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BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
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UAB Band Dad Offline
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Post: #21
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
(12-01-2017 02:25 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  UAB Band Dad's post emphasized that fan amenities are the main sticking point of playing games at Legion Field. For the teams, it is state of the art for locker rooms, lighting and playing surface.

That's not quite correct. My point is that basically all that Legion Field has going for it is that it exists, has a playing surface, and holds more people than we are able to draw.

If I start listing things that are wrong with LF I'll basically write an essay on what a modern sports facility looks like. There are no luxury boxes to lease to increase cash flow. The broadcast facilities are primitive at best - no media room, a lack of camera stations and sightlines. It's old and rusty and crusty. Rest rooms are primitive. I'm not going to try to list it all, we all know the deal here.

You can still get around in a 1950's car - but the gas mileage will stink, it won't have headrests or seat belts, or a/c or decent sound or cruise control or dozens of other things we take for granted. It's not the right tool to travel today's freeways safely and efficiently.

Legion Field is a 1930's car that was updated to 1960's standards.
12-01-2017 08:26 PM
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imjustafatkid Offline
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Post: #22
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
(12-01-2017 02:09 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  
(12-01-2017 09:06 AM)imjustafatkid Wrote:  I must be the only UAB fan in existence who doesn't mind Legion Field.

May I suggest a source of opinion from a completely unbiased source?

Google up the Birmingham Bowl and read the comments of the various fan bases of visiting teams and see what they have to say about Legion Field. If you're truly interested you can look up the teams year by year and look at their message boards after the game.

Just remember that you'll be reading the comments of P5 teams who play in decent modern stadiums, so they'll expect something approaching what they routinely see at home and away games. In though - they universally think it's a crappy old rustbucket of a stadium in a really bad part of town, and they are not Blazer fans being pissy.

I urge you to go read them for yourself. I'd go pull some quotes but that might look like I had cherry picked particularly bad examples, so do it for yourself, please.

People don't want to go to the Birmingham Bowl for a number of reasons. Many of those reasons will not change with a new stadium.
12-02-2017 01:19 AM
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UAB Band Dad Offline
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Post: #23
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
That's true enough. Everybody who goes to a bowl game wants a *better* bowl game. A new stadium at Uptown would mean that after the game they won't get on their home message board and badmouth their experience in Birmingham over it, though.

I take it for granted that "A crumbling old dump of a stadium in a scary bad part of town" would come off of the list of complaints.
12-02-2017 10:25 AM
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BlazerPhil Online
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Post: #24
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
UThe city needs to keep Legion field playable for the next 3 years while a new stadium gets finalized and built. If the city has 30 million to spend, then spend 5 on LF to keep it quasi-usable. Then take the other 25 mil and fund the city's portion of the new stadium for the next 8 years.

If the bond issue is for 20 years and the city's payment is 3 mil a year, then the city only needs 60 mil total. Then the city only needs to make 36 mil over the life of the rest of the bond to make their payment if they truly have 30 mil to invest in the 2 projects.
(This post was last modified: 12-02-2017 01:34 PM by BlazerPhil.)
12-02-2017 01:27 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #25
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
Since the Council is looking at $30 million for Legion Field, I want to ask our resident stadium building expert -- How much would it cost to build a string of "luxury skyboxes" along the upper east stands of Legion Field and provide access to them by elevators? They should be designed to have their own food service and bathroom facilities at least equivalent to those of the Club level sections atop the west stands.
(This post was last modified: 12-03-2017 02:35 AM by BAMANBLAZERFAN.)
12-03-2017 01:12 AM
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hooverblazer Online
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Post: #26
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
Several city councilors did a site visit to Georgia St today to study how to "reposition an older stadium and its effects on the surrounding area". You've got to be kidding. Big difference in Turner Field being 20 years old and Legion being 90.

Is the train off the track for the Uptown stadium?
12-03-2017 01:32 AM
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UAB Band Dad Offline
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Post: #27
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
No. They're still trying to find a way to guide some of that sweet, sweet stadium rebuilding money to their friends and family (and themselves, of course).
12-03-2017 01:34 AM
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hooverblazer Online
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Post: #28
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
What's our plan B if the city wont play ball? Staying at Legion in any capacity is highly detrimental to sustained success, retaining Clark, and getting in a better conference.
12-03-2017 01:39 AM
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Matrix Offline
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Post: #29
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
If completely out of left field, they've gone from postponing numerous "official announcements" regarding when construction is to begin on a new stadium to wanting to sink $30 Million into that ancient scow of a stadium tells me that either this new stadium is never going to be built, or they're going to stall until after the World Games....in 2021! Either option is despicable, to me. I can't shake the feeling that new Mayor Woodfin's pending audit of the city's finances is going to convey some unpleasant truths about all that revenue they've been taking from us all this time for the empty promise of delivering a new stadium in the Uptown District. I hope I'm wrong. Nothing would make me happier...
12-03-2017 02:36 PM
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UAB Band Dad Offline
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Post: #30
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
Misapplication of funds at City Hall under Mayor Bell?!? Surely you jest.
12-03-2017 03:08 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #31
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
I (and many others) would like UAB to have its own OCS, but I don't see that even being considered as long as the choice is to build either the MPF or the BJCC stadium - either of which would satisfy UAB's needs - or not to build either one. Being permanently consigned to the present Legion Field would probably reignite the movement for a OCS as the only alternative choice.

