By David Sher
This is painful, but at a time when we should be celebrating one of Birmingham’s biggest moments, we must take a moment to reflect.
It’s not that I didn’t love the ‘Field of Dreams’ major league baseball game at Rickwood. I loved it with all my heart.
Please don’t get me wrong. I thought the game and the events around it were extraordinary.
As Maury Shevin wrote for ComebackTown, “It was a truly stellar event. It could not have been better—from the logistics, the revitalization of Rickwood Field, the national TV audience, the appearance of scores of celebrities, the attendance of former Negro Leagues players and the absolutely incredibly cooperative June weather—well, it was a magical evening.”
Yes, this moment will long be remembered, but I feel we should keep this historic event in perspective.
I’ve always had great dreams for Birmingham.
Growing up in the ‘50s I have a long view of Birmingham that younger people will likely not understand or appreciate.
My dad took me to Birmingham Barons baseball games at Rickwood Field. The Barons’ Southern League foes included the Atlanta Crackers, the Nashville Vols, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Memphis Chicks. Those cities were our equals and we competed well with them both in baseball and in life.
Today Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, and Memphis all have major league sports, while Birmingham has none and the Barons play Southern League teams like the Mississippi Braves (Pearl, Mississippi), Montgomery Biscuits, and Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Our MLB Rickwood event was recognized as the first major league baseball game ever played in the state of Alabama. I’m not sure that never hosting a major league baseball game in our state is a distinction we should take pride.
It saddens me that Birmingham has never been able to recruit a major league sports franchise.
I Googled major cities in the U.S. who do not have major league sports and Birmingham didn’t even show up as a major city. Now that is depressing.
In my youth Birmingham had about the same population as Atlanta and we were larger than Nashville, Austin, Charlotte, and Austin.
There were serious efforts to recruit an NFL franchise to Birmingham. I vividly remember attending a Chamber of Commerce rally to build support for an NFL team.
On August 14, 1966, Benny Marshall, a columnist for the Birmingham News, wrote “A professional football franchise for Birmingham is close enough, almost, to touch… It is not a matter of speculation any more. It is not someone’s idle dream…There will be 28 teams in the combined American and National Football Leagues. Presently, the National has 15 and the American has nine. Four will be added. Bet that Birmingham will be one of the four, and you’re playing a favorite.”
But, of course, that never happened.
Instead Birmingham has cycled through one minor football league after another finally snagging the Birmingham Stallions—but clearly not competing in a major sports league.
We’ve watched as Birmingham, once the Football Capital of the South, lost both the Iron Bowl and the SEC Championship games.
Where did Birmingham go wrong?
In 1948, Birmingham was the second-biggest city in the southeastern United States behind New Orleans.
Birmingham was on the brink of greatness.
What happened?
Other southern cities consolidated their efforts to compete as a region while Jefferson County splintered into 35 competing municipalities.
The City of Birmingham represents 30% of the population of Jefferson County, but is expected to fund all major amenities–sports and otherwise for our region.
The City of Birmingham invested $64 million in Regions Field.
The City of Birmingham is investing $90 million in Protective Stadium.
None of the other 34 municipalities (representing 70% of the population of our county) contributed to these venues or to any other regional venue.
I have a friend who’s working diligently on a major amenity that could change the face of Birmingham. He has talked with elected officials in the over the mountain communities about funding, but has completely struck out.
Jefferson County municipalities, other than Birmingham, are only willing to invest in their own city.
Imagine how great our region could be if we could access government funding and support from all the municipalities in Jefferson County—not just Birmingham.
Our Birmingham region just celebrated an historic week.
With a bit more coordination and collaboration, we could have many more.
David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
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Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@comebacktown.com.
David the current stallion football team seems to be doing ok inside the UFL ? Does anyone want to speculate why Birmingham aka Jefferson County has yet to achieve what these other southern cities have achieved in sports?
George, to reinforce the column, a more centralized government would have made the difference. Here is a comment that was just posted by someone on Facebook: I grew up in Nashville in the 1980’s & 1990’s when Nashville was a sleepy, southern city. From 1999 – 2007 I worked in sports tourism when Nashville was striving to become a “sports town.” The centralized government and a Nashville Sports Council board (made up of the city’s 50 biggest movers and shakers) were the key to building the momentum. Our leaders always felt Indianapolis was the model city to immulate. It didn’t happen overnight, but there was a laser-focused vision and game plan to become a pro sports city that now has NFL, NHL and MLS teams.
Because of the racial divide in the area,the local media don’t market Birmingham they market the interest of their money UA (Tuscaloosa) or Aub.In 1978 Richard Arrington was elected mayor and the white people of the city to white flight with supersonic thrust and grew Hoover and Shelby County with the investment they had in Birmingham.I have more insights but I don’t have enough space but economic racial hate keep us submerged.
OH MY GOD SO TRUE, REAL PAIN IS NO ONE IS PREPARED TO HEAR THE TRUTH.
THE IGNORANCE IS SO STICK YOU CAN CUT IT WITH A KNIFE.
