Birmingham a finalist to host 2028 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team trials

Birmingham is one of four finalists to host the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team trials for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Gene Hallman, president of Eventive Sports, said Birmingham has finalized its bid for the trials and has support from the city, county and state in the effort. The other three finalists have not been identified. A decision is expected by the end of the year.

According to the bid proposal on the USA Gymnastics’ website, in addition to being the Olympics trials for men’s and women’s gymnastics, the event will also include the USA Gymnastics Championships, Gymnastics for All GymFest and USA Gymnastics National Congress & Tradeshow. Collectively, USA Gymnastics is calling it “2028 Gymnastics City USA.”

Hallman said when Minneapolis hosted the event for the 2024 Olympics, it had an estimated economic impact of $70 million. He said officials visited Birmingham during the 2022 World Games and were impressed with the hosting of gymnastics events as part of those games.

Hallman likes the Magic City’s chances of becoming 2028 Gymnastics City USA.

“I think we may be the leader in the clubhouse,” he said. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but I think we’ve got a really great chance to be part of the L.A. Olympic Games in ’28.”

The gymnastics trials would take place in June 2028, about one month before the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Hallman said Eventive Sports is also pursuing bringing a new marathon to Birmingham to replace the previously successful Mercedes Marathon.