I continue to believe the MPF is what best fits the city's future needs for convention and sports events on a year round basis. The open air BJCC stadium would be a largely seasonal facility almost completely limited to only one or two kinds of sports events. UAB could happily use either one.
(This post was last modified: 12-03-2017 03:35 PM by BAMANBLAZERFAN.)
12-03-2017 03:18 PM
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Blazer85 Offline
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Post: #32
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
The longer the discussion drags on, the more I think it benefits UAB's chances of getting an OCS. Success on the field and in the fundraising department is going to give us more power when it comes to the conversation.
12-03-2017 04:03 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #33
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
(12-03-2017 04:03 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  The longer the discussion drags on, the more I think it benefits UAB's chances of getting an OCS. Success on the field and in the fundraising department is going to give us more power when it comes to the conversation.

Woodfin has stated that there will be a decision soon on the city's choice of facilities. If he means what he said, we should know in early 2018 which way the city wants to go and will back with its money.

Even $30 million invested over years will not remove the deficiencies of Legion Field, but may indicate a lack of city confidence in the viability of either the MPF or the BJCC stadium projects. If that point is reached, UAB may decide the OCS should be built.
12-03-2017 05:27 PM
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UAB Band Dad Offline
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Post: #34
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
UAB doesn't get to decide whether the OCS should be built. The BoT decides if the OCS is allowed to be built.
12-03-2017 09:14 PM
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TheGORILLA Offline
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Post: #35
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
Oh gosh! Stop beating around the bush. Thirty million dollars is ten percent of the cost of a new stadium, downtown, that would host a multitude of events and generate millions upon millions of dollars every year. Duh! HELLO? Is anyone there?
12-03-2017 10:53 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #36
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
(12-03-2017 09:14 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  UAB doesn't get to decide whether the OCS should be built. The BoT decides if the OCS is allowed to be built.

First things first -- UAB must ask the BOT to permit it when it has decided it wants to build one. There are several "moving pieces in play" (Legion Field, MPF & BJCC) before that stage is reached. By the time the BOT is asked by UAB, it may be much easier to get agreement than in years past.
12-03-2017 11:00 PM
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Post: #37
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
(12-03-2017 10:53 PM)TheGORILLA Wrote:  Oh gosh! Stop beating around the bush. Thirty million dollars is ten percent of the cost of a new stadium, downtown, that would host a multitude of events and generate millions upon millions of dollars every year. Duh! HELLO? Is anyone there?

You sound like 10% is really close to having the thing paid for. It's not.

I don't believe there will ever be a new stadium built. If that is the case, then by all means, drop 30 million into Legion Field, because without a new stadium, we're stuck with it.
12-03-2017 11:08 PM
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WesternBlazer Offline
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Post: #38
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
(12-03-2017 05:27 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  
(12-03-2017 04:03 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  The longer the discussion drags on, the more I think it benefits UAB's chances of getting an OCS. Success on the field and in the fundraising department is going to give us more power when it comes to the conversation.

Woodfin has stated that there will be a decision soon on the city's choice of facilities. If he means what he said, we should know in early 2018 which way the city wants to go and will back with its money.

Even $30 million invested over years will not remove the deficiencies of Legion Field, but may indicate a lack of city confidence in the viability of either the MPF or the BJCC stadium projects. If that point is reached, UAB may decide the OCS should be built.

It may have more to do with Woodfin's promise to give more attention to neighborhoods. In this instance, keeping Legion Field viable for the neighborhood in which it resides. Lots of money (much of it as part of the "underground economy") is generated in the area during football games. With the public housing being torn down and replaced with mixed-use housing and part of the $30 million being used to "clean up" some of the surrounding area with the hope of investment in the area that fits in with his promise. I don't know that it will work, but... . I guess the question is, "Is it an either/or for Legion Field and the downtown stadium?".
12-03-2017 11:18 PM
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Post: #39
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
(12-03-2017 11:08 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  I don't believe there will ever be a new stadium built.

Once of the rare moments in history when I agree with you.

Edit: I also said the indoor facility would never happen, and I was happy to be proven wrong with that one.
(This post was last modified: 12-04-2017 01:46 AM by thebernreuter.)
12-04-2017 01:40 AM
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TheGORILLA Offline
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Post: #40
RE: BBJ: Birmingham leaders weigh $30 million Legion Field upgrade
(12-04-2017 01:40 AM)thebernreuter Wrote:  
(12-03-2017 11:08 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  I don't believe there will ever be a new stadium built.

Once of the rare moments in history when I agree with you.

Edit: I also said the indoor facility would never happen, and I was happy to be proven wrong with that one.
I agree, too. It is no wonder that Birmingham is forever stuck in a rut. Lack of government leadership, vision. As for Woodfin's suggestion of a thirty million dollar upgrade to Legion Field, "No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made".
12-04-2017 08:32 AM
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