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Gulf South Championship returns to Samford

Photo courtesy of Gulf South.

This month, the Raymond James Gulf South Conference  (GSC) Basketball Championship is coming back to Homewood. And, in its second year at Samford University, GSC is expected to again pull out all the stops to show the host city and its residents it’s thrilled to be here. 

The tournament, which begins March 6, will stretch over four days and include 14 games — seven between collegiate men’s teams and seven between women’s. The conference championships are scheduled for March 9.

GSC commissioner Nate Salant said last year’s move to Samford’s Hanna Center was a hit with the conference’s coaches and student-athletes.

“They loved the facility, and they also loved being in Homewood,” Salant said. “Every team was housed in Homewood, and every team ate all of its meals in Homewood restaurants, so the traveling parties and fans experienced a lot of what makes the city special.”

In 2013, the conference reserved more than 530 rooms, almost exclusively in Homewood, for players and coaches. He estimates the total economic impact of hosting the tournament at Samford was in excess of $100,000. But while important, money isn’t everything, he said.

“Our goal is atmosphere and excitement,” Salant said. “This is not a dollar-driven event. We know we’ll never make big money because we aren’t a big conference like the SEC, but our basketball is as good at our level as big conferences are at theirs.”

Last year, GSC lined up several events and specials to show its appreciation to the city. While all haven’t been rescheduled, Salant said GSC is targeting the finals on March 9 as “Homewood: Your Championship City Day.” During the games, students ages 12 and younger who live in Homewood will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult presenting proof of residence (driver’s license).

Salant added that city government “stepped up big” to help accommodate the championship last year. Homewood City Council member Britt Thames said the city seized the opportunity to promote Homewood during the event, and the community was featured during games with multiple opportunities including TV commercials.

“We’ll be promoting the city as a whole,” Thames said. “It’s good for everyone involved to have this tournament here — especially since this is a Birmingham-based conference.”

GSC’s headquarters is located in Shelby County. Salant said the Birmingham area is the geographic center of the conference, which includes schools from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida. 

“It’s very clear Samford wants this to happen,” Salant said. “They’ve been extremely welcoming, but everyone in Homewood is that way. There’s such a strong sense of community here.”

2014 GSC Tournament Tentative Schedule 

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

All tickets to the 2014 GSC tournaments are general admission and are provided on a per-day basis.

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