Image update (Birmingham: crime, business, quality)

[bhamguy]

With the World Games happening, among other things, do we feel that Birmingham’s image will improve? Will this lead to more international relations? Will this lead to people in our own country truly viewing Birmingham differently? It’s been mentioned that the World Games will lead to viewpoints from the 50’s and the 60’s, could be lessened and the city could be reimagined for the better.

[OldBankhead]

I guess it depends on the way the media treats the games and the quality of the coverage and how many eyeballs it gets. There will be extra people in town, so that's always good. I've never watched one, but of course I will this one. I think it will be a great chance to get positive press, it just won't necessarily mean any long term lasting effects.

[TimCity2000]

Birmingham's image is one of its biggest hurdles to overcome, unfortunately. So on that front, the World Games can only help. However, I just don't see it being that big of an event outside the city / state / region, so it's not like the entire world's eyes will be on us like they are for the Olympics.

[mcalumni01]

We are in for a hella of a suprise come next year about the games. Man, I hope we are prepared. And from people around here, I don't think we are taking this serious. Oh well..

[TimCity2000]

yeah, i do worry about us being underprepared. regardless of national / international exposure, it is still a BIG event to put on and host, and Birmingham does not have experience with this kind of thing.

[magiccity3]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

yeah, i do worry about us being underprepared. regardless of national / international exposure, it is still a BIG event to put on and host, and Birmingham does not have experience with this kind of thing.

We did host the Senior Games a few years ago and that was kind of a trial run, had a few thousand participants.

For anyone on this board that is able, I'm sure it would be a huge help to sign up as a volunteer. They will need a lot of people.

[Ravi Chaud]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

Birmingham's image is one of its biggest hurdles to overcome, unfortunately. So on that front, the World Games can only help. However, I just don't see it being that big of an event outside the city / state / region, so it's not like the entire world's eyes will be on us like they are for the Olympics.

That's true and it's unfortunate indeed.

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by Ravi Chaud

That's true and it's unfortunate indeed.

One event will not change perceptions. It takes a lot of different events over time. Birmingham has actually made a lot of strides in this department over the past several years, but we still have a ways to go.

[Surge0001]

As an outsider: I have seen a bit of change in the opinions of Bham overtime. I think the World Games will improve the image of Birmingham greatly. The last big hurtle is undoubtably the crime (which is of course an incredibly difficult challenge to overcome)

[mcalumni01]

The image thing is mostly unknown and past knowledge. It's what people figure it (Birmingham) probably look like now. We all heard the "I didn't know Birmingham look like this or had this and that" from people just passing through visiting or in town for business. Just go to some youtube video of people posting driving videos or drone videos of Birmingham and read the comments. I have seen countless social media videos of people passing through posting things like "this is alabama", or "I think know Birmingham look like this". Birmingham is an unknown to most. So there opinion of how it might look comes from not knowing.