Alabama State set the standard in HBCU Stadiums when it opened up it’s state-of-the-art, 26,000 on-campus stadium. ASU may be preparing to break new ground again as it may become the first HBCU stadium to host a FBS Bowl Game. Al.com’s Jon Solomon reports that organizers of the Legend’s Bowl Group have identified The New Alabama State Stadium in Montgomery, AL as a potential site for it’s new proposed bowl game. The game will be made up of schools from the smaller conferences, such as the Mountain West, Sun Belt and Conference USA.
Brian Woods, sports consultant head of The Legends Bowl Group, explained why he thought the stadium would be a perfect host to the proposed Dec. 2014 game.
Alabama State’s $62 million Hornet Stadium includes 200 loge seats, 750 club seats, two party terraces, 20 luxury box suites and a 64-foot, high-definition scoreboard. Critics have questioned Alabama State spending so much on a football stadium, and the university has been seeking music concerts and sports events for the venue.
“The venue is incredible,” Woods said. “The biggest mistake a lot of these bowls make is they go into venues that are too large. When we were looking for cities to go into, we were looking for capacities of 40,000 or less.”
This would be a big step forward for Alabama State, and HBCUs in general. Many have questioned the financial commitment the school made into building the stadium. But if it can draw in events like an FBS bowl game and secure a naming rights deal, those voices will likely cease and desist. This was a bold, new endeavor for not only ASU but any HBCU that seeks to become a major player in college athletics. It’s still early, but it looks like it just may pay off.