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(09-25-2015 04:34 PM)UABGrad Wrote:  Wll there be stadium certificates in the new stadium?

Considering what that method of financing cost B'ham in the long run, I pray NOT. It is at least possible (we'll never know for certain) that they cost B'ham a serious shot at an NFL franchise (what NFL owner would agree to be unable to make demands for advance purchases for over 5,000 of the best side line seats?), the Alabama home games (once Tide Pride premiums became part of their reckoning in the 80s) and perhaps contributed to the demise last year of UAB football. Just to remind some, according to the Park Board letter, those 5,000+ seats are about 20% of the sideline seats between the goal lines, especially those 4,000 in the 50 yard line sections.

I would expect with the national publicity, etc, it would not be too difficult to get some higher quality teams to come to Birmingham. Remember, Vanderbilt's stadium seats 45,000 (they're averaging 27.000 this year), and they're an SEC team. Kentucky rarely draws 45,000 and until this year averaged about 35,000. Most ACC teams other than FSU, Clemson, and occasionally Miami and Tech draw in the 40,000 range.

Mississippi State has been here. Because of the recruiting hotbed Alabama is, I'd think teams would want to come here. And it would piss Saban off to high heaven.

(09-25-2015 07:16 PM)PTBlazer Wrote:  I would expect with the national publicity, etc, it would not be too difficult to get some higher quality teams to come to Birmingham. Remember, Vanderbilt's stadium seats 45,000 (they're averaging 27.000 this year), and they're an SEC team. Kentucky rarely draws 45,000 and until this year averaged about 35,000. Most ACC teams other than FSU, Clemson, and occasionally Miami and Tech draw in the 40,000 range.

Mississippi State has been here. Because of the recruiting hotbed Alabama is, I'd think teams would want to come here. And it would piss Saban {and the bammers} off to high heaven.

That's enough for me!!!

(09-25-2015 07:16 PM)PTBlazer Wrote:  I would expect with the national publicity, etc, it would not be too difficult to get some higher quality teams to come to Birmingham. Remember, Vanderbilt's stadium seats 45,000 (they're averaging 27.000 this year), and they're an SEC team. Kentucky rarely draws 45,000 and until this year averaged about 35,000. Most ACC teams other than FSU, Clemson, and occasionally Miami and Tech draw in the 40,000 range.

Mississippi State has been here. Because of the recruiting hotbed Alabama is, I'd think teams would want to come here. And it would piss Saban off to high heaven.

At one time (20th century), Alabama was a "recruiting hotbed" and SEC teams blanketed the state. That was then, this is now. Look at last February's NSD and what do you see? Alabama, Auburn and Miss State each signed 5 players and South Carolina signed 2. That's ALL. Ten other SEC teams signed ZERO out of Alabama. (Troy and USA signed a like number.) That was 17 of the 43 Alabama high school players that signed FBS NLOI. The big numbers were for FCS and less teams like for Jax State and for Miles College. (In 2014, UAB under Clark signed 4.)

We are seeing the effect of the reduced SETF spending since 2008 in Alabama in athletics and in academics with our state universities finding they MUST go out of state for their needed "impact players" that come from well funded high schools as well as academic students if they want national ranking in either. Next February we will see if the present trend continues or if there is a change.

While we are waiting, check to see how many of the 4 remaining FBS teams in Alabama listed starting 22 are from Alabama public high schools.

(09-25-2015 09:37 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-25-2015 07:16 PM)PTBlazer Wrote:  I would expect with the national publicity, etc, it would not be too difficult to get some higher quality teams to come to Birmingham. Remember, Vanderbilt's stadium seats 45,000 (they're averaging 27.000 this year), and they're an SEC team. Kentucky rarely draws 45,000 and until this year averaged about 35,000. Most ACC teams other than FSU, Clemson, and occasionally Miami and Tech draw in the 40,000 range.

Mississippi State has been here. Because of the recruiting hotbed Alabama is, I'd think teams would want to come here. And it would piss Saban off to high heaven.

