2021 World Games. Here. (Birmingham: buying, construction, closing)

[Southlander]

Congratulations to Birmingham!
Now you need to built more hotel rooms.

I assume some of these games will be using the University of Alabama's facilities? Or even Huntsville's or Montgomery's?

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Congratulations to Birmingham!
Now you need to built more hotel rooms.

I assume some of these games will be using the University of Alabama's facilities? Or even Huntsville's or Montgomery's?

No. Most of the venues that were used in the pitch are within Birmingham city limits. The few exceptions are nearby in the metro area.

[pjg66]

Originally Posted by raj kapoor

It is a wonderful accomplishment.

For me it represents much more than this event. It leads the way to concentrate on positive goals and a lot less lamenting. (a full time job in this city)

Six years is actually a very short period of time when planning something of this magnitude. Therefore the city will not be transformed before the date arrives. (and people will be on here in five years posting snarky thoughts about that)
However, it will be a catalyst to make ourselves ready for the next opportunities of which we choose to partake. Importantly, everything that is planned and in the pipeline will be finished by then, so the city will have a much fresher newer appearance and feel for welcoming visitors. There will certainly be no shortage of places and things to do while visiting the city.

It is a major opportunity for Birmingham to start thinking beyond what is on our plate right now. As I frequently write, no city is static, no one can have a clue what it will be like here in ten years. But I have a hunch we will look back and credit this event and the people that made it happen with giving the community the push it needed to continure to move forward, instead of being held back by those who do not realize that this is a new generation of city builders. The symbolism is enormous for those who choose to believe.

Great post -- an excellent summary of the opportunity this represents for the city of Birmingham to progress forward.

[raj kapoor]

Originally Posted by pjg66

Great post -- an excellent summary of the opportunity this represents for the city of Birmingham to progress forward.

It has been a wild day. It is nice to come home to a simple compliment such as yours.

Thank you very much. I have a heartfelt drive to want to see our city and state live up to its potential.

[jakabedy]

Congrats to the 'ham!!

[Tourian]

Where would the World Games take place in Birmingham in 2021? | AL.com

Barber Motorsports Park: Air sports, archery, boules sports, canoe, sport climbing, handball, orienteering, outdoor roller sports, men tug of war

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport: Air sports

Birmingham-Southern College Arena: Dance sports, floorball, gymnastics, ju-jitsu, karate, korfball, muaythai, netball, powerlifting, indoor roller sports, sumo, women tug of war
Birmingham-Southern College Stadium: Boules sports, sport climbing, flying disc, lacrosse, outdoor roller sports, men tug of war
Birmingham-Southern College Softball: Fistball, handball, softball

Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena: Dance sports, floorball, gymnastics, ju-jitsu, karate, korfball, muaythai, netball, powerlifting, indoor roller sports, sumo, women tug of war
BJCC Exhibit Halls: Billiard sports, ju-jitsu, karate, muaythai, powerlifting, sumo, women tug of war

Boutwell Auditorium: Billiard sports, dance sports, floorball, ju-jitsu, karate, korfball, muaythai, netball, powerlifting, indoor roller sports, sumo, women tug of war

Birmingham CrossPlex: Canoe, sport climbing, floorball, ju-jitsu, karate, korfball, life saving, muaythai, netball, powerlifting, indoor roller sports, sumo, women tug of war, underwater sports

Lakeshore Foundation: Canoe, floorball, ju-jitsu, karate, korfball, life saving, muaythai, netball, powerlifting, indoor roller sports, sumo, women tug of war, underwater sports

Legion Field: Flying disc, lacrosse

Oak Mountain State Park: Air sports, archery, canoe, sport climbing, handball, life saving, orienteering, outdoor roller sports, men tug of war, water ski

Railroad Park: Archery, boules sports, sport climbing, men tug of war

Regions Field: Fistball, handball, softball, men tug of war

Rickwood Field: Fistball, handball, softball, men tug of war

Samford University Arena: Dance sports, floorball, gymnastics, ju-jitsu, karate, korfball, muaythai, netball, powerlifting, indoor roller sports, sumo, women tug of war
Samford Stadium: Flying disc, lacrosse
Samford Softball: Fistball, handball, softball, men tug of war
Samford Soccer and Track: Boules sports, sport climbing, fistball, flying disc, handball, outdoor roller sports, men tug of war

Shelby County Airport: Air sports

Lightning Strikes-Trussville: Bowling

UAB Bartow Arena: Dance sports, floorball, gymnastics, ju-jitsu, karate, korfball, muaythai, netball, powerlifting, indoor roller sports, sumo, women tug of war
UAB Campus Recreation Center: Canoe, sport climbing, life saving, racquetball, underwater sports
UAB Softball: Fistball, handball, softball, men tug of war

YMCA-Downtown: Canoe, sport climbing, life saving, racquetball, squash, underwater sports
YMCA-Shades Valley: Canoe, life saving, racquetball, underwater sports

[PortCity]

Wow congratulations birmingham !!!!!!!!!!!!
This is going to be crazy !

[jaydoc]

Nice. A big opportunity for Birmingham. Hopefully the stimulus that planning, building and hosting these games bring to the city will be here to stay on after its all said and done.

[bhamoutlook]

Originally Posted by Maxum42

I think maybe you have The World Games' impact/requirements confused with the Olympics' impact/requirements...TWG are not close to the Olympics in how it affected cities in the US (eg Atlanta) or the rest of the world.
The sports that are included in the World Games are limited by the facilities available in the host city; no new facilities may be constructed for the games. Up to now between 25 and 35 sports were included in the programme of The World Games. The IWGA, in coordination with the host city, can invite some sport to participate in the "invitational" program. No official World Games medals are awarded to invitational sports. Birmingham is not building a host of spanking new facilities. That's not really in the plans and won't spur some kind of massive building boom that typically occurs in truly "Olympic Cities". In other words, being a host city for this particular competition is unlikely to be a "stimulus" for "building" any flurry of physical structures etc. There is no requirement to do that.

You are right in some ways but not on everything. If the facilities were already planned, then they may be used. The domed stadium would qualify. Also, infrastructure can be added in other areas. Better transit, public art, etc can be added as a lot of cities do for the Olympics. The facilities are the only thing that are restricted. So, Birmingham could be building a lot of new things but obviously it wouldn't be like the Olympics.

[Tourian]

It is a good thing it wont be like the Olympics. Lots of cities lose their minds building things that are only for the Olympics for specialized events that wont ever be used again. That wont be the case here. The multi use facility was already in the planning stages. We won based on the venues listed above that we already have.

http://m.bizjournals.com/birmingham/...ll-impact.html

3. It could spark developments in Birmingham

One of the best things about the World Games is that it won't require new facilities. Birmingham will be able to take advantage of the great facilities we already have – from the CrossPlex and Lakeshore Foundation to Oak Mountain State Park, among others.

But that doesn't mean the event can't or won't be a springboard to spark discussion about future facilities.

Having the World Games in 2021 will likely generate more tangible talk about the oft-discussed dome project at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. For proponents of the project, landing the event will likely help dissuade some of the concerns about the dome's viability that will – rightly or wrongly – follow UAB's decision to end its football program.

The event could also be a platform to upgrade public transit options or even pursue projects like a rail or tram connecting Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to downtown.