Senior Games come to town

The National Senior Games, a competition for athletes ages 50 and older, will celebrate its 30th anniversary by coming to Birmingham June 2-15, with more than 10,000 competitors taking part in 19 sports at a dozen venues.

The event’s most tangible benefit for Birmingham is likely its economic impact — estimated at $35 million, according to David Galbaugh, director of sports sales and marketing at the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau.

But the biggest gain could be that Birmingham — already picked to host the 2021 World Games — can show it’s up to the task of successfully staging major events.

“An event like this with so many moving parts … shows what we can do,” Galbaugh said. “This could put us on the stage to go after large, multi-sport events.”

And according to organizers, the fact that the nonprofit National Senior Games Association in Baton Rouge picked Birmingham to host this event shows that the city already has done a good job in upgrading facilities, adding amenities and hosting other successful one-off or annual sports events. Birmingham also has made what NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker calls “a dramatic transformation” recently — especially downtown — making it an attractive host city.

In recent decades, Birmingham has successfully hosted Olympic soccer, Davis Cup tennis, the Regions Tradition golf tournament, heavyweight championship boxing matches and the NCAA Division II indoor track and field championships at Birmingham CrossPlex.

“We have a great resume, but this adds to it,” Galbaugh said.

The city almost secured the Senior Games in two earlier bids, for the 2013 and 2015 games, according to Galbaugh. 

The single biggest difference maker in the city’s successful bid — led by the Convention & Visitors Bureau and the city — was probably the building of the CrossPlex, which can host major swimming competitions. 

The CrossPlex “filled a big piece of the puzzle,” Riker said, who added that some other area sports venues, including Samford University, also upgraded their facilities. The addition of amenities such as the Westin Hotel and the Uptown Entertainment District improved Birmingham’s “product overall.”

Birmingham was also attractive due to its closeness to cities such as Atlanta, New Orleans and Nashville, according to Thomas Coiner of local sports promotion firm Knight Eady, one of six people there working to help the NSGA plan the games.

Riker said he is pleased Birmingham provides several quality venues within a small footprint, something the NSGA looks for in host cities.

“With all the events close by, there is such a great hub, and that will create a fun energy for (visitors),” Riker said.

In Birmingham, more than half the sports will be at the BJCC, the UAB Recreation Center or the CrossPlex. 

The BJCC, including Legacy Arena, also will be the home of The Village Health and Welfare Expo — expected to serve as a gathering spot for athletes and visitors — as well as opening ceremonies and other events.

Organizers said they hope the athletes will become Birmingham fans and return later with their tourist dollars.

“We have a lot to show off,” said Katie McCormack of Knight Eady. “If we can find a way while people are here to steer them in the right direction, we can give them a great impression of Birmingham, because they can come back.”

The NationalSenior Games

► When: June 2-15, 2017

► Info: Admission to all events is free. For details, including event times, go to nsga.com.

Sports venues

► Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC): Badminton, basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard, table tennis and judo (exhibition)

► Uptown Entertainment District: Horseshoes

► Linn Park, 710 20th St. N.: Road race

► UAB Recreation Center: Racquetball

► Birmingham CrossPlex: Swimming, volleyball

► Highland Park Golf Course: Golf (ages 75 and older)

► Brunswick Zone Riverview Lanes, 2908 Riverview Road, Birmingham: Bowling

► Birmingham-Southern College: Tennis

► Samford University: Tennis, track and field, 1,500-meter race/walk

► Hoover Metropolitan Stadium Complex: Archery, 5,000-meter race/walk

► Liberty Park Sports Complex, Vestavia Hills: Softball

► Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley: Golf

► Shelby County High School, Columbiana: 20K and 40K cycling

► Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham: 5K and 10K cycling, triathlon

Special events

► June 2: Flame arrival, Uptown Entertainment District

► June 9: Celebration of athletes, BJCC Legacy Arena,

► June 2-12: The Village Health and Welfare Expo, BJCC

Volunteers

► About 3,000 local volunteers are needed to help run the event. To sign up, go to nsga.com/volunteer.