Gene Hallman

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Gene Hallman Jr. (born December 22, 1959) is an American sports marketing and event management entrepreneur based in Birmingham, Alabama and named "one of Alabama's most influential sports businesspeople".[1] Hallman co-founded Bruno Event Team in 1995, growing the company to provide sporting event management services to a wide variety of sports in more than 30 states, Canada, and Bermuda.[2]

The company was renamed Eventive Sports in March 2023.[3][4] Eventive Sports was acquired by Troon, the world’s largest golf-related hospitality service company, in January 2024.[5] Hallman serves as the President of Eventive Sports, which has more than 80 employees in the United States and Bermuda.

In 2022, Hallman was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame as a Distinguished American Sportsman[6] and the Birmingham Golf Hall of Fame in 2012.[7] He was named the 2017 Birmingham Business Journal CEO of the Year,[8] the 1995 Birmingham Person of the Year,[9] the 1996 Birmingham Man of the Year,[10] the 1996 Alabama Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association, and the 2003 Citizen of the Year by the March of Dimes.

Education  [edit]

Hallman received his bachelor's degree in economics from the College of Charleston in 1982, then completed his MBA from the University of South Carolina in 1985.[11]

Career  [edit]

A native of South Carolina, Hallman moved to Birmingham in 1991 after being named Tournament Director for the inaugural Bruno's Memorial Classic golf tournament,[2] an official Senior PGA Tour event. He currently serves as Executive Director of the tournament, now known as the Regions Tradition, a major championship on the PGA TOUR Champions.[12]

Hallman has directed professional golf tournaments on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour, and Korn Ferry Tour.[2] Additionally, Hallman has managed major golf championships such as the U.S. Senior Open,[12] U.S. Women's Open,[2] and the 2013 Walker Cup.[13]  

In 1996, Hallman served as CEO of Birmingham Olympic Soccer, which managed the men's soccer matches held in Birmingham as part of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.[14][15] The success of the Olympic Soccer event led to Hallman managing a 2005 Men's World Cup qualifier, a 2015 USA Women’s World Cup Victory Tour friendly, additional USA team friendlies, and two NCAA Championships in 2011-12.[16][17]

Since 2007, Hallman's company has managed Gameday Operations for the University of Alabama's football, basketball, and gymnastics programs. It also manages Football Gameday Operations for Auburn University football, UAB football, and Alabama State University football.[2][18]   

Hallman brought IndyCar racing to Birmingham with the Children of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park in 2010.[19] It has since grown into one of the highest-attended events on the IndyCar calendar.[20] In 2023, Hallman secured IndyCar’s extension of the race until 2027.[21][22]

Hallman also worked with Barber Motorsports Park to create the annual Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival, the country's largest Vintage Motorcycle Festival.[23]  

Hallman led the efforts and successfully brought the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament to Hoover, AL, in 1996 and managed the event from 1998 to 2022.[24] Hallman also recruited and managed the 2004 Olympic Marathon Trials in Birmingham, two Davis Cup ties and a Fed Cup tie in tennis,[2][25][26] the 2014 NCAA Gymnastics Championship, and numerous SEC Gymnastics Championships.[27] Between 2015 and 2017, Hallman recruited and promoted four World Boxing Championships Heavyweight Title Fights featuring Tuscaloosa native Deontay Wilder in Birmingham.[28][29][30][31]

In 2021, Hallman spearheaded KICK COVID, a statewide campaign encouraging football fans to get their COVID-19 vaccines at select college football games during the season.[32][33][34] Hallman recruited University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban to help promote the campaign.[35][36]

Hallman also directed marketing, sponsorship sales, and venue operations for the 2022 World Games in Birmingham.[37] In 2022, he also worked with Fox Sports to bring the USFL to Birmingham, AL. Eventive Sports manages the marketing efforts and Gameday Operations for the USFL's Birmingham Stallions [38]  

References[edit]

