Council Approves Agreement To Bring AHSAA Football Championships Back To Birmingham

“This is a major win for our city,” Council President William Parker said following the unanimous vote to approve an agreement that will bring the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Super 7 Football Championships to Protective Life Stadium in 2021.

According to the agreement, the championships will be played in Birmingham for a term of four years, in 2021, 2024, 2027 and 2030. In turn, the City will contribute up to $125,000 in financial and in-kind services to the AHSAA each year the championships are played in Birmingham.

The championships were held in Birmingham every year from 1971 to 2008. They were then relocated to Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium and Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, which have alternated years.

“We’re excited to bring this back to Birmingham,” Parker said. “All the parents, athletes, cheerleaders and families will be able to see what our city is all about, from our new stadium to restaurants and trails and all the great amenities here. This has the potential to be a big boost in our economy and is part of a larger approach we’re taking to make Birmingham one of the country’s premiere sports destination cities.”

Councilor Valerie Abbott said one of Birmingham’s biggest advantages is being centrally located in the state. “We have all the highways, railroads, airports and all kinds of ways for people to get here for the games,” Abbott said. “We’re in a great location and it’s only natural that they came back to Birmingham.”

Tuscaloosa and Auburn will continue to host the championships in rotating years.