Tag Archives: Regions Field

All bets are off on Birmingham

City Walk BHAM World Games 2022
City Walk BHAM World Games 2022

By David Sher

This is the article I always wished to write, but didn’t know if it would ever be possible.

ComebackTown began publishing in February, 2012 with the sole purpose to begin a discussion about how to revitalize a struggling Birmingham. That’s why it was titled ‘ComebackTown.’ Continue reading All bets are off on Birmingham

Birmingham suburbs, are you nervous yet?

More than 50,000 people attended concert by Garth Brooks on June 4, 2022, at Protective Stadium. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)

By David Sher

I never saw it coming.

According to recently released U.S. Bureau of Census population estimates the City of Birmingham is now the 3rd largest city in Alabama.

Until 2020 Birmingham was the largest city in the state. Continue reading Birmingham suburbs, are you nervous yet?

Why World Games chose Birmingham

Alan Register
Alan Register

Today’s guest columnist is Alan Register.

The first World Games were played in Santa Clara, California in 1981.

They have not been played in America since.

Why then did they choose Birmingham?

And while we’re at it, why did the USFL select Birmingham?

There’s a simple answer, “a crazy idea” and “a winning streak.” Continue reading Why World Games chose Birmingham

The Birmingham story we never expected to tell

Protective Stadium
Protective Stadium

When I was Board Chair of Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (now BBA), in 2005, we hired an economic development consultant.

He flew to town the night before our first meeting and stayed at the Tutwiler Hotel. While sitting at the bar that evening he engaged in conversation with one of our locals. Continue reading The Birmingham story we never expected to tell

Birmingham hits a grand slam homerun!

Jeb Stewart
Jeb Stewart

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Jeb Stewart.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Birmingham’s spirit as a comeback town has been well-reflected by the attendance last season at Regions Field, as the Barons set another record at the turnstiles.

The final attendance total was 444,639, making it second-highest regular season in franchise history behind the “Michael Jordan Year” of 1994 (467,867). 2015 also marked the third year in a row where the attendance topped the previous year.  Continue reading Birmingham hits a grand slam homerun!

It must SUCK to be a Birmingham hater

Rotary Trail
Rotary Trail

It must be depressing to be a Birmingham hater.

You guys can’t seem to get a break.

You can bitch and moan about Birmingham all you want, but the tide has turned against you.

It looks like “doodoo Birmingham,” one of our regular al.com anti-Birmingham commenters is in doodoo–himself.

We have been overrun with so much good news about Birmingham, it’s difficult to keep track.

Even our crime numbers are in free fall.

Birmingham’s 2013 crime numbers lowest in 30 years

Yes, this is the “lowest (serious crime) number reported since the FBI started tracking the numbers in its Uniform Crime Reporting data almost 30 years ago.”

Birmingham haters click on the headlines below and weep:  Continue reading It must SUCK to be a Birmingham hater

Can Birmingham get over its low self-esteem?

David Sher

One hundred years from now, when historians write the history of Birmingham, 2013 will be the year they say changed everything.

Birmingham’s been called the “City of Perpetual Promise.”  We’ve been described as the “Magic City” at our zenith and as the “Most segregated city in America” at our low point.

We’ve always been a great place to live, but not a great city.  2013 will be the year Birmingham begins its long-hard journey to become that great city. Continue reading Can Birmingham get over its low self-esteem?

Birmingham: Young professional stopped in his tracks


Jonathan Pinnick
Jonathan Pinnick

Comebacktown published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Jonathan Pinnick . (We love when young professionals are guest bloggers)

I saw something during a recent trip to Regions Field that made me stop in my tracks. It was so exciting that I had to tell almost everyone I saw for the next week.

It wasn’t anything about the ballpark itself, though it is beautiful. It wasn’t anything about the game, which was great and ended with one of the many wins earned by the Birmingham Barons this season.

No, what I saw were Continue reading Birmingham: Young professional stopped in his tracks

Thousands will move to downtown Birmingham

It’s easy to predict the future of Birmingham.

Birmingham’s usually the last to do just about everything.  So if you want to see what’s about to happen, all you have to do is look elsewhere.

When I was Chairman of Operation New Birmingham (ONB) in 1995, CBS42 was desperately trying to build viewership for their newscast.  They were practicing “guerilla journalism” to try to shock and surprise people to build audience.

One day at a public ONB function, a news reporter from TV42 unexpectedly thrust a microphone in my face and asked, Continue reading Thousands will move to downtown Birmingham

Birmingham’s back–tell the world

Regions Field first night fireworks

We need your help.

We’d like you to take action.

Do you know what’s really wrong with Birmingham?

We concentrate on our shortcomings and don’t celebrate our victories.

A funny thing happened while we were wallowing in self-pity. Continue reading Birmingham’s back–tell the world