AHSAA, City of Montgomery Sign Contract Extension

        The City of Montgomery, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and its coaches group, the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA), announced Wednesday they have agreed to extend the contract of events hosted by the city for five years.
        The new agreement extends some contracts and renews some that are expiring. It begins this school year (2012-13) and for the following four years (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17).

        The announcement was made jointly by AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese and Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange at a special press conference at the AHSAA Office.
        Montgomery hosts a myriad of events, including the annual AHSAA Summer Conference and All-Star Sports Week, which is considered one of the largest single conventions in the city each year.
        Other events hosted by the City of Montgomery include the AHSAA state baseball championships (at Riverwalk Stadium and Paterson Field), the state softball tournament (at Lagoon Park), at least one division annually of the state tennis championships (at Lagoon Park), volleyball super regional tourney (at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl), the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football and Boys and Girls Basketball Games (at Cramton Bowl and Alabama State University Acadome) and the al.com Champions Challenge pre-season football classic (at Cramton Bowl).
        “We are very pleased to make this announcement,” AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said.  “The City of Montgomery is an excellent host for our many events. We think this partnership is important for our member schools and for our city economy. It is a win-win situation for all of us.”

        The City of Montgomery will pay the AHSAA a host fee annually, which helps fund many of the AHSADCA’s projects in Montgomery – including the Summer Conference, All-Star Sports Week, the al.com Champions Challenge, Alabama-Mississippi All-Star football and basketball games, the Principals and AD Conference and the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.
        According to city economic figures, AHSAA events have had an annual economic impact of approximately $8 million for Montgomery and surrounding communities. Mayor Todd Strange said these events help showcase just what his city has to offer.
        “The City of Montgomery is proud to be the host of AHSAA championship and all-star events for the next five years,” Strange said.  “Our central location, top-notch sports facilities, community support and hospitality make Montgomery the ideal sports destination.  We welcome athletes, coaches and their families from across Alabama to the Capital of Dreams.”
        The AHSAA Summer Conference and All-Star Sports Week, hosted by the AHSADCA, annually brings over 4,000 coaches, administrators and student-athletes to Montgomery for a week in July. An additional 10,000 to 15,000 fans attend the week’s eight all-star competitions. A big part of the conference is the AHSADCA’s annual Coaches School, which brings in top-notch speakers to address member school coaches and administrators for specific on-site individual sports training.
        North-South all-star competition is also hosted throughout the city in several sports, currently including football, baseball, softball, boys and girls basketball, volleyball and boys and girls soccer.