black Market provided a special hub for fans to learn about and buy goods from local Black-owned businesses.
“We love coming to events like this to meet people out in the community, because they’ve supported us from Day 1,” said Celena GiIl, CEO of Frères Branchiaux. “It’s really important to connect in these spaces because a lot of times people don’t know what’s going on in their community. We’re so head down and going to work, taking care of kids, we don’t realize the different businesses in the community, the special events and how we can support each other.”
The Shop Black Market was one of the highlights of the Commanders’ “Inspire Change”-themed game. A league-wide, year-round social justice initiative, Inspire Change aims to reduce barriers to opportunity, particularly in communities of colors. From pregame activations to in-game moments, support and celebration of the Black communities in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia took center stage at FedExField during Week 17.