At one time (20th century), Alabama was a "recruiting hotbed" and SEC teams blanketed the state. That was then, this is now. Look at last February's NSD and what do you see? Alabama, Auburn and Miss State each signed 5 players and South Carolina signed 2. That's ALL. Ten other SEC teams signed ZERO out of Alabama. (Troy and USA signed a like number.) That was 17 of the 43 Alabama high school players that signed FBS NLOI. The big numbers were for FCS and less teams like for Jax State and for Miles College. (In 2014, UAB under Clark signed 4.)

We are seeing the effect of the reduced SETF spending since 2008 in Alabama in athletics and in academics with our state universities finding they MUST go out of state for their needed "impact players" that come from well funded high schools as well as academic students if they want national ranking in either. Next February we will see if the present trend continues or if there is a change.

While we are waiting, check to see how many of the 4 remaining FBS teams in Alabama listed starting 22 are from Alabama public high schools.

Many are simply leaving the state and others are signing with non-SEC schools:

FBS Recruiting Density
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...s-recruits

(09-25-2015 09:53 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  

(09-25-2015 09:37 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-25-2015 07:16 PM)PTBlazer Wrote:  I would expect with the national publicity, etc, it would not be too difficult to get some higher quality teams to come to Birmingham. Remember, Vanderbilt's stadium seats 45,000 (they're averaging 27.000 this year), and they're an SEC team. Kentucky rarely draws 45,000 and until this year averaged about 35,000. Most ACC teams other than FSU, Clemson, and occasionally Miami and Tech draw in the 40,000 range.

Mississippi State has been here. Because of the recruiting hotbed Alabama is, I'd think teams would want to come here. And it would piss Saban off to high heaven.

At one time (20th century), Alabama was a "recruiting hotbed" and SEC teams blanketed the state. That was then, this is now. Look at last February's NSD and what do you see? Alabama, Auburn and Miss State each signed 5 players and South Carolina signed 2. That's ALL. Ten other SEC teams signed ZERO out of Alabama. (Troy and USA signed a like number.) That was 17 of the 43 Alabama high school players that signed FBS NLOI. The big numbers were for FCS and less teams like for Jax State and for Miles College. (In 2014, UAB under Clark signed 4.)

We are seeing the effect of the reduced SETF spending since 2008 in Alabama in athletics and in academics with our state universities finding they MUST go out of state for their needed "impact players" that come from well funded high schools as well as academic students if they want national ranking in either. Next February we will see if the present trend continues or if there is a change.

While we are waiting, check to see how many of the 4 remaining FBS teams in Alabama listed starting 22 are from Alabama public high schools.

Many are simply leaving the state and others are signing with non-SEC schools:

FBS Recruiting Density
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...s-recruits

I was going by the B'ham NEWS recruiting wrapup from the Friday after NSD. It listed the signees from SEC schools, all other state schools and then a list of all state players by schools. I counted all Alabama public high school signees in each group.

The only high school in the state to have 3 FBS signees was St. Paul Episcopal in Mobile. Since private schools were not funded by the SETF until the AAA was enacted, I did not count them. St. Paul, Madison Academy and such can spend whatever they want on their programs and not report to anyone.

Its interesting, too, that for 2015 per Rivals, although UA, AU, and Miss State signed 5 each, they each has 7 commits and SCarolina had 5 commits. I suspect the difference is that most did not qualify and a couple changed their minds or had their scholly pulled. There were 15 P5 commits outside of those mentioned(UA, AU, Miss St, S Carolina) with 13 being outside of the SEC...

(09-25-2015 08:52 PM)rook360 Wrote:  

(09-25-2015 07:16 PM)PTBlazer Wrote:  I would expect with the national publicity, etc, it would not be too difficult to get some higher quality teams to come to Birmingham. Remember, Vanderbilt's stadium seats 45,000 (they're averaging 27.000 this year), and they're an SEC team. Kentucky rarely draws 45,000 and until this year averaged about 35,000. Most ACC teams other than FSU, Clemson, and occasionally Miami and Tech draw in the 40,000 range.

