HUNTSVILLE — NCAA championships are coming to Huntsville in a big way over the next four years.
Huntsville has been selected to host not just one, but two NCAA national championship events in 2027, including a Final Four in soccer.
The Rocket City will host the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships at John Hunt Park and the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships at Joe Davis Stadium.
The selection of Huntsville to host these prestigious events showcases the city’s ability to accommodate and execute large-scale championships with excellence, officials said. There will be 24 men’s and 24 women’s teams in for the cross country championship and four men’s and four women’s soccer teams.
Huntsville was also chosen to host the NCAA Division II South Region Cross Country Championships in 2026 and the NCAA Division I South Region Cross Country Championships in 2027.
Officials said this milestone underscores the growing recognition of John Hunt Park’s world-class cross country course and the teamwork of the Huntsville Sports Commission, Huntsville/ Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Jacksonville State University and the city.
“Thanks to the NCAA and the championships committees on the opportunity to host these national and regional championships,” said Joel Lamp, sports manager for the CVB. “We have great facilities at John Hunt Park and Joe Davis Stadium with partners that make our city a great destination to host these events. I’m extremely proud of the hard work our team has done over the years to get in the conversation to host a national championship and look forward to using this platform to showcase Huntsville over the course of the next few years.
“it takes a massive team effort to land these events and everyone’s contributions made it possible.”
Lamp said the bid process started last summer with the request for proposals and a January deadline.
“Over the last few months, we’ve had discussions with the championship managers on our proposal – whether it was about the facility, our hotels, or a tournament banquet,” he said.
John Hunt Park’s cross country course will host a portion of the NCAA postseason over the next four years, including two Division II regionals (2024, 2026), two Division I regionals (2025, 2027), and the 2027 Division II National Championship.
The city has long been recognized for its ability to host premier sporting events, and this championship further cements its place on the national stage.
“Huntsville has long been a champion of hosting top-tier sporting events, and we are thrilled to be chosen to host two NCAA Championships in 2027,” said Mark Russell, executive director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “This is an incredible opportunity for our city to shine as a destination for world-class competition, and we’re confident that our community, our course, and our hospitality will provide an outstanding experience for everyone involved.”
The recently renovated Joe Davis Stadium will also take the national stage in 2027, hosting the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships.
Huntsville has been a regular host for the Gulf South Conference Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships and is set to host the NJCAA Division II National Championship this fall. The NCAA Championships will bring the Final Four men’s and women’s teams to Huntsville for an exciting championship weekend on Wicks Family Field.
The events also reflect the strong partnership between UAH Athletics and the city of Huntsville.
“We couldn’t be more excited for people to experience what we already know: Huntsville is awesome,” said UAH Athletic Director Cade Smith. “I’m incredibly grateful for the collaborative efforts of Team Huntsville, and we look forward to hosting several great events on a national stage over the coming years.”
Upcoming NCAA championships
- 2024 Division II South Regional – Cross Country
- 2025 Division I South Regional – Cross Country
- 2026 Division II South Regional – Cross Country
- 2027 Division I South Regional – Cross Country
- 2027 Division II National Championship – Cross Country
- 2027 Division II Men’s & Women’s Soccer National Championship
And, according to Lamp, the sports industry is providing a boost to the local economy and the city’s image.
“Our sports tourism strategy has a lot of momentum – we got our first national championship from a Team USA organization this summer with table tennis and are tracking toward a new record for economic impact in a single year this year,” Lamp said. “Securing these national championships puts some rocket fuel into that momentum.
“We now have a NCAA event for four straight years, which opens more doors for our team to further build our sports platform in the next few years.”
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