Hoover Met gets upgrades for SEC Baseball Tournament
The 'just means more' for the city of Hoover, and city leaders are taking steps to keep the tournament in town.
Over the past three years, they've made improvements to the . Mayor Frank Brocato said those improvements were to keep the tournament in Hoover.
"Every team in the SEC, every city in the SEC wants to host this event, but we've partnered and partnered very well with the SEC and we've listened to what they wanted, what they felt like the stadium needed and I think we've answered those requests," Brocato said.
Fans who have been to the tournament before said they're noticing those improvements.
"This year they've put the right field party deck, they built the new clubhouse with the seating, they replaced all but six sections with chairbacks and went ahead and replaced all the chairbacks," LSU fan Zach Traylor said. "Hoover's making the commitment to keep the tournament here."
Traylor has been tailgating at the Met since 2009. He said the event brings his family from other states together.
"This is home for us and to bring other people here because we're always bringing people to Louisiana and show them what Louisiana's all about, so to have the opportunity for people to come here and to introduce them to that same culture is what we really like about it," Traylor said.
He's hoping the tournament stays in Hoover so he can keep his tradition going.
"I grew up going to this tournament as a kid, so I hope you know my son can have that same opportunity," Traylor said. "They've extended it through 2028, I hope it stays here well beyond 2028. It seems like Hoover's committed and they're putting up the money and money talks."
>> FOLLOW YOUR TEAMS: Sports coverage from 米兰体育 13
Brocato agrees that they're committed to keeping the tournament in Hoover well past 2028.
"It's not just a one stop shop kind of thing," he said. "We've got to keep going. We want to keep it fresh and vibrant and exciting and keep people coming here for many, many, many, many more years to come."