BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The lights were bright, the crowd was loud, and the energy inside Birmingham’s historic Boutwell Auditorium was electric Thursday night as Ballin’ in Boutwell capped off a week filled with basketball.
Organizers say this year’s event was all about building on momentum. After debuting last year with a single showcase featuring the Alabama men’s basketball team, the event has grown into a multi-day celebration of hoops, featuring some of the state’s top college programs — including Alabama, Auburn, Samford, and Alabama A&M.
Hosted by Knight Eady Sports Marketing in partnership with Hibbett and Nike, Ballin’ in Boutwell has become a showcase not only for basketball, but also for the rebirth of a historic downtown venue once thought to be past its prime.
Knight Eady President Michael Eady said the expansion this year was intentional, with a focus on enhancing both the experience and the environment inside the arena.
“This year we’ve gone a little bit above and beyond, and added some additional signage and some digital media boards and things like that to kind of enhance the in-venue experience,” Eady said. “But, it’s a beautiful facility. Not typically basketball being played in here but we’ll be doing that this week, and I think that’s what the fans really appreciate, is this is a very intimate environment in a historic building, so you’re getting to see basketball in a way that you wouldn’t normally would. Everybody’s right here on top of the floor.”
The weeklong series has drawn large crowds, celebrating both athletic competition and Birmingham’s growing reputation as a host city for major events.
While the basketball action wrapped up Thursday night with Alabama taking on Florida State, the festivities are far from over. Organizers say Ballin’ in Boutwell will close out Friday with a concert headlined by hip-hop artist Juvenile and the 400 Degreez Band — adding a lively finale to a week that’s brought new energy to one of the city’s oldest venues.
Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.
Copyright 2025 WBRC. All rights reserved.