Mississippi State has been here. Because of the recruiting hotbed Alabama is, I'd think teams would want to come here. And it would piss Saban {and the bammers} off to high heaven.

That's enough for me!!!

By the time the new Bham stadium opens, I suspect the Bammer program will look quite different than it has over the last several years.

(09-25-2015 10:28 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Its interesting, too, that for 2015 per Rivals, although UA, AU, and Miss State signed 5 each, they each has 7 commits and SCarolina had 5 commits. I suspect the difference is that most did not qualify and a couple changed their minds or had their scholly pulled. There were 15 P5 commits outside of those mentioned(UA, AU, Miss St, S Carolina) with 13 being outside of the SEC...

Players commit to schools they want to play for. Schools sign to NLOIs those players they believe to be good enough to win titles and to make the grades to remain eligible. Either of these two qualifiers might be a problem for a student-athlete whose school has declined on either or both categories due to SETF funding problems.

While several districts have athletic booster clubs to help raise funds for sports equipment, how many have boosters to pay for additional academic needs? In Alabama there are many schools where parents are being called upon to supply toilet paper, cleaning supplies, paper towels, and such - where the only hot water is in the school's kitchen.

(09-25-2015 10:21 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Also a 45,000 seat stadium would not attract the top teams to town.

And I think a 45,000 seat stadium would not be suitable for the Classic. The city isn't going build a stadium to suit UAB needs.

(09-26-2015 02:20 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-25-2015 10:21 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Also a 45,000 seat stadium would not attract the top teams to town.

And I think a 45,000 seat stadium would not be suitable for the Classic. The city isn't going build a stadium to suit UAB needs.

And I don't think the city should increase the size of the new stadium to suit the needs of one game a year.

(09-26-2015 10:35 AM)Blazing Saddles Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 02:20 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-25-2015 10:21 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Also a 45,000 seat stadium would not attract the top teams to town.

And I think a 45,000 seat stadium would not be suitable for the Classic. The city isn't going build a stadium to suit UAB needs.

And I don't think the city should increase the size of the new stadium to suit the needs of one game a year.

Quote: The classic is a huge money maker for the city with the latest revenue estimates suggesting Birmingham rakes in anywhere between $15-20 million -- hence the reason why the city is so determined to keep the Magic City Classic in the 'Magic City

http://abc3340.com/archive/negotiations-...birmingham

If Birmingham loses this game it would be devastating to the city. Futhermore, a 40-45,000 seat stadium is going to prevent the city from going after bigger college football games that can have a similar financial impact like the Classic. Sometimes you just have to use common sense in these matters and it wouldn't make sense for Birmingham to build something that seats 40-45,000. IMO, 50-55,000 would be more appropriate and I'm sure UAB wouldnt have a problem with it.

The bigger it gets the more it costs and the less likely it is to be built. A dome, a 65,000 seat stadium, and a retractable roof all make it far less likely for the city to actually get anything done. We'll be back to where the dome has been for the last twenty years.

Something else to ponder, an OCS and downtown facility could both coexist together and be financially profitable. The downtown facility will have three football games already lined up:

Magic City and Labor Day Classic along with the bowl game. A fourth game could be a UAB OOC game against a P5 team or a state team like A A&M or ASU. I also believe the high school football championship games would come back to Birmingham on some type of rotation with Auburn & Tuscaloosa.

Then UAB could play their conference home games on campus and possibly an OOC game in years UAB has six home games.

But this probably makes too much sense for it to actually happen.

(09-26-2015 12:18 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  Something else to ponder, an OCS and downtown facility could both coexist together and be financially profitable. The downtown facility will have three football games already lined up:

Magic City and Labor Day Classic along with the bowl game. A fourth game could be a UAB OOC game against a P5 team or a state team like A A&M or ASU. I also believe the high school football championship games would come back to Birmingham on some type of rotation with Auburn & Tuscaloosa.

Then UAB could play their conference home games on campus and possibly an OOC game in years UAB has six home games.

