Fair Play: Madison County’s Growing Sports Industry

When people think of Huntsville, they tend to think of rockets, and the people who make them. Not so surprising; there’s a reason we’re called “Rocket City,” after all, and in recent years, Huntsville’s growth has led to new sports teams and venues coming to Madison County.

I have fond memories of going to Joe Davis Stadium with my dad, spending sunny afternoons watching the Huntsville Stars Minor League Baseball team. We were sad to see them go, after they were bought out and relocated to Biloxi in 2015, but now, we not only have the Rocket City Trash Pandas playing in the new Toyota Field, but the old Joe Davis Stadium is getting a new lease on life.

After laying empty for years, Joe Davis Stadium was selected to become the new home venue for the Huntsville City Football Club, part of the MLS NEXT Pro League. The HCFC's inaugural season began with a series of away games, but on Friday, May 19, the newly renovated Wicks Family Field saw the team achieve a 2-1 victory over MLS NEXT Pro league leaders Crown Legacy.

The HCFC has already sold 3,000 Season Tickets, with both season tickets and individual tickets still available.

“It’s been incredible to see the Huntsville and North Alabama community embrace Huntsville City FC,” said Chad Emerson, Managing Director of Business Operations with Huntsville City FC. “With single match tickets selling fast and season tickets launching towards 3,000, the entire HCFC team is really grateful for our fans and supporters, and look forward to hosting them at our grand opening on May 19.”

The stadium itself has benefited from extensive renovations, including a new 1600-foot video scoreboard and field-level private boxes, for those who want a luxury sporting experience. Joe Davis Stadium is also the centerpiece of the City of Huntsville’s investment in John Hunt Park.

“New hotels, retail and apartments are in the works for property surrounding the stadium and park, adding to the vitality of the city,” says Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas have been a consistent crowd pleaser, even during their inaugural season, in April of 2020. Despite the pandemic, the Trash Pandas organization was extremely creative in providing alternative entertainment options for the people of Madison County.

The Trash Pandas’ actual inaugural season in 2021 was under a limited schedule due to Covid restrictions, but despite that, it still paid more than the $1 million rev- enue to the City of Madison, as per its agreement with the city. The organization paid $1.2 million in 2022, and $1.4 million this spring.

Madison County’s premiere baseball team has led the league in attendance, as the top Double-A team in the Southern League for both consecutive years that they’ve been playing.

In 2022, the Trash Pandas had an attendance of 327,007 fans in 2022, averaging 5,726 per game.

Then there are the merchandising sales! With its quirky name, sales of Trash Pandas merch topped $4 million years before the team ever took to the field. The Trash Pandas were the first Minor League Baseball team to ever have to process international merchandise sales, with Trash Pandas merchandise shipped overseas to Canada, Australia, the UK, and even the United Arab Emirates.

Huntsville has also long had a love affair with the game of hockey

By: Marie Johnson /

City FC/Huntsville Havoc

and the Huntsville Havoc team is still alive and well, and ready to supply the city with the puck action that we crave.

The Havoc, a professional team in the Southern Professional Hockey League, announced a new head coach to take the reins for the 2023 - 2024 season, Stuart Stefan.

“I’m honored to be taking on this new challenge,” said Stefan in a public statement. “I have a deep connection to this team and this community, and I’m excited to help lead us to continued success in the seasons to come.”

The Huntsville Havoc set the SPHL all-time record for both total attendance (154,337) and average attendance (5,512), showing that Huntsville’s demand for hockey is as high as it’s ever been, and only growing stronger.

Also, this past Spring saw Huntsville play host to a cycling event. From May 26 through the 29th, Huntsville hosted the Para-Cycling Road World Cup competition, the first city in the U.S.A. to hold the event. The event brought over 300 athletes to Huntsville’s Cumming Research Park, along with their support teams, families, and supporters.

For those who may not be familiar with the sport, Para-cycling is cycling, adapted for athletes with various disabilities, governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). To be the first city in the United States is an extremely prestigious honor for Huntsville, and is indicative of the city’s efforts to rejuvenate our town and make it more attractive for such events.

Bit by bit, event by event, and sport by sport, Huntsville is growing more prominent on the map. We can expect it to become ever more lucrative and attractive a prospect for both investment and sponsorship. It’ll certainly be something to see! w