SEC Baseball Tourney to stay in Hoover through 2016

FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference has entered into a new agreement with the Alabama Sports Foundation and the City of Hoover, ensuring that the league’s annual event will remain at Regions Park through the year 2016, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive announced today.

“We are very pleased about continuing our relationship with the Alabama Sports Foundation and the City of Hoover” Slive said. “We have seen the tournament grow through the support of those two entities and our great fans. SEC baseball supporters have had a major impact on the success of this event, and we look forward to continuing to provide them with a great environment and experience.”

The 2010 SEC Baseball Tournament, held in Hoover, Ala., drew over 126,000 fans and nearly 10,000 per game, both record-highs for the event. Five times time in the last eight years the tournament has surpassed the six-digit mark in total attendance. The 2008 event drew over 124,000 fans. The top 15 crowds in tournament history have come at Regions Park.

The City of Hoover has made nearly $6 million in stadium improvements and renovations over the last five years, including most recently, installation of a state-of-the-art, high definition videoboard. All games of the annual event are televised live and in HD as part of the league’s recent television contract with ESPN, as well as broadcast around the globe on ESPN3.com and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

A squad from the SEC Tournament has advanced to three consecutive national championship games, winning the last two (LSU, 2009; South Carolina 2010). Nearly 90 first-round picks in the MLB Draft have played in SEC Tournament since 1991.

The 2011 event will be held May 25-29 at Regions Park. Tickets for the 2011 tournament are $100 for reserved ticket books, $75 for general admission ticket books, $60 for Dr Pepper general admission six packs, $17 for reserved single-session seat and $12 for a general admission single-session seat. Tickets can be purchased online at SECsports.com or by calling 1-800-732-4849.