But this probably makes too much sense for it to actually happen.

To get an OCS the BOT has to approve it. Those people dont want UAB to have anything.

(09-26-2015 12:09 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  The bigger it gets the more it costs and the less likely it is to be built. A dome, a 65,000 seat stadium, and a retractable roof all make it far less likely for the city to actually get anything done. We'll be back to where the dome has been for the last twenty years.

I agree that the bigger this open air BJCC connected stadium gets, the more it resembles what the city already has on Graymont Ave. so the less likely it is to be built.

The city will STILL need to build the MPF in order to attract at least some of the larger conventions that now go to other cities' facilities and their revenue into other cities' pockets. Atlanta alone receives over 200 events annually and only a few are athletics. That is why in 2017 they will be replacing the GA Dome with a new MPF complete with retractable roof.

But, We don't want to "be like Atlanta", do we? (I have heard that plaint all my 70+ years) What city DO we want to be like? How far down the scale of cities do we have to go to find that answer?

(09-26-2015 12:38 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 12:18 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  Something else to ponder, an OCS and downtown facility could both coexist together and be financially profitable. The downtown facility will have three football games already lined up:

Magic City and Labor Day Classic along with the bowl game. A fourth game could be a UAB OOC game against a P5 team or a state team like A A&M or ASU. I also believe the high school football championship games would come back to Birmingham on some type of rotation with Auburn & Tuscaloosa.

Then UAB could play their conference home games on campus and possibly an OOC game in years UAB has six home games.

But this probably makes too much sense for it to actually happen.

To get an OCS the BOT has to approve it. Those people dont want UAB to have anything.

Those BOT folks gave us our football team back. The same outcry for an OCS as was done for the return of our football needs to happen.

(09-26-2015 02:32 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 12:38 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 12:18 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  Something else to ponder, an OCS and downtown facility could both coexist together and be financially profitable. The downtown facility will have three football games already lined up:

Magic City and Labor Day Classic along with the bowl game. A fourth game could be a UAB OOC game against a P5 team or a state team like A A&M or ASU. I also believe the high school football championship games would come back to Birmingham on some type of rotation with Auburn & Tuscaloosa.

Then UAB could play their conference home games on campus and possibly an OOC game in years UAB has six home games.

But this probably makes too much sense for it to actually happen.

To get an OCS the BOT has to approve it. Those people dont want UAB to have anything.

Those BOT folks gave us our football team back. The same outcry for an OCS as was done for the return of our football needs to happen.

The BOT "gave" UAB its football team back in the same way an employer "gives" a job to a worker. Both are driven by the necessity to get pressure off of them by hiring / enabling someone to get a job done. Neither is offered as a "gift" for nothing in return. If the BOT does not feel any pressure, the team is not brought back and the facilities are not built.

(09-26-2015 11:57 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 10:35 AM)Blazing Saddles Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 02:20 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(09-25-2015 10:21 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Also a 45,000 seat stadium would not attract the top teams to town.

And I think a 45,000 seat stadium would not be suitable for the Classic. The city isn't going build a stadium to suit UAB needs.

And I don't think the city should increase the size of the new stadium to suit the needs of one game a year.

Quote: The classic is a huge money maker for the city with the latest revenue estimates suggesting Birmingham rakes in anywhere between $15-20 million -- hence the reason why the city is so determined to keep the Magic City Classic in the 'Magic City

http://abc3340.com/archive/negotiations-...birmingham

If Birmingham loses this game it would be devastating to the city. Futhermore, a 40-45,000 seat stadium is going to prevent the city from going after bigger college football games that can have a similar financial impact like the Classic. Sometimes you just have to use common sense in these matters and it wouldn't make sense for Birmingham to build something that seats 40-45,000. IMO, 50-55,000 would be more appropriate and I'm sure UAB wouldnt have a problem with it.

What other games would be coming to Birmingham? We're never getting the SEC Championship game. Also, the city isn't building this the BJCC is.

& frankly the Magic City Classic should move towards a home & home.