Birmingham breaks Super 7 High School Football Championships attendance record

AHSAA
Sweetwater High School (purple) vs. Wadley High School (white) at the Super 7 Football Championships in Protective Stadium on December 2, 2021. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Need evidence that Birmingham is the ‘Football Capital of the South?’ 

Here you go.

According to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), last week, the Magic City shattered the Super 7 State Football Championships attendance record. Held at the newly christened Protective Stadium, 62,544 football fans took part in the three-day event over by the BJCC and the Uptown Entertainment District.

“This was great news for our schools,” said AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs in AHSAANow “It is also a testament to the strong support the cities and communities across our state have for our member school education-based athletics programs.”

2021 Birmingham Super 7 Numbers

AHSAA
Oneonta High School fans at the Super 7 Football Championships in Protective Stadium on December 3, 2021. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

The previous record was 61,048 when the championships were held at Auburn University and were then called the “Super 6”.

The daily attendance breakdown for the week:

  • WEDNESDAY: 16,341
  • THURSDAY:     18,021
  • FRIDAY:            28,182

TOTAL              62,544

“On behalf of our member schools and Central Board of Control, we thank everyone for that support including our corporate partners, the City of Birmingham, Protective Stadium and all who volunteered their time to make this week’s games so special for our member schools,” added Briggs.

Return to Birmingham After 13 Years

AHSAA
Oneonta (red) vs. Vigor (white) at the Super 7 Football Championships in Protective Stadium on December 3, 2021. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

The Super 7 Championships returned in 2021 to Birmingham after a 13 year hiatus. Since 2009, the Super 7 has alternated between Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. 

Previously, Birmingham had hosted the championships for all classifications  between 1996-2008 at Legion Field. The Magic City also hosted the large school championship from 1971 to 1995.

Because of a new 12 year agreement reached with the cities of Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Auburn —high school championship football returned to Birmingham.

AHSAA
Sweetwater High School (purple) vs. Wadley High School (white) at the Super 7 Football Championships in Protective Stadium on December 2, 2021. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Under a 2019 agreement with AHSAA, Birmingham was slated to hold the Super 7 this year and  in 2024, 2027 and 2030.

Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium and the communities of Auburn and Opelika will follow as hosts in 2022 as well as 2026, 2028, and 2032. 

Tuscaloosa finishes out the rotation — hosting the Super 7 at the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2023, 2025, 2029, and 2031.

Did you attend the Super7 Championships last week?  Tag your favorite photos on social media at @bhamnow 

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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