2 days ago
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BIRMINGAM, Ala. (WIAT) – The City of Birmingham, the BJCC and the Convention and Visitors Bureau are all taking big steps to get ready for the NCAA Women’s Tournament coming to the Magic City this March.
BJCC Executive Director and CEO Tad Snider joined the CBS 42 Morning News on Friday and said that 2024 was record breaking for the venue. To keep that momentum going through 2025, Snider said the trick is making sure everyone is on the same page.
“It really makes promoters and people who place business in Birmingham look at what’s going on,” Snider said.
Snider said, back in 2023 with the men’s tournament, everything sold out quickly – but not everyone was on their “A” game.
“I think maybe everyone maybe relaxed a little bit, but what we want to see with the ladies tournament this spring and World Police and Fire Games this summer, is we really make sure the city as a whole has awareness of that event and all of the visitors coming in from out of town so we are ready to welcome them as a city, not just a venue,” Snider said.
Birmingham City Councilor and Chair of Economic Development and Tourism Hunter Williams agreed that the unified approach is best.
“We want the fan experience to be 100 percent top notch so people consider coming back to Birmingham for a concert, for another sporting event or whatever reason they might have to come back to the Magic City,” Williams said.
The tournament was huge in 2023, but some businesses were not open all of the days fans were in town. All entities are working out the kinks right now and meeting regularly to make sure everyone is ready by March.
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