The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(09-19-2015 02:19 AM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  I'm in agreement with BAMABLAZERFAN on this. It's hard for me to believe that the city is willing to spend millions of dollars on a new outdoor stadium, which will be of limited use, when an upgraded MPF to replace the aging BJCC would be a better investment. Of course replacing the BJCC and building a new outdoor stadium is always possible, but I can't imagin the city having that kind of money. Oh well, we shall see. Either way it will be nice to get out of LF.

As I recall, several years ago when Larry Langford was Mayor and he proclaimed "Dome Done" once they increased the car sales tax and hotel taxes to fund the dome. (They even had an official ground breaking). They have been collecting these taxes for several years. I think i heard over $100m has been collected. Unfortunately I the city has been using the funds for operating expenses rather than going into escrow or reserve.

So the funding source was there. They could easily spend $100m on an open air stadium and another $50m on a new arena, if they would use the funds for their intended purpose - capital projects.

They don't even have to spend that much all at once. Interest rates are so low it's criminal that the Board of Trustees won't let UAB borrow money. The past 5-10 years UAB should have been building and borrowing like crazy.

(09-19-2015 01:37 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  They don't even have to spend that much all at once. Interest rates are so low it's criminal that the Board of Trustees won't let UAB borrow money. The past 5-10 years UAB should have been building and borrowing like crazy.

A modern minded BOT would have done just that, but the actual BOT is of the "old school" Alabama early 20th century thinking that Birmingham must be hobbled at all costs to the state and UAB's nonmedical side must be suppressed as a potential threat to Bama's omnipotence.

The prevailing kind of Alabama leadership thinking is why Alabama is still stealing money from its public schools to finance its General Fund (this summer is not the first - nor the last - episode of "borrowing" from the SETF) and is the only southern sunbelt state projected to lose a Congressional seat in 2020 (that will be its third lost seat since 1950). Just a thought -- which Alabama Republican Congressperson is willing sacrifice themselves after 2020 to drop from 6 to 5? You know that none will want to add large portions of the present 7th district to their own district.

(09-18-2015 05:39 PM)JxGx78 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:25 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Apparently CajunBlazer has the inside info I lack concerning the city building a new "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for UAB football to use. His description of it as "just the right size for UAB's crowds" means the Birmingham Bowl game and the various "Classics" will still need the greater seating at Legion Field for their games. I just don't see the city having the money for such a limited use expenditure. We shall see if they do.

Unless the Auburn and Bama governing powers have decided hosting the Big Seven games has not proven as profitable as they thought and want to dump them, B'ham won't get them back with such a small offering. Many of the local high schools have their own fields at the schools. They won't be interested in paying to play downtown.

A 40-45K seat stadium should be fine for the Birmingham Bowl. Its only exceed 45K twice (2010 and 2013). It just barely exceed it in 2010.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Bowl

40-45k would not be good enough for the Magic City Classic, the city's single biggest revenue generating event.

(09-19-2015 03:47 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:39 PM)JxGx78 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:25 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Apparently CajunBlazer has the inside info I lack concerning the city building a new "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for UAB football to use. His description of it as "just the right size for UAB's crowds" means the Birmingham Bowl game and the various "Classics" will still need the greater seating at Legion Field for their games. I just don't see the city having the money for such a limited use expenditure. We shall see if they do.

Unless the Auburn and Bama governing powers have decided hosting the Big Seven games has not proven as profitable as they thought and want to dump them, B'ham won't get them back with such a small offering. Many of the local high schools have their own fields at the schools. They won't be interested in paying to play downtown.

A 40-45K seat stadium should be fine for the Birmingham Bowl. Its only exceed 45K twice (2010 and 2013). It just barely exceed it in 2010.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Bowl

40-45k would not be good enough for the Magic City Classic, the city's single biggest revenue generating event.

but most people at that game dont come inside the stadium :)

(09-19-2015 03:47 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:39 PM)JxGx78 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:25 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Apparently CajunBlazer has the inside info I lack concerning the city building a new "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for UAB football to use. His description of it as "just the right size for UAB's crowds" means the Birmingham Bowl game and the various "Classics" will still need the greater seating at Legion Field for their games. I just don't see the city having the money for such a limited use expenditure. We shall see if they do.

