http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/06/post_943.html#incart_river
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham city funding for the Southwestern Athletic Conference could be slashed or eliminated altogether following the college sport's conference decision to move its football and basketball championships to Houston, Texas.
Birmingham last year spent $500,000 on SWAC and is set to increase the amount to $550,000 under Mayor William Bell's proposed 2014 budget.
But several council members question why the city would continue to provide money for the Birmingham-based conference that is shipping its major events away from Birmingham.
"The city has shown good will toward them. Certainly we're not responsible for promoting their conference, but we have been a solid partner," Council President Roderick Royal said. "But if we cannot have certain tournaments and or the championship games in basketball and football, then the city needs to move to terminate the contract and let Houston pick up the weight."
The city also provides downtown office space for SWAC.
"If there is no bottom line taxpayer benefit then the city should move along. I would feel that way about all of those venues that receive taxpayer dollars," Royal said. "That's unfortunate, but let the die roll and 'goodbye.'"
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham city funding for the Southwestern Athletic Conference could be slashed or eliminated altogether following the college sport's conference decision to move its football and basketball championships to Houston, Texas.
Birmingham last year spent $500,000 on SWAC and is set to increase the amount to $550,000 under Mayor William Bell's proposed 2014 budget.
But several council members question why the city would continue to provide money for the Birmingham-based conference that is shipping its major events away from Birmingham.
"The city has shown good will toward them. Certainly we're not responsible for promoting their conference, but we have been a solid partner," Council President Roderick Royal said. "But if we cannot have certain tournaments and or the championship games in basketball and football, then the city needs to move to terminate the contract and let Houston pick up the weight."
The city also provides downtown office space for SWAC.
"If there is no bottom line taxpayer benefit then the city should move along. I would feel that way about all of those venues that receive taxpayer dollars," Royal said. "That's unfortunate, but let the die roll and 'goodbye.'"
