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

https://www.abc3340.com/news/local/a-loo...n-december

The renovation project is about 70 percent finished.

Dates are already being booked. In addition to concerts, Birmingham's new NBA G-League team is expected to play in the arena in January.

That's a year earlier than originally planned

Alabama is scheduled to host Ganzaga there as a neutral site game in 2022. I suspect UAB might establish a similar deal with a BB power, as well. I seem to recall that a H&H with Gonzaga was discussed during the Haase era, but UAB would not agree to a return game at the BJCC after playing Gaonzaga at their place - wanted the return game to be at Bartow instead.

Yeah, I've already got tix to a concert there in the spring. Anxious to see it.

Correct Western. We either wanted a true HH or two neutral site games. Gonzaga wanted us to play them on campus and would not go to Bartow. Would only do BJCC.

Hope we can play a game there as a double header each year. Our AD sold us out the last time we played there.

I'll take a hard pass on UAB playing a regular season game at the BJCC unless our attendance at Bartow increases by leaps and bounds during Kennedy's time as HC.

I don't understand the anti-BJCC stance. I wouldn't be opposed to playing a big game there once a year if it's included in the season ticket package.

If a major team says come play us in our home arena and we'll come play you at the BJCC you take that deal. Getting them in Bham is a win.

(05-27-2021 11:26 AM)hooverblazer Wrote:  I don't understand the anti-BJCC stance. I wouldn't be opposed to playing a big game there once a year if it's included in the season ticket package.

If a major team says come play us in our home arena and we'll come play you at the BJCC you take that deal. Getting them in Bham is a win.

Depends on the team, but, generally I agree.

(05-27-2021 11:26 AM)hooverblazer Wrote:  I don't understand the anti-BJCC stance. I wouldn't be opposed to playing a big game there once a year if it's included in the season ticket package.

If a major team says come play us in our home arena and we'll come play you at the BJCC you take that deal. Getting them in Bham is a win.

Yeah, if it meant a team like Gonzaga coming to Birmingham, sign me up.

I don’t have a problem playing at the BJCC as long as it is someone like a Bobby Knight Indiana that brings tons of fans. I used to enjoy the Arby’s Classic also.

Fill up Bartow arena first, then worry about BJCC. Recruits need to see a good atmosphere at Bartow. If they don’t want a true home and home, then request a 2 for 1. Playing at BJCC in an empty arena is no better than Legion field.

We aren’t selling out BJCC no matter the opponent if it isn’t AU or UA.

Normally I would agree but the new BJCC is going to be awesome and a source of civic pride. I think there are a lot of casual people who'll go to an "event" at the BJCC who wouldn't typically come to Bartow, and I think there's a greater chance to get a real marquee team to come there than to Bartow. UAB rarely sold out the old BJCC either, but there were many a magical night with 12,000 in there.

(05-27-2021 04:13 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote:  Normally I would agree but the new BJCC is going to be awesome and a source of civic pride. I think there are a lot of casual people who'll go to an "event" at the BJCC who wouldn't typically come to Bartow, and I think there's a greater chance to get a real marquee team to come there than to Bartow. UAB rarely sold out the old BJCC either, but there were many a magical night with 12,000 in there.

New BJCC is about 4K seats smaller, too.

(05-27-2021 11:26 AM)hooverblazer Wrote:  I don't understand the anti-BJCC stance. I wouldn't be opposed to playing a big game there once a year if it's included in the season ticket package.

If a major team says come play us in our home arena and we'll come play you at the BJCC you take that deal. Getting them in Bham is a win.

Giving the current state of UAB Basketball beggars can't be choosy so I understand this thought process.

With Andy Kennedy as coach the current state of UAB basketball has the potential to fit back in our old Cinderella shoes.

(05-27-2021 07:44 PM)Plaid Blazer Wrote:  With Andy Kennedy as coach the current state of UAB basketball has the potential to fit back in our old Cinderella shoes.

I would prefer UAB Basketball to be more than a Cinderella program but again beggars can't be choosy.

We should be playing one big game downtown at the BJCC every year. Give tickets away to fill it if we need to for the first couple of years. Let's strive to be big time again. Same people saying we can't draw enough are the same ones that said big schools won't play us home and home.

(05-28-2021 07:12 AM)randy22263 Wrote:  We should be playing one big game downtown at the BJCC every year. Give tickets away to fill it if we need to for the first couple of years. Let's strive to be big time again. Same people saying we can't draw enough are the same ones that said big schools won't play us home and home.

Giving away tickets is not a good look image wise if you're looking to move into a better conference and it doesn't fix the problem. Back in the day UAB Basketball was good enough to schedule a big time program at the BJCC without worrying about attendance.

I don't remember Mike Anderson's teams playing at the BJCC that often if at all. Take the crawl before you can walk approach; get decent teams to come to Bartow, and win some of those games. That will start to get people back interested in the program.

Playing at the BJCC was before the deluge of tv sports and massive high def TVs. If you were a basketball fan in the 80’s you had a few games a week to watch on tv on a low def tv with bad sound or you went in person. Today I don’t have to leave my house for a good viewing experience. It’s much more difficult to attract casual fans of a sport.
I support playing big name out of state programs at the BJCC if that is the only way to get them here. I am against playing a home game at the BJCC against a team like Auburn when they will have more fans in the stands. I want a home court advantage when we play in Birmingham. At the BJCC you still get that against teams like Gonzaga

Will any of the BJCC Legacy seating comfiguations change after the renovations? It does not appear so unless there are retractable seats behind the goals? Years ago they mentioned dropping floor down a level and making a tiered setup like Boise. Arena. Pictures just look like they are creating a new middle section or club boxes. Has anyone seen drawings of the final seating comfiguations?

(05-29-2021 07:46 PM)bigdunks Wrote:  Will any of the BJCC Legacy seating comfiguations change after the renovations? It does not appear so unless there are retractable seats behind the goals? Years ago they mentioned dropping floor down a level and making a tiered setup like Boise. Arena. Pictures just look like they are creating a new middle section or club boxes. Has anyone seen drawings of the final seating comfiguations?

I think going smaller was in part to get actual "luxury" boxes. Also, typical attendance at sporting evensts have shrunken a bit over the years such that an 18K basketball arean is not practical - especially in a city that has no professional team.