YOU CAN’T MOVE FORWARD AND KEEP YOUR FOOT ON SOME ONE ELSE NECK.
I’M NOW 75, I WATCHED THIS FOR MANY YEARS.
Thanks so much David. Your commentary is accurate as usual. I appreciate your diligence to keep us as citizens informed regarding our upcoming future and our recent past.
Gene Florence
I have no issue with the good folks who choose to live and work in Shelby County! I fully intend to stay engaged with the Jefferson County Commission and the 33 cities in Jefferson County! Yes the city of Birmingham has its challenges but rather than focusing on the white people that have relocated I focus on the Black and White people who are choosing to stay and make this a better place for all! There is positive movement within Jefferson County and the City of Birmingham! MLB just did not just choose to do a game in Birmingham because of the Shelby County Commission! I can assure you there are movers and shakers known and unknown that made this happen! MLB is going to return and UFL Stallions are still in play. I long ago gave up on the Birmingham haters!! Jefferson County is still the largest and wealthiest county in the state and a very bright and robust franchise future.
Everything you say is true David. With unified, regional cooperation, we certainly could achieve greater things.
I know that I sound like a Pollyanna, but sometimes you get to choose to enjoy your successes while striving for greater things. Last week, I chose to recognize what Birmingham has accomplished.
Still, let’s keep striving for better…
Yes, Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans all have some kind of major professional sport. However only one of those cities, Atlanta, has Major League Baseball. This is because baseball is just not that popular in the South.
There’s an active group trying to bring an MLB team to Nashville. It probably won’t happen for many years, as the league itself isn’t actively considering expansion. Unfortunately, Nashville is handicapped by being in the Central Time Zone, where there are already 8 MLB teams. But Charlotte could get a team. I don’t think anyone discounts the South anymore, given all the new residents in the region from baseball happy Northeast & Midwest areas. Besides, Nashville, Atlanta & Charlotte all have MLS teams. Who would have thought that other sport where they kick a round football would be popular?
Birmingham is a weak attraction because of the parking, shootings, street crime, exhibition driving, targeted murder…they are reported on daily by every news outlet. The Bham police are in personnel turmoil, and the city government is impotent.
Many White people do not want to go uptown – or downtown – for that matter. Five points has suffered for years from a lack of city support and maintenance. Railroad Park has good and bad weeks, but I would not go there at night from Shelby County. I would not attend a concert at the upcoming (?) Carraway Amphitheater by Taylor Swift, or Elton John, or Jesus …too risky. I’d go to Pelham’s Amphitheater in a minute.
Why do I live in Shelby County? It’s safe and we have all the food and entertainment we can stand.
There, said my piece…Y’all have at me, I expect it.
PS: I’ve lived with my family in Homewood and Mountain Brook for many years and worked in Birmingham. I still prefer Shelby County now.
Good thing many Many people do not share your opinions and constantly pack downtown venues and restaurants!
P.S. Given what you think about city government it’s a good think our state government is so functional and competent, corruption-free, and leading us to the top of every metric relative to other states! With the state’s efficient and competent leadership Birmingham would really be in trouble, right??
Do us all a favor and continue to stay in Shelby County. Better for all involved.
Karl, I hear what you are saying, but if there was no Birmingham, there wouldn’t be much of Shelby County. The reason Shelby County is included in the Birmingham-Hoover metro is so many Shelby County residents work in Birmingham. No one wants to live in a donut hole.
I was waiting on this comment. Many black people do not care to go to Shelby County either. So, there you have it. Also, I am safe in my Bham community. I have experienced no crime (exhibition driving, or targeted shootings. Also, you should know by now, when the amphitheater is built, the one in Pelham will close.
Bro, that’s what I think this David Sher is pointing too. Like, no need to be resentful and shit about who the fuck lives where. just get the metro area and it’s leaders on board about making us, North Central Alabama, and attractive area for, well, you name it. and btw, nobody has any right to. “come at you” for living in Shelby County. Shelby County is really nice.
It is unfortunate Mr. Sher that even you have joined the ever active and loud Chorus of Negativity that plagues this city. We all know about the problems. We all know about the historical challenges. Yet there is One Day, one Week even, that things, everything really, went exceedingly well. Every single visitor, every piece of feedback online after the event, was overwhelmingly positive. But leave it to the people of this city to find, with a fine toothed comb, something, anything to criticize. And now you…you are here to tell us how even this ostensibly positive thing is in fact more evidence of what a failure this city is. :((
And in “Comeback Town”…of all places.
This is the real problem with this city, and it’s a real shame to see it echoed even here.
P.J. So sorry my column was a disappointment to you. It was painful for me also. ComebackTown has published over 600 columns. Many are positive. Some are not. But, hopefully they are instructive. Last week I published a column by Maury Shevin entitled “We showed the world what Birmingham is today,” which was very positive about the game https://comebacktown.com/2024/06/23/we-showed-the-world/. The week before that was about the big improvements coming to 5 Points South, https://comebacktown.com/2024/06/18/5-points-south/. The week before, how much out-of-towners love Birmingham, https://comebacktown.com/2024/06/11/why-does-birmingham-have/. The objective of ComebackTown is to make Birmingham better, not to be the Chamber of Commerce.
