Sports
More Than A Competition
We love sports, and that's just one reason our state has produced so many legendary athletes. But it's more than that. It's the history, the venues, the small towns, the people, maybe even the dirt itself. You may know us for the winningest coach in college football, but we invite you to dig deeper. Celebrate the childhood home of track star Jesse Owens. Sit in the stands where the first integrated professional baseball game was played. Explore the backstories and attend some high school, college or minor league games. You might just discover your favorite sport's next big star.
Football
Alabama's legendary athletic reputation centers around football, and it's easy to see why. We've played some of the best football this country has ever seen, from Paul "Bear" Bryant's legendary Crimson Tide teams to Auburn's Bo Jackson and his unforgettable Heisman Trophy run.
Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium (capacity: 101,821) and Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451) are among the largest football stadiums in the country, and host exciting SEC football action every fall. Down in Mobile, you’ll find college football's biggest all-star game, the Senior Bowl, an annual event that draws more NFL scouts and coaches than any other event of its kind.
Baseball
No other state in the South boasts as impressive a list of native baseball legends as Alabama. Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Satchel Paige – all legends of the game. The tradition continues at the state’s top-notch minor league teams in Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Huntsville.
Birmingham is also home to the oldest baseball stadium in America, built in 1910. At Rickwood Field, baseball's golden era is perfectly preserved – from the stadium right down to the uniforms. Simply put, if you love baseball, this is a must-see destination.
Motorsports
Talladega Superspeedway
Watch NASCAR superstars battle three wide in the turns at the world's fastest and most competitive superspeedway each spring and fall. Year-round, tour the track, visit the International Motorsports Hall of Fame or pay homage to local legend Davey Allison by taking a stroll around the Talladega Walk of Fame.
Barber Motorsports Park
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses the world's largest motorcycle collection, as well as race cars and other racing artifacts. Outside, the impressive 2.3-mile road course hosts some of the most challenging racing events in the world, including the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and AMA Honda Superbike Championship.
Thunder on the Gulf
Thrills abound when Orange Beach hosts the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) World Championships. Spectators also enjoy the beach, food and plenty of entertainment at this family-friendly event.
Museums
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
Begin exploring the Alabama sports legacy at this three-story facility in Birmingham, where sports legends Jesse Owens, Hank Aaron, Joe Louis, Carl Lewis and Willie Mays are immortalized. They rank among the top 15 greatest American athletes. Celebrate Alabama sports champions and view vintage equipment, uniforms, photographic exhibits, trophies, life-sized dioramas and kiosks.
Paul W. Bryant Museum
Hear the philosophy of the University of Alabama coach and view photos, memorabilia and films of major Crimson Tide football victories. Celebrate the wins of quarterbacks Joe Namath and Ken Stabler, and watch as Coach Bryant becomes the winningest coach in the history of college football on Nov. 28, 1981.
Jonathan B. Lovelace Athletic Museum
See Bo Jackson going "over the top" against the Crimson Tide in 1982 and watch as Coach Shug Jordan and Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan discuss plays on the sidelines. Hear the history of each intercollegiate sport played at Auburn University. There's even a replica of the legendary Toomer's Corner getting "rolled" with toilet paper after a football victory.
Soccer
While Alabama will forever be associated with football, there's plenty here for the "futbol" fan as well. Birthplace to women's soccer legend Mia Hamm, Alabama has proudly hosted both Olympic and professional soccer, including the 1996 Summer Olympics and Futbol Internacional 2007. The state boasts some of the region’s top soccer facilities, including the Jack Allen Recreational Complex in Decatur and Sports Blast Shelby County outside Birmingham.
Tennis
Westgate Tennis Center
Dothan's winner of three national facility awards is one of the premier tennis facilities in the southern United States. Several national, sectional, state and local tournaments are hosted there throughout the year.
Mobile Tennis Center
One of the largest public tennis facilities in the world, this complex includes more than 50 courts, all lighted and hard-court. There's even a pro shop and professional instruction on site.
Track & Field
Alabama has produced some of the most famous sports figures ever to walk the earth. Perhaps none of them ever achieved international fame like Jesse Owens. And for good reason. Owens, a native of Oakville, Ala., was not only one of his generation's best athletes, but also one of its most important historical figures. And you can learn all about him at the Jesse Owens Memorial Park in Danville, Ala., where you'll find the Jesse Owens Museum and an authentic re-creation of his childhood home.
Adaptive Sports
Birmingham's Lakeshore Foundation, an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, offers more than 60 ongoing activities and classes each week for disabled children and adults. Camp ASCCA in Jacksons' Gap provides access to the world's largest barrier-free therapeutic recreational facility. Specialized camps and activities are also offered through the Alabama School for the Deaf and Blind in Talladega, Birmingham's Camp Smile-A-Mile, Children's Harbor in Alexander City, and Special Olympics Alabama.