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

(08-19-2016 04:06 PM)blazerjay Wrote:  

(08-19-2016 01:24 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(08-19-2016 12:06 PM)blzrclub80 Wrote:  So, if the judge doesn't rule in favor of using the sales tax to fund the project, do we go back to the on campus stadium idea?

I believe the lawsuit is a technicality over how the legislature authorized the tax so we could go back to the legislature and get them to clarify the bill.

The Judge has already ruled against the tax...the county has appealed to the state Supreme Court and is awaiting its decision.

If the Supreme Court lets the ruling stand, the Legislature will simply re-introduce the legislation in next years session and pass it following the correct procedure. The was little opposition last year as this was not a new tax and there is expected to be no problem getting it passed again according to Hatton Smith.

I thing they are introducing legislation this time just in case so it can be on the ballot in november

If this is built, UAB should have the #1 stadium in all of GO5.
Sure, I might not have parking for my motor home there, but I do see myself staying in a dwntwn hotel, walking to Uptown to tailgate, going to the game and then spending more time dwntwn after the game. What would make it even better is if the restart Mobile-B'ham Amtrak service again, like they're currently discussing. No driving for me all weekend!

If they built it, we will come.

(08-20-2016 06:00 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  If they built it, we will come.

And if they don't build it, we will remain at Legion Field - as our only choice. I hope UAB gets the MPF, the OCS or the BJCC stadium as any of these will get UAB out of LF.

Does it concern anyone else that this is being discussed as part of a 20 year master plan? Where does the stadium fall on the priority list?

I get the feeling my 10 year old might be finished with college at UAB before we even see this thing.

(08-22-2016 10:52 AM)iam4uab Wrote:  Does it concern anyone else that this is being discussed as part of a 20 year master plan? Where does the stadium fall on the priority list?

I get the feeling my 10 year old might be finished with college at UAB before we even see this thing.

I would imagine the football stadium would be first on the list, but if B'ham is going to keep up with surrounding cities, everything envisioned in that plan needs to be started on immediately.

(08-22-2016 11:43 AM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(08-22-2016 10:52 AM)iam4uab Wrote:  Does it concern anyone else that this is being discussed as part of a 20 year master plan? Where does the stadium fall on the priority list?

I get the feeling my 10 year old might be finished with college at UAB before we even see this thing.

I would imagine the football stadium would be first on the list, but if B'ham is going to keep up with surrounding cities, everything envisioned in that plan needs to be started on immediately.

Nashville is talking about a 6 billion transit plan for their surrounding area. Birmingham struggles to agree to fund safety services. We have a long way to go if we want to keep up.

(08-22-2016 01:06 PM)uabblazer2012 Wrote:  

(08-22-2016 11:43 AM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(08-22-2016 10:52 AM)iam4uab Wrote:  Does it concern anyone else that this is being discussed as part of a 20 year master plan? Where does the stadium fall on the priority list?

I get the feeling my 10 year old might be finished with college at UAB before we even see this thing.

I would imagine the football stadium would be first on the list, but if B'ham is going to keep up with surrounding cities, everything envisioned in that plan needs to be started on immediately.

Nashville is talking about a 6 billion transit plan for their surrounding area. Birmingham struggles to agree to fund safety services. We have a long way to go if we want to keep up.

Is Nashville dependent on getting agreeable results from the Tenn. legislature before building that transit plan - or any other major civic creation? Bham's transit system is still suffering from the refusal of the AL legislature to provide matching funds that would have been multiplied by available federal funds for its local services. Under the Alabama Constitution, all city and county improvements must be agreed to by the state legislature and perhaps also a statewide amendment vote (unless financed by additional local sales taxes, the ONLY TAX a city or county can enact without going through the state legislature).

(08-22-2016 10:52 AM)iam4uab Wrote:  Does it concern anyone else that this is being discussed as part of a 20 year master plan? Where does the stadium fall on the priority list?

I get the feeling my 10 year old might be finished with college at UAB before we even see this thing.

No, because "reporters" and I use that term lightly saw the term 20-year and misinterpreted the proposal was what the civic center may look like 20 years from now.

The charge to Populous was to renovate and enhance to make the complex viable in the marketplace for the next 20 years...not to be completed by the end of 20 years.

(08-22-2016 04:15 PM)blazerjay Wrote:  

(08-22-2016 10:52 AM)iam4uab Wrote:  Does it concern anyone else that this is being discussed as part of a 20 year master plan? Where does the stadium fall on the priority list?

I get the feeling my 10 year old might be finished with college at UAB before we even see this thing.

No, because "reporters" and I use that term lightly saw the term 20-year and misinterpreted the proposal was what the civic center may look like 20 years from now.

The charge to Populous was to renovate and enhance to make the complex viable in the marketplace for the next 20 years...not to be completed by the end of 20 years.

Anyone who looks at the pace of public facility building for convention and sports improvements in the City of B'ham has reason to wonder when any new amenity will be built. Place on a time line the last major improvements at Legion Field (N&S end zone seating and new pressbox), building the BJCC and adding its east side exhibition extension and Regions Field. What does the resulting time line suggest for the next addition?

(08-17-2016 03:43 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  BBJ
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/ne...adium.html
(just in case there's a pay wall for some)

The Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center Authority Board of Directors has received an updated master plan for BJCC, and it includes some huge developments that will transform the metro area.

The new master plan, developed by Kansas City-based Populous, includes a proposed open-air stadium, a major renovation and expansion of Legacy Arena and upgrades to the convention center's exterior aesthetics and entrances.

