Hoover and the SEC Baseball Tournament: A Family Tradition

Guest Opinion by Nick Derzis, Mayor of Hoover

Few events have shaped Hoover’s identity like the SEC Baseball Tournament. What began in 1998 as a new opportunity for our city has become a staple event throughout the South.

Each year, baseball fans and families from across the Southeastern Conference converge on the Hoover Met to enjoy one of the premier events in college sports. Beforemaking Hoover the official home of the tournament, the league moved the event from year to year.

Ultimately, the SEC was looking for more than a venue. They wanted a trusted partner. Over the last three decades, the SEC and the City of Hoover have built a lastingpartnership that has been extremely beneficial to the league and our city.

The success of the tournament did not happen overnight. It has taken continued investment, planning, and a commitment to doing things the right way.

The Hoover Met was built in 1988 during Mayor Frank Skinner’s administration. Allen Pate was hired by the city that same year to oversee its construction, and he stayedon for nearly three decades, helping negotiate several SEC contracts along the way. 

Mayor Tony Petelos invested in the upgrades that kept the facility competitive. Mayor Gary Ivey and the council approved the funding for the Finley Center, which turnedthe Met into a year-round destination. 

Each of them had the foresight to invest in our facilities with a long-term perspective. Those investments continue to pay massive dividends today.

Over 180,000 attendees come to Hoover each year, and the tournament creates an atmosphere that extends well beyond the Met. Our hotels, restaurants, and local businessesbenefit, and our residents take pride in welcoming visitors to our city. The tournament’s economic impact is over $30 million. 

Every year, we get to showcase to the nation what we already know: Hoover is a special place. It is the perfect host for an event like the SEC Tournament, and we arecommitted to ensuring that the tournament remains in our city for many years to come.

For many families, attending the tournament has become a tradition passed down from one generation to the next. That kind of longevity is not an accident. It is builton continued collaboration between the SEC and the City of Hoover.

We are proud of our longstanding relationship with the SEC, and I am grateful for the support of the Hoover City Council, our business community, and the residents whohelp make this event possible each year.

Many say the road to Omaha begins right here in Hoover. The SEC has won six consecutive College World Series titles, the longest such run in modern college baseball. This year’s tournament is shaping up to be a great one. 

It will be an amazing opportunity for spectators to see one of the best collections of young talent in recent memory. 

For the first time, the championship game will be televised on ABC, showcasing our city to a national audience. Fans will get the chance to see countless future MLB starsin one place, right here in Hoover.

The tournament will start on Tuesday, May 19, and continue through Sunday, May 24, 2026, with opening day festivities beginning at 9:30 a.m.

As we look ahead to this year’s tournament, Hoover remains committed to investing in our city, strengthening the partnership with the SEC, and ensuring our city remainsthe home of the SEC Baseball Tournament for years to come.

It is more than a tournament. It is part of who we are.

Nick Derzis is the eighth mayor of Hoover. He previously served as Hoover’s Chief of Police for over two decades. 

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