HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Huntsville Sports Commission announced on Thursday that the 2024 Rocket City Classic drew over 6,600 fans to the Von Braun Center's Propst Arena. The event featured a matchup in which the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Memphis, 96-88, generating $1.2 million for the city.
“Thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors, fans, and community partners, we were able to make a meaningful impact for both our city and the Huntsville Hospital Foundation,” said Mark Russell, Executive Director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “Having personally experienced the life-saving importance of AEDs after a cardiac event, this effort goes beyond basketball for me—it’s about giving back to the people and causes that make Huntsville stronger and safer.”
The Rocket City Classic featured several highlights, including a visit from Alabama's basketball team to patients at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, as well as a $50,000 donation to the Heartbeat Heroes program to fund 25 new AED devices for enhanced public safety.
Additionally, the event featured a U.S. Army enlistment ceremony honoring 24 new recruits and provided 200 tickets to FBI personnel from Redstone Arsenal as a gesture of appreciation.
“Huntsville is a basketball city, and our community showed that again on Monday night,” said Joel Lamp, Sports Development Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It was exciting to have what felt like a second round NCAA Tournament game in the VBC to start the college basketball season. Thanks to all our partners and sponsors, the impact of this game is going to be felt well beyond the court for a long time to come.”
For more information on the Rocket City Classic and upcoming events in Huntsville, visit here.