Our Team & Testimonials

Sports Event Planning Team

The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau has recently created a new Sports Marketing Department. With sporting event bookings up 52% in 2006 over the previous year, it was apparent the CVB should boost the trend with a department devoted entirely to booking sports events of all sorts and sizes. The greater Birmingham area has an unusually broad and appealing range of sports venues, from new soccer and La Crosse facilities to excellent venues for baseball, softball, basketball and hockey, just to name a very few. In addition many sports competitions take place at the nationally-acclaimed Lakeshore Foundation, an Official Olympics and Paralympics Training Site. Heading up the new department is David Galbaugh, director of sports marketing, an 11-year veteran of the CVB sales department, specializing in sports events. Tonia Whatley was named national sports manager and sports marketing specialist. She brings 14 years of experience in the sports & recreation industry. Whatley has served on the staff of the Alabama Amateur Softball Association, YMCA’s, and Collegiate Intramural Recreation, and is involved with many other sporting organizations throughout the United States.

Testimonials

The Bruno Event Team and its affiliated companies – Alabama Sports Foundation, Zoom Motorsports and Birmingham Sports Ventures – have enjoyed hosting major spectator sporting events in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area for more than 15 years. What our organization has found is that our community is a legitimate sports town and has a passion and interest for quality of life issues such as quality sporting events and entertainment opportunities. This is evidenced by the large crowds of loyal fans, significant economic impacts generated in our region, and overwhelming support of local, regional and national sponsors for a diverse range of events. The Bruno Event Team and its affiliated companies have hosted successful sporting events that range from: SEC Baseball Tournament, Champions Tour Golf Tournament, Olympic Marathon Trials, Olympic and International Soccer, SEC Gymnastics Championship, Motor Sports, Pro Beach Volleyball, and Historically Black College & Universities Football Classics. The demonstrated commitment from local and state government agencies is yet another driving force as to the continued success of conducting sporting events within the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area.

Shannon Ealy
President – Birmingham Sports Ventures
Vice President – Alabama Sports Foundation
Bruno Event Team

Mercedes Marathon Weekend, the exciting destination event series featuring five races from 5K to the full Monty during two February days, attracts participants of all abilities each year from over 48 states and 8 nations spanning the globe. We are honored that Birmingham’s outward support has earned Mercedes Marathon Weekend the reputation among nation-wide distance runners as “THE hospitality race”, and our mission is also being met through raising over $1 million for our official charities in five years. The event has already hosted the elite of elites including the US Men's Olympic Marathon Trials and the NCAA Men's Marathon National Championships, as testament to the local passion resonating for the sport, and has also drawn the close attention of Sports Illustrated, Southern Living, Runner’s World and other recognized publications.

Justin Joffrion
Mercedes Marathon Race Director