SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey had previously defended keeping the tournament at campus sites, per the Tuscaloosa News. Photo: Courtesy Andy Lyons/Getty Images
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says local folks really went to bat to get the SEC Softball Tournament at Toyota Field.
What they're saying: "The folks in the Huntsville area pursued us aggressively," Sankey said Monday in Birmingham, per Gatorsports. "They hosted a multiple team event a little over a year ago to show what could be done in a baseball stadium for high level competition. ... It's pretty central for our teams to access."
That event, which saw the field converted to softball, was a key part of the effort, officials said last month.
Catch up quick: The SEC announced in April that the SEC Softball Tournament will come to the home of the Trash Pandas starting in 2027.
It's the first time the nationally-broadcast tournament will be held at a non-campus neutral site in more than 20 years, and is expected to bring around 14,000 visitors, not counting teams and staff, and generate around $9 million in local economic impact.
