NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference announced Thursday that Montgomery, Ala., will be the host site for the league's annual baseball championship beginning in 2020 and running through 2024.
The agreement between the Sun Belt, the Central Alabama Sports Commission and the city of Montgomery is a five-year term that will see the conference tournament played at Riverwalk Stadium, which opened in 2004 and can accommodate up to 7,000 fans when general admission tickets are included. Home of the minor league Montgomery Biscuits, the scenic ballpark is located in downtown Montgomery and built into a converted railroad station.
"Montgomery is a city rich with history, and more recently it has seen a revitalization of its downtown area that will make for a perfect home for the Sun Belt Baseball Championship," Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said. "We are thrilled to continue our relationship with the city of Montgomery as it has provided a first-class experience for fans and student-athletes in recent years with our partnership in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl."
Montgomery, known as the "Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement," has been recognized nationally for its continuing redevelopment of its downtown. Alabama's state capitol also hosts the annual Raycom Media Camellia Bowl that includes a representative from the Sun Belt each season, as Appalachian State played there in 2015 and 2016.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to build our relationship with the Sun Belt Conference," Central Alabama Sports Commission Executive Director Johnny Williams said. "Over the past five years, they have been a great partner in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, and we look forward to expanding that partnership and their footprint in our community with the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship."
The 2018 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championship will be hosted by the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in Lafayette, La., from May 22-27. The 2019 edition of the championship will be held in Conway, S.C., and hosted by Coastal Carolina.
