Rocket City Classic to Bring Hoop Fans to Huntsville

By Abigail Harrison, DHI Communications Coordinator

The Rocket City will soon welcome sports fans from all over the South with two major basketball events coming to the Von Braun Center.

Mayor Tommy Battle and the Huntsville Sports Commission announced in a press conference last week that the Rocket City Classic is returning in December, and the city will also host the Conference USA tournament in March 2024. 

Founded in 2000, the Huntsville Sports Commission is in charge of sports tourism for the city. The team works with many partners throughout Huntsville, such as the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Downtown Huntsville, Inc, and the City of Huntsville, to plan and execute sporting events. They also prioritize initiatives to support local parks and recreation facilities.

“Huntsville is a changing town. It’s growing, things are happening differently, and people are wanting to see more and more events,” said Mark Russell, Executive Director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “Sports are a good way to increase the quality of our lives, and sports build community.”

The Rocket City Classic will mark the first time the Auburn Tigers have played in Huntsville since 2003. Auburn, who advanced to the second round of this year’s NCAA Tournament under the leadership of coach Bruce Pearl, will face off against UNC-Asheville on December 13.

The game is projected to bring a lot of outside fans into the streets of Huntsville, and the Sports Commission is working to make sure fans have a great experience when they visit local bars, restaurants and hotels. Russell encourages community members to rally around these fans, support the games, and help create a fun environment for everyone.

“It needs to be a good place to play where everybody has a great experience,” Russell said. “It will be fun for our citizens if we do that. If we make it a great experience and we have a lot of people Downtown, it will be fun for everyone to come and join the party.”

The Conference USA basketball tournament will bring even more guests in for a whole week of competitions and activities. This presents a great opportunity for local businesses to engage visitors with fun and entertainment after the games are over.

“Conference USA is so important to us because it is a long event,” Russell said. “One night of basketball, we’ve done it successfully, but can we do a week of basketball? Can Downtown rally in and show up on a Tuesday night, as well as a Friday night?” 

Tickets to the Rocket City Classic went on sale to the public on August 16. Tickets to the Conference USA tournament will go on sale later this fall.