The plan was commissioned by the authority's board with a goal of enhancing the regional competitiveness of the complex over the next two decades.

Although the board received the presentation today, the board did not vote on its approval. The authority's board is awaiting an Alabama Supreme Court ruling on legal issues surrounding Jefferson County sales taxes. As we've previously reported, that ruling will be critical for funding the project. Because of the uncertainty over the court ruling, there is not a timetable for the project, according to Cindy Fisher Crawford, director of communications and brand strategy for the BJCC.

The estimated cost for the stadium is $174 million, while Legacy Arena renovations would cost $123 million.

The city of Birmingham and Jefferson County will be asked to help fund the project, but amounts have not been determined at this time, Crawford said.

If all of the elements come to fruition, they would address several of the challenges experts discussed in BBJ Cover Story, which noted that Birmingham's existing facilities aren't on par with those in competing metro areas.

“The process of assessing key enhancement and expansion opportunities based on the underlying goal of creating a flexible framework to meet the future vision and needs of the BJCC has been extremely rewarding," said Tad Snider, executive director of the BJCC.

The plan includes a proposed stadium north of the Uptown entertainment district with 45,000 fixed seats that would be expandable to 55,000 seats with a pre-designed temporary seating plan.

Interviews with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and ESPN – two potential users of the stadium – were conducted as part of the process. The stadium would serve as a home for the new UAB football program, as well as the ESPN-owned Birmingham Bowl.

Legacy Arena would also receive an updated exterior facade, new entrances, an added suite level and premium club space. The suite level and club space are two elements that sports organizers have said could even the playing field with other facilities in the region.

The exterior plaza would also receive a major renovation to include a more open plan.

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016...otter.html

Earlier this year, a Jefferson County circuit judge found that the Legislature had run afoul of this constitutional requirement when it passed a bill to divert a county sales tax to a slew of county projects and a slush fund for the county's lawmakers. That decision is being appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court.

But here's the thing. If it's upheld, it could nullify not only that law but also hundreds of other laws passed by the same method. At a minimum, 635 local bills are at risk, including school taxes, annexations, bond issues -- all sorts of stuff.

To fix this, state Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, proposed an amendment to the Alabama Constitution that would retroactively fix all those votes on local bills. The bill made its way through the Legislature's obstacle course until, Wednesday, it had one last hurdle to cross -- a vote in the state Senate.

But before it could come up for a vote, Marsh recessed and sent everybody home for the night. It would have taken a few more minutes to get it passed, but the pro tem decided not to.

(08-26-2016 09:41 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  

(08-17-2016 03:43 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  BBJ
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/ne...adium.html
(just in case there's a pay wall for some)

The Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center Authority Board of Directors has received an updated master plan for BJCC, and it includes some huge developments that will transform the metro area.

The new master plan, developed by Kansas City-based Populous, includes a proposed open-air stadium, a major renovation and expansion of Legacy Arena and upgrades to the convention center's exterior aesthetics and entrances.

The plan was commissioned by the authority's board with a goal of enhancing the regional competitiveness of the complex over the next two decades.

Although the board received the presentation today, the board did not vote on its approval. The authority's board is awaiting an Alabama Supreme Court ruling on legal issues surrounding Jefferson County sales taxes. As we've previously reported, that ruling will be critical for funding the project. Because of the uncertainty over the court ruling, there is not a timetable for the project, according to Cindy Fisher Crawford, director of communications and brand strategy for the BJCC.

The estimated cost for the stadium is $174 million, while Legacy Arena renovations would cost $123 million.

The city of Birmingham and Jefferson County will be asked to help fund the project, but amounts have not been determined at this time, Crawford said.

If all of the elements come to fruition, they would address several of the challenges experts discussed in BBJ Cover Story, which noted that Birmingham's existing facilities aren't on par with those in competing metro areas.

“The process of assessing key enhancement and expansion opportunities based on the underlying goal of creating a flexible framework to meet the future vision and needs of the BJCC has been extremely rewarding," said Tad Snider, executive director of the BJCC.

The plan includes a proposed stadium north of the Uptown entertainment district with 45,000 fixed seats that would be expandable to 55,000 seats with a pre-designed temporary seating plan.

Interviews with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and ESPN – two potential users of the stadium – were conducted as part of the process. The stadium would serve as a home for the new UAB football program, as well as the ESPN-owned Birmingham Bowl.

Legacy Arena would also receive an updated exterior facade, new entrances, an added suite level and premium club space. The suite level and club space are two elements that sports organizers have said could even the playing field with other facilities in the region.

The exterior plaza would also receive a major renovation to include a more open plan.

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016...otter.html

Earlier this year, a Jefferson County circuit judge found that the Legislature had run afoul of this constitutional requirement when it passed a bill to divert a county sales tax to a slew of county projects and a slush fund for the county's lawmakers. That decision is being appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court.

But here's the thing. If it's upheld, it could nullify not only that law but also hundreds of other laws passed by the same method. At a minimum, 635 local bills are at risk, including school taxes, annexations, bond issues -- all sorts of stuff.

To fix this, state Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, proposed an amendment to the Alabama Constitution that would retroactively fix all those votes on local bills. The bill made its way through the Legislature's obstacle course until, Wednesday, it had one last hurdle to cross -- a vote in the state Senate.

But before it could come up for a vote, Marsh recessed and sent everybody home for the night. It would have taken a few more minutes to get it passed, but the pro tem decided not to.

It did pass on Thursday though. Not sure if it's passed the House yet.