  1. ^ Scarbinsky, Kevin (August 2, 2017). ""Ranking the Top 25 Most Influential People in Alabama Sports."". AL.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Ala. sports marketing company carves niche in golf". ESPN.com. 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  3. ^ "Bruno Event Team Announces Rebrand to Eventive Sports". AP News. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  4. ^ "Bruno Event Team Announces Rebrand to Eventive Sports". Yahoo Finance. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  5. ^ mheim@al.com, Mark Heim | (2024-01-04). "Troon acquires Birmingham's Eventive Sports, which will continue to manage events". al. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  6. ^ Heim, Mark (December 10, 2021). "Alabama Sports Hall of Fame to recognize Gene Hallman". AL.com.
  7. ^ Thompson, Ian (March 29, 2012). "Mary Isbell, Gene Hallman join Birmingham Golf Association Hall of Fame". The Birmingham News.
  8. ^ Rebman, Stephanie (December 8, 2017). "Winners unveiled in BBJ's 2017 CEO Awards". Birmingham Business Journal.
  9. ^ "Birminghamians of the Year". Birmingham Magazine. 1995.
  10. ^ Hubbard, Russell (January 1997). "Olympic promoters Lemak, Hallman share 1996 "Man of the Year" honor".
  11. ^ Grant, Rubin E. (March 22, 2022). "The Sporting Life: Hallman's Career Path Lands Him in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame". Over The Mountain Journal.
  12. ^ a b Davis, Bryan (July 1, 2014). "Bruno Event Team chosen to manage 2017 U.S. Senior Open". Birmingham Business Journal.
  13. ^ "Hallman Already Envisioning Successful 2002 US Open". The Hutchison News. August 2000.
  14. ^ "Birmingham to host U.S. Men twice during Olympic soccer tournament". Striker: A Publication of the Birmingham Soccer Organizing Committee. December 1995.
  15. ^ "City Not Shy About Success with Ticket Soccer Sales". The Birmingham News. March 1996.
  16. ^ "Soccer finals head to Hoover". The Birmingham Times. July 2010.
  17. ^ "Warning Sounded on Legion Field Turf". The Birmingham News. October 2005.
  18. ^ Patterson, Nick (April 2022). "A Lifetime in Sports: Gene Hallman: From Regions Tradition to World Games to USFL, It's All About Community". Hoover Sun.
  19. ^ Olson, Jeff (April 7, 2013). "IndyCar will return to Barber through 2016". USA Today.
  20. ^ Oreovicz, John (April 1, 2012). "Power's drive to win impressive". ESPN.
  21. ^ Martin, Bruce (May 3, 2023). "IndyCar Finds Its 'Sweet Home Alabama,' Extending Contract With Barber Motorsports Park For Five More Years". Forbes.
  22. ^ Brown, Nathan (April 30, 2023). "IndyCar strikes multi-year extension to secure Barber Motorsports Park race through 2027". Yahoo! Finance.
  23. ^ Backus, Richard (October 15, 2014). "Barber Vintage Festival Sets Attendance Record". Motorcycle Classics.
  24. ^ Anderson, Jon (June 2016). "Hoover Overcame Unprecedented Competition to Keep SEC Baseball Tournament, Officials Said". Hoover Sun.
  25. ^ "Birmingham Serves Up Pitch for Davis Cup". The Birmingham News. November 2008.
  26. ^ "Birmingham Serving for Tennis' Fed Cup". The Birmingham News. October 2009.
  27. ^ Piper, Ben (November 9, 2010). "BJCC will host SEC gymnastics championships". Birmingham Business Journal.
  28. ^ Scarbinsky, Kevin (June 12, 2015). "Deontay Wilder will make history at UAB because Alabama took a dive". AL.com.
  29. ^ Collins, Alan (September 25, 2015). "Birmingham hopes second Deontay Wilder fight will have an impact outside the ring". WBRC.com.
  30. ^ Garner, Leigh (July 14, 2016). "Deontay Wilder and opponent prepare to battle for title in Birmingham". CBS42.com.
  31. ^ Suttles, Aaron (February 25, 2017). "A lasting legacy". Tuscaloosa News.
  32. ^ Cagnassola, Mary Ellen (September 2, 2021). "Alabama Sets Up COVID Vaccine Sites at College Football Games, Offering Gift Card for Jab". Newsweek.
  33. ^ Brown, Melissa (September 2, 2021). "Alabama, Auburn among schools to offer COVID-19 vaccines, vouchers at football games this season". USA Today.
  34. ^ Chandler, Kim (September 2, 2021). "Alabama turns to college football to boost vaccinations". AP News.
  35. ^ Lonas, Lexi (May 7, 2021). "Alabama turns to Nick Saban as vaccine leader". The Hill.
  36. ^ Radnofsky, Louise (May 7, 2021). "Roll Vax! Alabama Drafts Nick Saban to Champion the Vaccine". The Wall Street Journal.
  37. ^ Segrest, Doug (July 10, 2022). "Good Company: The Secret Behind The World Games". Doing More Today.
  38. ^ Johnson, Roy S. (January 23, 2022). "How the USFL came to Birmingham, and almost didn't". AL.com.
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