“I have a friend who’s working diligently on a major amenity that could change the face of Birmingham.”
Hints!
Jon, can’t wait to hear more!
I hate to enlighten you but there are many of us who love Birmingham and it’s ‘burbs just the way it is – medium sized and easy to navigate. Plenty of great stores and restaurants to enjoy. I would never trade that for a morning or afternoon 2 hour crawl on any Atlanta interstate. And we’re close to T town and Auburn for the world’s best football !
Bo, I hear you. I love Birmingham also. But our children and grandchildren are moving away for better opportunities. The City of Birmingham is losing population. Jefferson County is losing population…and so is our metro area. Now many of my contemporaries are moving away to be closer to their children and grandchildren. We don’t need to be Atlanta. We need to be a better Birmingham.
“The City of Birmingham represents 30% of the population of Jefferson County, but is expected to fund all major amenities–sports and otherwise for our region.”
I attached your quote above and was expecting to find a correlating quote on how the City of Birmingham has funded or at minimum help fund any amenities in the suburbs or surrounding counties? I’ll wait and allow you to find some data.
Why didn’t they (BHM) support Oak Mountain instead of competing against it? Why would shelby county or any of the suburbs financially support anything in Birmingham when they will only get burned. Zero reciprocity…none.
Look at the attendance of the Stallions games. Birmingham was 3rd in the eight team league for attendance at 10,192 per home game. That’s a paltry 21.6% of the 47,100 seat capacity of Protective Life Stadium. On the other hand little Ol’ Pelham in the sticks of Shelby county has a rinky dink hockey rink with minor league hockey. The ice hockey team drew 80.5% capcity at 3300 of the 4100 seat arena. I know why I take my family to Pelham rather than the inner city of Birmingham for sports entertainment…safety. You had better look at what the suburbs are doing right, rather than complaining about it. In a few years the Stallions will be gone because people WILL NOT support a team in an area in which they feel unsafe. People WILL support venues, teams, and neighborhoods where they feel safe. Look at the Hoover Met area. When the Barons left some folks thought the Big City was stealing yet another suburban success story, but look carefully at what is going on now around the Met. It has become a great family friendly entertain area of Hoover….without a dime from the city of Birmingham or Jefferson county
Thank you! David thinks Birmingham is entitled to something for nothing. All Birmingham has done is take from their surrounding communities, and yet doesn’t seem to understand the reluctance that surrounds regional cooperation. Why didn’t the surrounding communities pitch in for the new amphitheatre? Cause we already had one that the city of Birmingham put zero money into for the maintenance and upkeep of. Same goes for Regions field.
It is strange how big baseball is in Alabama, yet there are no professional sports teams there. Maybe that’s a major reflection on how much people in Alabama really appreciate college sports. Nothing wrong with that.
Some changes would definitely need to be made to bring a professional sport to Birmingham. That would be a fun and doable short trip from just up north from y’all in the Nashville area.
As David has said there would be no Shelby County without Birmingham and Jefferson County. I say let them eat cake! Maybe we need a toll road for those who live outside Jefferson County but work in Birmingham and Jefferson County?!
Wow. A lot to unpack here, but let’s hit the idea of. regional government first.
The reason it worked in places like Nashville is because all the municipalities being incorporated were all fully self-contained in the same county. This does not hold true of Birmingham itself, let alone the rest of the metro area. What happens to cities like Birmingham or Hoover in this scenario? Are the residents of Hoover that live in Shelby County expected to pack up and move 5 miles down the road to be on the “right” side of the county line? Are the county lines to be redrawn? If not, and these residents are excommunicated from this shining beacon of civic change, how are the counties they are left in being supported when they now have to increase garbage, police and fire coverage for areas that were previously handled by the city? You like to wax poetic and try to browbeat city leaders who are resistant to your ideas, yet I haven’t seen a single post from you with any actionable ideas on how to apply this idea to our area’s unique situation. Only, as you put it in this post, dreams.
Beyond all that, who says Birmingham (or the metro area) wants/needs to be a sports town, or a music town? When are we going to have the conversation about what Birmingham’s identity is, instead of trying to copy-paste another city’s culture onto our own? Personally, if you don’t like what Birmingham is, or has become, you seem to have the ability to move somewhere that you would be more comfortable. Please, feel free to do so.
Well said J.
Let those who live in the Hoover part of Shelby stay in their beloved Shelby County. We have 33 cities in Jefferson County who doing as they choose. We have a great Jefferson County Commission that really tries to help all the cities in Jefferson County. We have 13 school systems in Jefferson County who participate in sports and academic development with each other!
Live and let live as market economics will drive us to work together in spite of the issues we seem to have with each other for some unexplained reasons!!