American Conference basketball tournament underway in Birmingham
Free fan fest, $3M economic impact expected as UAB men’s team prepares for Friday quarterfinal
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - The American Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are underway at Legacy Arena, with games running through Sunday.
The UAB men’s basketball team has a double bye and is scheduled to play Friday at noon in the quarterfinals. The Blazers will face the winner of Thursday’s 6 p.m. game between Charlotte and Tulane. The men’s championship game is set for Sunday at 2:15 p.m. The UAB women’s team did not qualify for the tournament.
What’s at stake
A tournament championship earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Karl Hicks, the American Conference’s Associate Commissioner for Basketball, described what it’s like to see teams from the American punch their ticket to the big dance every year.
“The kids are just so excited. The kids and the coaching staff and the fans. It’s great to see the excitement because they know what that means for them,” Hicks said.
Free fan fest at City Walk
The American Hoops Village, a free fan fest, will open this weekend at Birmingham’s City Walk. A pep rally is scheduled for noon Saturday and will include mascots, a band, and a dribble jam for children ages 5-14. Registration is available on site.
Economic impact
Dan Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the tournament is projected to generate approximately $3 million in direct spending for the local community.
“It’s important that we bring events to this community that are going to generate revenue and give back to the residents,” Williams said. “The more visitors we bring in, the better it is for the residents because of the dollars it generates.”
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