HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – With the close of the most unique season in program history, the Alabama A&M Sports Information Office is counting down the Top-10 stories of the 2020-21 season throughout the summer. Today, we continue with the No. 3 story of the season – A&M Sees Major Additions, Continues To Make Major Difference.
 
Make sure to check www.AAMUSports.com every Friday to catch the latest release.
 
Story No. 3: A&M Sees Major Additions, Continues To Make Major Difference
While experiencing one of the most successful seasons competition-wise in recent memory, Alabama A&M Athletics also experienced tremendous growth in 2020-21, some of which provides a path to continued success in the near future.
 
The most visible part of that growth came in an area that those that travel Memorial Parkway have been able to see on a daily basis – the construction of the brand new, 132,000 square foot Alabama A&M Events Center.
 
Following more than two years of planning, luminaries from the campus and community broke ground on that game-changing endeavor on November 19 in an event that was also broadcast live.
 
The best way to express the sheer scope of that project, however, is through pictures from the very beginning with that ceremony through June. By March 10 the foundation was being laid with a structure starting to rise up by March 26.
 
April 5 would see girders begin to go up with more advanced progress just three weeks later before the building really started taking shape by May 14. By the time June 9 had rolled around, you could see the full frame of the building as well as make out the stands for the heart of the Events Center.
 
While certainly the most impressive development, the Events Center was far from the only major development during 2020-21. The Bulldogs would forge a partnership with Protective Life Corporation on April 27 that provides opportunities to recognize members of the community as well as Bulldog student-athletes, the first of which would be the Harris Home in early June.
 
Also among Alabama A&M's difference making endeavors during the year was the launching of the new Community Service page detailing all of the good works that Bulldog student-athletes do in and around Huntsville.
 
Among those efforts would be a multi-year partnership with Academy Sports + Outdoors through the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) that provided the Harris Home for Children with gifts during the holidays and gear for the Huntsville Lakewood Recreation Center. Additionally, A&M teamed with Cricket Wireless to donate $2,500 to Montview Elementary.
 
All tolled, the Events Center and the Protective Life and Academy Sports partnerships all will build a strong foundation for the Bulldogs, both those that will come to play in a new state-of-the-art venue as well as those that have learned the value of giving back to their community while being successful student-athletes.
 
The Schedule
Every Friday throughout the Summer and leading up to the 2021-22 preseason, the SID Office will release the list one at a time beginning with the No. 10 story on June 4. The No. 1 story in Alabama A&M Athletics, as chosen by the Sports Information Office, will be released on Friday, August 6.
 
Countdown to the Top-10 Alabama A&M Athletics Stories from 2020-21
No. 1 – Coming August 6
No. 2 – Coming July 30
No. 3 – A&M Sees Major Additions, Continues To Make Major Difference (July 23)
No. 4 – Bulldogs Rack Up Unprecedented Honors (July 16)
No. 5 – Women's Track & Field Brings Home Championships and Numerous Honors (July 9)
No. 6 – Women's Basketball's Dariauna Lewis Delivers Season For The Ages (July 2)
No. 7 – Men's Tennis Earns First SWAC Championship and NCAA Tournament Berth (June 25)
No. 8 – Softball's Coe Bursts Onto The Scene With Award Winning Season (June 18)
No. 9 – Women's Soccer Produces Record-Setting Defensive Effort In Spring Campaign (June 11)
No. 10 – Baseball Delivers DI Era Record-Tying Seven-Game Win Streak (June 4)
Honorable Mention (June 2)