The Year In Review: Top Birmingham Sports Stories In 2019

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The last 12 months have been full of significant news stories in the sports world around Alabama, especially right here in the Birmingham area. From the rise and fall of the Alliance of American Football to the first stages of construction for downtown Birmingham's football stadium, Birmingham provided many of the of sports headlines in the state in 2019.

Here are some of the big sports stories in the Birmingham metro on Patch this year:

Birmingham Iron, AAF Begin Operations, End Operations in 2019
The promise was there. The fan base was building. The on-field performance was impressive. However, the fate of the Birmingham Iron football team suffered the same fate that numerous other professional football teams in Birmingham encountered, as the Alliance of American Football announced in April that the league would suspend operations before the inaugural season was complete.

Former Heisman Winner Pat Sullivan Dies

Auburn football legend, former Samford University head coach and 1971 Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan died this year at the age of 69. The news of Sullivan's death came just one day after Auburn celebrated a win in the Iron Bowl over Alabama.

Protective Insurance Gets Naming Rights To New Downtown Stadium

Downtown Birmingham's new football stadium, set for completion by 2020, was officially named Protective Stadium in April of 2019, as Protective Life secured naming rights for the 45,000-capacity stadium. Ground has been broken and a contractor named for the project, which will host UAB home football games.

Mountain Brook Wins 3rd Straight State Basketball Title

Mountain Brook High School's boy's basketball team captured its third consecutive state title this year after defeating Baker High School 61-42 in the finals. This was the fifth championship in the last seven seasons for the Spartans.

Birmingham Legion FC Completes Successful Inaugural Season

While professional football did not succeed in Birmingham in 2019, professional soccer did, as the Birmingham Legion FC completed its inaugural season in the Magic City as the only expansion team in the United Soccer League to make the playoffs. The team will kick off its season in 2020 in an exhibition game against the Atlanta United.