Unless the Auburn and Bama governing powers have decided hosting the Big Seven games has not proven as profitable as they thought and want to dump them, B'ham won't get them back with such a small offering. Many of the local high schools have their own fields at the schools. They won't be interested in paying to play downtown.

A 40-45K seat stadium should be fine for the Birmingham Bowl. Its only exceed 45K twice (2010 and 2013). It just barely exceed it in 2010.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Bowl

40-45k would not be good enough for the Magic City Classic, the city's single biggest revenue generating event.

Just as many still thoughtlessly say "Everyone in Alabama is either an Auburn or an Alabama fan", many still don't think of those who follow the HBCU schools as important factors in political decision making. We shall see if B'ham can and will build a "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for just one school's team.

(09-19-2015 04:21 PM)UABFRENCHY Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 03:47 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:39 PM)JxGx78 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:25 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Apparently CajunBlazer has the inside info I lack concerning the city building a new "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for UAB football to use. His description of it as "just the right size for UAB's crowds" means the Birmingham Bowl game and the various "Classics" will still need the greater seating at Legion Field for their games. I just don't see the city having the money for such a limited use expenditure. We shall see if they do.

Unless the Auburn and Bama governing powers have decided hosting the Big Seven games has not proven as profitable as they thought and want to dump them, B'ham won't get them back with such a small offering. Many of the local high schools have their own fields at the schools. They won't be interested in paying to play downtown.

A 40-45K seat stadium should be fine for the Birmingham Bowl. Its only exceed 45K twice (2010 and 2013). It just barely exceed it in 2010.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Bowl

40-45k would not be good enough for the Magic City Classic, the city's single biggest revenue generating event.

but most people at that game dont come inside the stadium :)

Because it is already 60,000 plus inside.

(09-19-2015 04:30 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 03:47 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:39 PM)JxGx78 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:25 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Apparently CajunBlazer has the inside info I lack concerning the city building a new "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for UAB football to use. His description of it as "just the right size for UAB's crowds" means the Birmingham Bowl game and the various "Classics" will still need the greater seating at Legion Field for their games. I just don't see the city having the money for such a limited use expenditure. We shall see if they do.

Unless the Auburn and Bama governing powers have decided hosting the Big Seven games has not proven as profitable as they thought and want to dump them, B'ham won't get them back with such a small offering. Many of the local high schools have their own fields at the schools. They won't be interested in paying to play downtown.

A 40-45K seat stadium should be fine for the Birmingham Bowl. Its only exceed 45K twice (2010 and 2013). It just barely exceed it in 2010.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Bowl

40-45k would not be good enough for the Magic City Classic, the city's single biggest revenue generating event.

Just as many still thoughtlessly say "Everyone in Alabama is either an Auburn or an Alabama fan", many still don't think of those who follow the HBCU schools as important factors in political decision making. We shall see if B'ham can and will build a "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for just one school's team.

I don't think its about meeting the needs of only one potential tenant, but meeting the needs for 7/8th of the potential regular events that will be held there. A 40-45K seat stadium is perfect for the Birmingham Bowl, and is a little big, but workable for UAB. However, its too small for the Magic City Classic.

So, the city/county/BJCC has to decide which set of events it wants to optimize for. Optimizing for the primary tenant and Birmingham based university seems rational, and making it a little bigger allows a second tenant to be accommodated.

If all three tenants can be accommodate that would be great, but I don't think it makes sense to build to suit only one large event at the expense of the other 7 regular events.

(09-19-2015 05:05 PM)JxGx78 Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 04:30 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 03:47 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:39 PM)JxGx78 Wrote:  

(09-18-2015 05:25 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Apparently CajunBlazer has the inside info I lack concerning the city building a new "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for UAB football to use. His description of it as "just the right size for UAB's crowds" means the Birmingham Bowl game and the various "Classics" will still need the greater seating at Legion Field for their games. I just don't see the city having the money for such a limited use expenditure. We shall see if they do.

Unless the Auburn and Bama governing powers have decided hosting the Big Seven games has not proven as profitable as they thought and want to dump them, B'ham won't get them back with such a small offering. Many of the local high schools have their own fields at the schools. They won't be interested in paying to play downtown.

A 40-45K seat stadium should be fine for the Birmingham Bowl. Its only exceed 45K twice (2010 and 2013). It just barely exceed it in 2010.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Bowl

40-45k would not be good enough for the Magic City Classic, the city's single biggest revenue generating event.

