Business View Magazine | August 2019

189 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019 THE B I RMINGHAM CROSSPLEX big improvement for us, and it’s time to do it.” Regarding competition from other venues, Kirk says it depends on the sport. “When it comes to the track, we are the only show in town, and the only show in the Southeast,” he states. “The closest indoor track is at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, going west; going east, it’s Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There are other cities around us that have done studies on indoor facilities like ours and they are now realizing that the sport of indoor track and field is growing, especially during the winter months. There are going to be other cities, soon, that will be a competitor, but for that particular sport, we’re the only one, right now.” Kirk believes that the Crossplex is a unique venue with unmatched capabilities, allowing simultaneous activity and events. “We are the only facility in the country that has hosted the NCAA Division II Winter Festival - all under one roof,” he points out. “The sports are indoor track and field, swimming and diving, and wrestling. They only do it on the Division II level, and they only do it every four years. We’re also the only facility that will have hosted that event three times. For that event, you can pay for one ticket and see three national championships all going on at the same time, without ever having to walk outside. Furthermore, the Crossplex played a major role in Birmingham getting the World Games; we’re actually going to be hosting about six of the sports while that event is going on in the summer of 2021.” “The three words we stand on are ‘world class sports,’” Kirk concludes. “We bring events that will bring in athletes and spectators from all over the world; we’re going to provide the highest hospitality and highest class of service that we can; and we’re here for the sport and the athletes. We’re going to make sure those athletes are competing on the best surface that they can, with the best officials. We’re going to do everything with a high level of service.” Stephenson adds a final statement: “Obviously the 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard N. Birmingham, AL 35203 +1 205-324-5000 westinbirmingham.com 2221 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N. Birmingham, AL 35203 +1 205-307-3600 sheratonbirmingham.com EMBRACE THE BEST OF BIRMINGHAM THEWORLDGAMES2021.COM THE WORLD IS COMING JULY 15–25 T O B I R M I N G H A M , A L