U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt have sent a letter to to NCAA President Charlie Baker advocating for the city of Birmingham to be used as a venue for future NCAA championship events.
Specifically, Tuberville and Britt are championing the Magic City as a location for the Men’s March Madness first and second rounds, the Women’s March Madness Regional Tournament, and the Women’s Gymnastics National Championship.
Last March, Legacy Arena in Birmingham was a site for the first and second rounds and sold out both with the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers both being selected to play there.
Between 1992-2008, Birmingham hosted March Madness games ten times for the men and once for the women, but 2023 was the first year the site was used since then.
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“The State of Alabama has a long legacy of supporting intercollegiate athletics, and the recent success of both March Madness in 2023 and the 2022 World Games further highlights the passion of Alabamians for athletic competitions and the comprehensive synergies that ensure athletic events are conducted safely and successfully,” the senators said.
“Our great State, the City of Birmingham, and the surrounding communities make the perfect host for these high-level events.”
The senators went on to talk about the $125 million renovation to Legacy Arena and the adjacent City Walk area and say that the renovations have cemented the site as an elite championship venue.
After the success of the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament last year, the city is hopeful that the NCAA will continue to select Birmingham as a host.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
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