State Lends Support For STEM Hub At Saban Discovery Center

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Alabama football coach Nick Saban stood at the podium at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater Wednesday morning and reflected back to the time he received a "D" in music because he was shy and had refused to get up and sing in front of the entire class.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

It was a formative experience for the teenage Saban and one he cited over half a century later as he joined other dignitaries in providing the latest update for the Saban Discovery Center — namely a partnership with the Alabama Department of Education for a hub dedicated to immersive offerings relating to science, technology, engineering and math or STEM.

"So when that report card came home my Dad immediately told me, 'Go get your basketball uniform, we're taking you to the coach and turning in your uniform,'" Saban recalled. "So, we turned in the uniform and I had to quit the eighth grade basketball team until I got my grades straight. Then he took me to the coal mines and we went 527 feet deep and he said 'This is where you're going to end up if you don't get an education.' So, that was my lesson. That was my inspiration to make sure I did everything I could do to get a quality education so I would create opportunities for the future and that is exactly what we are trying to do for children here."

Located on the former campus of the Tuscaloosa News, Patch previously reported that the Saban Center is expected to be built around a wide range of offerings similar to Birmingham's McWane Science Center, while also bringing together community organizations such as Children's Hands-On Museum (CHOM) — rebranded as IGNITE — and the Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre.

"Really, it's not much different than what we ask our football players to do," Coach Saban explained. "We challenge them to confront issues, prepare for issues that are going to confront them, even though it's on the playing field, and those that are the most prepared are those that have the best chance to be successful. It's no different with young people when we can create opportunities for them to have a lifetime of learning. That's going to enhance their chances of being successful in the future."

The Tuscaloosa City Council has already committed to spending $55 million on the project, while Mayor Walt Maddox said on Wednesday that organizers had already exceeded the initial fundraising goal. Overall, the center is expected to cost in excess of $100 million.

The projected opening date at present is the last quarter of 2026.

The Saban Discovery Center has been three years in the making, with Maddox explaining the role the new center will fill within the larger picture of the state's economy with the addition of a STEM hub.

"We've all heard the statistics, if our state's going to continue to progress, we're going to need 850,000 related STEM jobs to make it happen," Maddox said. "And today, we are making it happen."

Saban Discovery Center Director Audrey Buck explained the project's conceptual phase, which involved her team visiting science and discovery centers across the country. It was during these visits that organizers learned that many of these centers only involved schools after they opened.

"We are not going to make that same mistake," she said. "We knew that we have to have our key teachers involved from the very beginning in conjunction with IGNITE and TCT. They would be our content experts to ensure the IGNITE exhibits directly correlate with the Alabama curriculum. We are not just going to be just a field trip. We are going to be an integrated STEM hub for the state of alabama ... this partnership elevates this project to a new level unlike any other."

Terry Saban — a former teacher — has been the tip of the spear on the project, with the Saban family committing a large share of the cost. She said on Wednesday that what was started as a spark has grown to a "roaring conflagration" and has been well-received in the community, from both an involvement and fundraising standpoint.

"Once we involved the teachers, I think it also took this project to a new level and we saw more possibilities for the Saban Center," Terry Saban said. "The ability to support the classrooms, the goals to interact, visual programming. Whether it's robotics or computer science or new forms of energy and now the exciting news that the state is on board with us and our team ... this support from the state will ensure we make a lasting impact on education."

During her 2023 State of the State Address Tuesday night, Gov. Kay Ivey mentioned the new partnership and praised the contributions of the Saban family.

"Coach Saban has said before that while there are many trophies and championships in the game of football, the most life-changing achievement is getting an education," she said. "I could not agree more, Coach. The Saban Center – a partnership between the Saban family and the city of Tuscaloosa – will be an interactive and immersive STEM experience for young people from all over Alabama. And it won’t just be limited to STEM, it will help students become even more well-rounded, exposing them to the arts and very appropriately – sports sciences."

Terry Saban was in attendance for Ivey's speech and received a standing ovation before inspiring the governor — an Auburn graduate — to say "Roll Tide."

"This evening, I am very proud to add the state to the team of partners making the Saban Center a reality," Ivey said. "I believe this will be a learning center for many Alabamians for generations to come – and to that I’ll say … Roll Tide ... I am very proud to join you on this venture."

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.