Northport lands HBCU championships at new River Run Park

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August 23, 2025

Exciting things are happening in Northport.

Just days after the ribbon-cutting for the new River Run Park, city leaders announced that the HBCU Athletic Conference has chosen the complex to host its baseball and softball championship tournaments in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

The HBCUAC, formed last year as a restructured version of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, includes Stillman College and 15 other historically Black colleges and universities. Commissioner Kiki Baker Barnes praised the new facility as a premier stage for competition and said the tournaments will bring more than a dozen teams to Northport each year.

According to the Tuscaloosa Thread, city officials say the events will draw visitors from across the region, boosting local businesses, hotels, and restaurants. Visit Tuscaloosa CEO Kelsey Rush added that her team will host welcome receptions and showcase the area’s energy and hospitality.

Mayor John Hinton, the full Northport City Council, and community leaders joined the announcement, with Council President Christy Bobo calling the championships a cultural and economic win.

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