The Birmingham Organizing Committee (BOC) for The World Games 2022 announces that The Hoover Metropolitan Complex will be home to the softball competition for The World Games 2022, which will also serve as the top women’s international softball competition for the year.
Opened in 1988, The Hoover Met can accommodate up to 16,000 fans. The stadium currently serves as the host of Southeastern Conference’s annual baseball tournament and is the permanent home of Hoover High School football.
“The World Games 2022 will be the first major international sporting event on American soil with full venues again, and one of the most anticipated competitions on our program will be the softball games at the Hoover Met,” said Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games. “We’re excited to crown both a gold medal winner for The Games as well as a World Softball Champion in this incredible park. The US Women’s Team heads to Tokyo soon to pursue gold in the Summer Olympic Games. And they will return to compete for gold right here. We expect tickets to sell fast.”
Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said he is thrilled for the chance to show the city of Hoover to the world.
“The World Games will be an incredible opportunity for all of us in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area to show what a great place this is to live, work, play and visit,” Brocato said. “I’m so grateful the City of Hoover has the opportunity to be a part of this fantastic event. We have worked hard to establish ourselves as a great venue for events like the SEC Baseball Tournament. I believe a big part of our appeal at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex is the great experience the players, coaches and fans have, and we fully intend to duplicate that great experience during The World Games.”
Former Alabama softball star and Team USA member Haylie McCleney said she is thrilled for the opportunity to compete for her country, just miles from her hometown of Morris, Ala.
“I’m excited to show off our sport even more in my home state, so close to my hometown.” McCleney said. “It is going to be an exciting opportunity to compete at the highest level. Sports fans in Alabama are among the best in the world, and I have no doubt it will create an environment unlike any other when we compete for a championship in 2022.”
McCleney was a four-time All-American at Alabama from 2013-2016 and finished her college career with 313 hits for an average of .447 to go along with 200 runs scored and 100 stolen bases. In addition to The World Games 2022, McCleney will compete with Team USA in Tokyo during the 2021 Summer Olympics.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from over 30 sports and 100 countries will take part in The World Games.
