The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Hires Art Clarkson As Marketing Consultant
Oct. 18, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Art Clarkson, who has been a fixture on the Birmingham sports scene for more than 20 years, has been retained as a marketing consultant by the athletics program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, according to an announcement by Blazer Interim Director of Athletics Watson Brown.
Clarkson, President of Clarkson Sports Management, Inc. and the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the arenafootball2 League, is a former President and principal owner of the Birmingham Bulls Hockey Club (ECHL) and the Birmingham Barons Baseball Club (Southern League.
Clarkson's involvement at UAB over the next few months will be to assist the Blazers' marketing efforts on several specific athletic events, including one football game and five men's basketball games.
"I'm excited about having Art Clarkson come on board," said Brown. "Art's reputation in the Birmingham sports community speaks for itself and we look forward to having him assist us with our marketing efforts. He will help us in our promotions for several events over during the next several months. Art is a very good friend and I am appreciative of his assistance."
A native of Los Angeles, Clarkson began his front office career in 1974 with the Southern California Sun of the World Football League. In 1976, he turned his attention to minor league baseball. By 1978, he was named General Manager of the Memphis Chicks Baseball Club.
In 1981, Clarkson came to Birmingham where he revived baseball at Rickwood Field. During Clarkson's reign with the Birmingham Barons, he was instrumental in building one of the top facilities in minor league baseball, the Hoover Met, for the 1988 season.
"I think the future of intercollegiate sports in the Birmingham area is UAB," said Clarkson. "I am going to do whatever I can do to help the administration at UAB, Watson Brown and the athletic department with their endeavors."
Clarkson, who has overseen operations for the Tennessee Valley Vipers since 1998, has earned numerous honors throughout his career in professional sports. He was named the Southern League Executive of the Year on four occasions: 1979, 1982, 1983 and 1988.
