Birmingham, Alabama is known for its love of sports. Despite the absence of upper-level professional teams like the NFL or MLB in the city, Gene Hallman, president of Eventive Sports, believes that the chances of having a professional sports franchise at the highest level in each sport are remote for the foreseeable future. According to him, this is largely due to the population and facility size of the city.
However, not having a professional team does not take away from the caliber of sports and events already present in the area. Hallman believes that Birmingham is a great sports town, particularly in college athletics. Despite this, some residents still believe that Birmingham could rally behind and be a suitable home base for an upper-level team. They cite its positive impact on the city and state.
On the other hand, others see an advantage in not having a professional team of that caliber in Alabama. They believe that it allows colleges like UAB, Alabama, and Auburn to be treated like professional athletes when they compete in the area. Hallman points out that facilities like Protective Stadium are not large enough to accommodate fan bases that come with upper-level professional teams. Therefore, while it may seem out of reach to have an NFL or MLB team in Birmingham, Hallman notes that the city continues to support and host a variety of sporting events.
In conclusion, while there may be no NFL or MLB team currently based in Birmingham, Ala., its residents continue to enjoy various sporting events and view their beloved city as a great sports town.