Just as many still thoughtlessly say "Everyone in Alabama is either an Auburn or an Alabama fan", many still don't think of those who follow the HBCU schools as important factors in political decision making. We shall see if B'ham can and will build a "mini Legion Field" near the BJCC for just one school's team.

I don't think its about meeting the needs of only one potential tenant, but meeting the needs for 7/8th of the potential regular events that will be held there. A 40-45K seat stadium is perfect for the Birmingham Bowl, and is a little big, but workable for UAB. However, its too small for the Magic City Classic.

So, the city/county/BJCC has to decide which set of events it wants to optimize for. Optimizing for the primary tenant and Birmingham based university seems rational, and making it a little bigger allows a second tenant to be accommodated.

If all three tenants can be accommodate that would be great, but I don't think it makes sense to build to suit only one large event at the expense of the other 7 regular events.

I'm thinking of B'ham building the MPF for some of those 200+ major convention AND SPORTS events the GA Dome accommodates every year. I don't agree that millions spent to accommodate 7 or 8 outdoor events makes similar sense. BTW, I have not heard from the B'ham Bowl people on how they feel about being limited to 40,000 or so seats.

(09-19-2015 12:10 PM)UABGrad Wrote:  I am warming up to an open air Uptown stadium. I like having the restaurants, bars and hotels. I like promoting UAB as Birmingham's team and all those downtown office workers just might catch Blazer fever when it's so convenient. The only hang up I have is how to get us talgaters and students from the campus to the stadium. We need something like open air trolleys or trams that run continuously. I really am not a bus person.

There is already a huge parking lot across from new restaurant row adjacent to the BJCC which will accommodate an awful lot of cars. I hesitate guessing how many, but probably as many as those which park at Legion Field for our games. I expect an additional parking lot will be built to accompany the stadium as well so it sounds like there will be plenty of parking space in which to tailgate within a short walk from the proposed stadium site. Frankly, I like the idea of "tailgating" at one the big restaurants with huge flat screen TV's in the area and gathering there again after the game. As for the students, many have cars and for those the don't we can run city buses back and forth on a continuous basis.

I am not year clear what form this stadium will take. It may even be enclosed; I'm not sure, but I think we will be pleased.

(09-19-2015 06:00 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 12:10 PM)UABGrad Wrote:  I am warming up to an open air Uptown stadium. I like having the restaurants, bars and hotels. I like promoting UAB as Birmingham's team and all those downtown office workers just might catch Blazer fever when it's so convenient. The only hang up I have is how to get us talgaters and students from the campus to the stadium. We need something like open air trolleys or trams that run continuously. I really am not a bus person.

There is already a huge parking lot across from new restaurant row adjacent to the BJCC which will accommodate an awful lot of cars. I hesitate guessing how many, but probably as many as those which park at Legion Field for our games. I expect an additional parking lot will be built to accompany the stadium as well so it sounds like there will be plenty of parking space in which to tailgate within a short walk from the proposed stadium site. Frankly, I like the idea of "tailgating" at one the big restaurants with huge flat screen TV's in the area and gathering there again after the game. As for the students, many have cars and for those the don't we can run city buses back and forth on a continuous basis.

I am not year clear what form this stadium will take. It may even be enclosed; I'm not sure, but I think we will be pleased.

UAB has its own busses we don't need to pay for the city to do it

Max is about to re-do the downtown bus system anyway. In the year 2015 it should not be a major hassle to go the distance between UAB and the BJCC in a dense downtown area without using your car, special events or not.

(09-19-2015 06:59 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  Max is about to re-do the downtown bus system anyway. In the year 2015 it should not be a major hassle to go the distance between UAB and the BJCC in a dense downtown area without using your car, special events or not.

Between MAX, the DARTs and the UAB system, there should be enough public transport capability to serve the needs of fans on game days and evenings.

Just listen to Clark. In Clark we trust.

I get the impression that Clark wants us to first get a facility at the BJCC and in the meantime works towards an OCS while improving existing facilities at UAB.

Once we get enough on hand to build an OCS the proposal will be made.

(09-22-2015 10:36 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  I get the impression that Clark wants us to first get a facility at the BJCC and in the meantime works towards an OCS while improving existing facilities at UAB.

Once we get enough on hand to build an OCS the proposal will be made.

This has been my impression and theory as well.