Sports in Birmingham, Alabama facts for kids

Birmingham, Alabama, is a city that really loves sports! While it doesn't have major professional teams like those in the biggest cities, it's home to many exciting college sports and minor league professional teams.

One of the most popular teams is the Birmingham Barons. They are a professional baseball team. The Barons play their games at Regions Field in the Southside area. They are connected to the Chicago White Sox major league team.

College sports are also a big deal here. The UAB Blazers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and teams from Samford University have many fans. They play sports like basketball and football.

Birmingham also hosts big events. The Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament brings huge crowds to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium every year. The city even has its own professional soccer team, the Birmingham Legion FC. Plus, the U.S. Paralympic Training Facility is in Birmingham. This is where amazing athletes with disabilities train, and it was even featured in a movie called Murderball about wheelchair rugby.

Birmingham's Legion Field is a famous stadium. It has hosted many college football games over the years. These include the Magic City Classic and the Birmingham Bowl. Legion Field also hosted Olympic soccer games in 1996. It has even seen men's and women's World Cup qualifying matches.

Teams You Can Watch Today

Birmingham is home to several exciting sports teams right now. Here's a look at some of them:

Fun Sports and Activities

Birmingham offers many ways to get active and enjoy sports.

Fencing Fun

Since 1998, Fencing has grown popular in Birmingham. The Birmingham Fencing Club teaches people of all ages how to fence. Fencing is a sport where two people use special swords to score points. The club also hosts tournaments where fencers from nearby states come to compete. Some fencers from Birmingham have even won big awards!

Fishing Adventures

Fishing is super popular around Birmingham. Many people love to go recreational fishing here. The area has so many fish that some caught in Alabama lakes would be state records in other places! ESPN and Bassmaster magazine even called Birmingham the "Bass Capital of the World."

Birmingham has hosted many big fishing tournaments, like the Bass Masters Classic. Some great lakes for fishing near Birmingham include:

• Smith Lake
• Lay Lake
• Lake Neely Henry
• Lake Logan Martin
• Lake Purdy
• Bankhead Reservoir

Teams From the Past

Birmingham has a long history with sports, and some teams have come and gone.

Baseball History

The city was once home to the Birmingham Black Barons. This was a very successful Negro league baseball team. They played their games at Rickwood Field. This stadium is still standing today and is the oldest baseball field in America!

Football and Hockey Teams

Birmingham has also had several professional football teams over the years. Some leagues they played in didn't last very long. The city also hosted professional ice hockey teams, like the Birmingham Bulls. They played at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex.

Exciting Annual Events

Birmingham hosts many sports events every year.

Motorsports Thrills

Motorsports are very popular in the Birmingham area.

• The Talladega Superspeedway hosts big NASCAR races like the Aaron's 499. These races happen in April and October.
• The Indy Grand Prix of Alabama takes place at the Barber Motorsports Park. This park also hosts Superbike and sports car races.

Golf and Running

• The PGA Champions Tour has had a golf tournament in Birmingham since 1992. It's now called The Tradition.
• Road running events are also popular. These include the Vulcan 10K Run and the Mercedes Marathon.
• Cycling, both mountain biking and road biking, is big here too. Oak Mountain State Park hosts races like the Bump N' Grind mountain bike race and the Xterra Southeast Championship triathlon.

Special One-Time Events

Birmingham has also been chosen to host some very special events.

Davis Cup Tennis

In 2009, Birmingham hosted the Davis Cup tennis match between the U.S.A. and Switzerland. The U.S. team won!

The World Games

Birmingham was the host city for the 2022 World Games. This is a huge international sports event. It was supposed to happen in 2021 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time an American city hosted the event since 1981!

Sports Venues

Regions Field is the home to the Birmingham Barons baseball team

Here are some of the main places where sports events happen in Birmingham:

• Bartow Arena
• Boutwell Auditorium
• Fair Park Arena
• Hoover Metropolitan Stadium
• Legacy Arena
• Legion Field
• Pelham Civic Center
• Regions Field
• Rickwood Field
• Protective Stadium