SEC Baseball Tournament back in Hoover for 21st straight year, May 22-27
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Springtime in the south: the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd and the smell of hot dogs in the air. What could be more American than baseball and the SEC?
The SEC Baseball Tournament will be back in Hoover for the 21st consecutive year May 22nd through the 27th at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Twelve teams from the best college baseball conference in the country, full of future Major Leaguers and legitimate national championship contenders, will light up the Hoover Met.
The Road to Omaha and the College World Series goes through Hoover, AL
The SEC Baseball Tournament has become a proving ground for teams on the road to Omaha and the College World Series, and last year’s event continued that tradition. Florida, LSU and Texas A&M advanced to the College World Series; Florida and LSU reached the championship series there; and the Gators swept the Tigers to clinch their first baseball national title.
Florida was the SEC’s fifth national champion in the last nine years. The SEC also has had six national runners-up in the last 10 years. Twice in that span, one SEC team beat another in the championship series. It’s been a decade of baseball dominance by the conference known for its football prowess.
Baseball, it’s all about the stats!
Baseball loves numbers, and the numbers don’t lie. When you’re watching the SEC Tournament at the Hoover Met, you’re watching the best college baseball conference in the country. Look at more stats worth bragging about from the last 10 years alone. Since 2008:
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- Nine SEC schools have made 24 trips to the College World Series.
- Six SEC schools have made 11 appearances in the College World Series finals.
- Last year’s College World Series was the second since 2011 (and the third all-time) to feature a championship series between two SEC schools.
- There were 97 former SEC players on Major League opening-day rosters this season!
Birmingham’s connection to America’s favorite pastime
It’s no coincidence that the SEC Tournament has become the Birmingham area’s highest-attended annual sporting event, with last year’s attendance reaching a whopping 127,479. Birmingham has a rich baseball history. Rickwood Field is the oldest professional baseball park in the country. We also are home to the Negro Southern League Museum.
Many baseball legends are Alabama-born including home-run king Henry “Hank” Aaron, pitching great Leroy “Satchel” Paige and Birmingham’s own “Say Hey Kid,” Willie Mays. The SEC’s first Baseball Hall of Famer, Frank Thomas, played his college ball at Auburn. More future stars will be on display at the SEC Tournament.
Get out of the sun for a spell
It’s not just the quality of the play at the Hoover Met that attracts fans of all ages from throughout the 11-state SEC footprint. It’s also the quality of the experience for those fans at the family-friendly Hoover Met Complex.
If the May weather turns unseasonably warm or you’re just looking for some fun between games, you can step into the spacious new Finley Center and join the SEC FanFest.
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Admission to FanFest is free for all SEC Tournament ticket-holders, and you can come and go as you please between the Finley Center and the Hoover Met. Kids will enjoy inflatables, video simulators, a zip line and miniature golf, among other interactive activities. There will be a sports bar inside for adults, with live entertainment and food options for everyone. Oh, and don’t forget to ride the Ferris wheel outside!
Click here for all the FanFest info you will need.
“Over the last two decades, this community has come together to build an event that’s special regardless of the teams that make the field or reach the championship game,” said Gene Hallman, executive director of the Alabama Sports Council. “The SEC and the city of Hoover keep raising their game year after year.”
As you get ready for Memorial Day, plan to attend the fun-for-all SEC Baseball Tournament May 22-27 to watch teams from the best college baseball conference in the nation play in our own backyard. The Hoover Met is a quick 8 miles from downtown Birmingham, AL.
Enjoy complimentary parking and complimentary shuttle service. You can park your RV right on site!
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On the opening day of the tournament, Tuesday, May 22, Seeds 5-12 will meet in four single-elimination games, followed by traditional double-elimination play Wednesday-Friday. The tournament returns to single-elimination play for Saturday’s semifinals with the championship game Sunday, May 27.
All games Tuesday-Saturday will be televised live on the SEC Network with Sunday’s championship game shown live on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. CT.
Click here to view the Stadium Seating Chart.
Click here to view the session breakdown and you can click here to view a
printable tournament bracket.
Make your plans; tickets are on sale now!
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