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(08-10-2017 05:12 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(08-10-2017 04:19 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(08-10-2017 03:10 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  I think a modernization of the existing BJCC is what the city needs above all else. No city the size of Bham needs a dome stadium, or a MPF if you prefer. The civic center is badly outdated and in dire need of a renovation. It's why the city can't get tournament games, lots of big concerts, etc. If the city can refurbish the BJCC and build a new outdoor stadium for UAB, USL, bowl games, the classic etc. for cheaper than the cost of a dome then the debate should end right there.

Why not just say that no city the size of B'ham needs to attract major sports events, major conventions or major concerts. According to what has been posted, there is no plan to expand or enlarge the BJCC, only renovate the Legacy Arena to make it nicer and more user friendly with maybe less seating to make room for luxury boxes.

Perhaps that and a minor league football stadium will be sufficient for what might be the state's 2nd or 3rd largest city by 2030 or 2040. That may be the result of building according to the city's priorities and ways of thinking (smaller and cheaper) from the 1960s.

BTW, what part of the state is Alabama promoting for that new Mazda / Toyota assembly plant since we are one of the 11 states still in contention?

I'll say it: no city the size of Birmingham needs to try to attract sporting events on par with those that a city the size of LA or New York or Atlanta draw. The SEC Championship game is not coming back. The BCS game is not coming here. There is nowhere near the infrastructure to handle 70,000 people coming to any event downtown at one time.

It will take decades to build up to that point and build that infrastructure. You don't build a dome and then hope everything else will appear. You gradually build to it. You build something reasonable and hotels will come. You build a transit system and fix the transportation systems and the hotels will come, and then you can handle a 70,000 attendance event.

None of it matters because the city and county and BJCC combined can't afford a dome. If we keep putting off every project waiting for the one that can't be afforded, then NO project will ever happen. A dome is a terrible idea for UAB and would be Legion Field 2.0. An open air stadium is just right for every NCAA football event that happens in the city. It will be just right for a minor league soccer team. It will be just right for the Super 6 to return to Birmingham. I don't know if you own stock in Harbert Construction or something but you really have to get the dome out of your head. It's not 1999, and as much as it sucks, MAPS didn't happen and the world left us behind. While we sit around and dream about a dome, the world is still going. In 20-30 years, maybe Birmingham will need and can afford a dome, but in those intervening years it would be infinitely better to build something smaller than nothing at all.

You are correct that an MPF can't be afforded, but neither can that open air stadium. BORROWED money is needed for both. The city has always opted for the smaller and cheaper and this is no exception.

It is not 1970 anymore, but we still have the BJCC that was built then and adding the open air seasonal stadium will not make it any newer or more year round useful. To date, I have not heard nor seen a single long term commitment from the MCC nor the ESPN Bowl people to sign on to use the smaller venue. Perhaps UAB and maybe the soccer team will have it all to themselves (BTW, You can add the Super 7 to events that will not be returning to B'ham.)

In 20 or 30 years, B'ham may be the 2nd, 3rd or even 4th largest city in a collapsing state economy since the state has "given the finger" to its K-12 academic educators outside its suburban enclaves and the private schools. Based upon Alabama History, whatever is built will be what UAB has for most of the next 50 - 75 years.