Alabama Edges Auburn 87-85 in BJCC Exhibition

Contract records reveal how the Birmingham exhibition's revenue was split between the schools and promoter Knight Eady.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Basketball

Alabama Edges Auburn 87-85 in BJCC Exhibition

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Alabama defeated Auburn 87-85 in a basketball exhibition at the BJCC on October 22, 2025. An open records contract obtained by AL.com shows Alabama received a flat $20,000 participation fee and a 35% share of gross revenue above $325,000.

Why it matters

The contract details offer a rare look at how revenue is divided in non-conference college basketball exhibitions in Birmingham. Because the exact amount each school earned from the game remains undisclosed, the financial benefit to either program is still unclear.

The contract sets Alabama's flat fee at $20,000 with a 35% share of gross revenue above $325,000, while Knight Eady keeps 30%. Total gross revenue and each school's exact earnings have not been disclosed.

The players

Alabama Crimson Tide

The University of Alabama's men's basketball program, which competes in the Southeastern Conference and played in the BJCC exhibition against its in-state rival.

Auburn Tigers

Auburn University's men's basketball program, a fellow SEC member whose rivalry with Alabama is one of the most storied in college sports.

Knight Eady

A sports and entertainment promotion company that organized the Ballin in Boutwell event and paid all event-related expenses under the contract.

The details

Knight Eady paid all event-related expenses, including venue rental, and Alabama was responsible for marketing its allocated 6,800 to 7,200 tickets through Knight Eady's ticketing platform. Auburn did not respond to a follow-up AL.com request for clarification.

October 22, 2025: Alabama defeated Auburn 87-85 at the BJCC in Birmingham.
October 13-15, 2025: The Ballin in Boutwell event ran five games in Birmingham.
2024: The first edition of the event featured Alabama and Wake Forest, with Alabama receiving a $25,000 flat fee.

Season Trajectory

The Ballin in Boutwell series, which began in 2024 with Alabama and Wake Forest, shows how promoters are building multi-game showcases around college basketball exhibitions. This Alabama-Auburn matchup fits that pattern of marquee non-conference games staged in Birmingham.

The contract structure shows that exhibition ticket sales are partly controlled by each school's marketing effort, which can affect how many seats fans of either program can buy. Fans planning to attend future BJCC exhibitions should watch for allocated ticket sections on each school's side.

The takeaway

Revenue-sharing deals for exhibition games depend heavily on ticket sales and marketing, so the public benefit of these contracts depends on disclosure that is still limited. Following open records requests is one way readers can track how these deals develop.