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

(08-20-2014 11:30 AM)BandGrad Wrote:  I'll believe it when I see it.

Same here!

Will Hallman also handle the parking?

The dome needs to be built, but I think it's borderline crazy to expect an NFL team will move to Birmingham. London, England will get a team before we do.

The dome will probably built before an OCS so I am for it. But, I would be for it even if UAB didnt need to play there.

We are not getting an NFL team unless someone gets pissed and moves a team here. Bills anyone? LOL

That said we need the space. I know of one convention we are associated with that can't come because of the limited space.

DNC?

The Medical Marijuana Association.

Birmingham does not have and will not get an NFL team because a man who died over three decades ago wanted it that way.

That's how messed up Alabama politics are.

True dat!

(08-21-2014 10:36 AM)jthrashr Wrote:  The dome needs to be built, but I think it's borderline crazy to expect an NFL team will move to Birmingham. London, England will get a team before we do.

And they will be called the London Black Knights, according to my Madden 25 Connected Franchise.

(08-21-2014 11:46 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  We are not getting an NFL team unless someone gets pissed and moves a team here. Bills anyone? LOL

That said we need the space. I know of one convention we are associated with that can't come because of the limited space.

Many years ago, during a confrontation over who would build a new stadium for the Bills in Buffalo, the owner threatened to move his team. When B'ham was mentioned locally as a possible choice, the letters to the NEWS expressed outrage that a "loser" team might be invited come here. They all wanted a "winner" and many suggested the Green Bay Packers as their choice. That episode illustrated the reality basis of local area understanding of pro football.

Conventions bring in people from many parts of America to the city, and many may spend more freely at local watering holes and malls than most locals can afford. There is also the factor that some conventions are a week long, not just weekend meetings and accompanying family will find places to go for their idea of "fun" while one parent is in meetings. All of this means revenue to the area communities tax base.

People with that kind of public clout tend to be dicks or at least sound like one.

Regardless of who holds the iron, it's hot and Birmingham needs to strike now.

Can we stop the "tax payers shouldn't fund it argument"? Are the taxpayers seeing a result on their investment from Regions Field? What about Railroad Park? I think those are obvious answers.Why the hell should we believe they wouldn't from an OCS? It would give UAB a home closer to campus, be more attractive to conventions than the BJCC, and raise the clout of the bowl game. You have to spend money to make money. Recently the city has handled projects well, Birmingham has been listed in multiple national publications for there downtown revival. I have no reason to think this wouldn't be a good thing.

(08-21-2014 03:51 PM)stc Wrote:  Can we stop the "tax payers shouldn't fund it argument"? Are the taxpayers seeing a result on their investment from Regions Field? What about Railroad Park? I think those are obvious answers.Why the hell should we believe they wouldn't from an OCS? It would give UAB a home closer to campus, be more attractive to conventions than the BJCC, and raise the clout of the bowl game. You have to spend money to make money. Recently the city has handled projects well, Birmingham has been listed in multiple national publications for there downtown revival. I have no reason to think this wouldn't be a good thing.

I agree. The multi-purpose facility would make the new Uptown/Westin development take off even more. With such an increase in visitors downtown it would be logical to see spill over traffic into the central business district portion of downtown as well as Southside.

(08-21-2014 03:55 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(08-21-2014 03:51 PM)stc Wrote:  Can we stop the "tax payers shouldn't fund it argument"? Are the taxpayers seeing a result on their investment from Regions Field? What about Railroad Park? I think those are obvious answers.Why the hell should we believe they wouldn't from an OCS? It would give UAB a home closer to campus, be more attractive to conventions than the BJCC, and raise the clout of the bowl game. You have to spend money to make money. Recently the city has handled projects well, Birmingham has been listed in multiple national publications for there downtown revival. I have no reason to think this wouldn't be a good thing.

I agree. The multi-purpose facility would make the new Uptown/Westin development take off even more. With such an increase in visitors downtown it would be logical to see spill over traffic into the central business district portion of downtown as well as Southside.

Your 100% correct. It bothers me that many of the people not wanting the OCS built don't realize they are like the people who moved out of Birmingham two generations ago. Those people still say Bham is a bad place to live citing information that is old and outdated. OCS detractors do the same thing on a different subject. A wise man once told me "Facts don't change people's opinions" I feel that is the case here because the proof is in the pudding with recent Bham developments. Some are just not willing to change their views on it.

(08-21-2014 03:24 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(08-21-2014 02:53 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  I just about puke in my cereal reading this article. Now I really hope this thing never gets built.

if we have less than 10,000 at the game next week due to weather the dome will look a lot better

Not saying Birmingham doesn't need it. Just don't like the "it will get done regardless of blah blah blah" verbage. That's not helping the cause at all.

UAB doesn't need it either long term. But I'm to the point now that it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other. If it gets done fine; if not then whatever.

(08-21-2014 04:31 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(08-21-2014 03:24 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(08-21-2014 02:53 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  I just about puke in my cereal reading this article. Now I really hope this thing never gets built.

if we have less than 10,000 at the game next week due to weather the dome will look a lot better

Not saying Birmingham doesn't need it. Just don't like the "it will get done regardless of blah blah blah" verbage. That's not helping the cause at all.

UAB doesn't need it either long term. But I'm to the point now that it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other. If it gets done fine; if not then whatever.

I respect your opinion and agree about Hallman's language. My points were not directed at you or anyone in particular. This discussion has been going on this board since I joined. I will ask why you don't think UAB doesn't need this long term. I think HooverBlazer made a good point about increased traffic downtown, why would UAB not also benefit from increased traffic in the city? And since an OCS is not on horizon why would we not want out of LF long term?

The main reason for a UAB fan not to want it is that the OCS then becomes a nonissue. "You're playing in a brand new dome, what more do you want? You don't fill it anyhow."

Add in that small crowds in big domes look just as bad as they do in Lesion Field. Throw in a pinch of "Football should be played ooutdoors under God's blue sky on a beautiful fall day".

All of that remains moot when the city and county don't have the money to build the thing. The city raised taxes and fees to build a fund for the dome, but has been spending it hand over fist for years now. No money, no dome. Simple.

(08-21-2014 03:51 PM)stc Wrote:  Can we stop the "tax payers shouldn't fund it argument"? Are the taxpayers seeing a result on their investment from Regions Field? What about Railroad Park? I think those are obvious answers.Why the hell should we believe they wouldn't from an OCS? It would give UAB a home closer to campus, be more attractive to conventions than the BJCC, and raise the clout of the bowl game. You have to spend money to make money. Recently the city has handled projects well, Birmingham has been listed in multiple national publications for there downtown revival. I have no reason to think this wouldn't be a good thing.

it would also allow UAB to set up tailgating on campus and use the new bus system to take us to the games. UAB gets to keep a chunk of the parking change that way. set up blazer village on the campus green.

(08-21-2014 06:52 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  The main reason for a UAB fan not to want it is that the OCS then becomes a nonissue. "You're playing in a brand new dome, what more do you want? You don't fill it anyhow."

Add in that small crowds in big domes look just as bad as they do in Lesion Field. Throw in a pinch of "Football should be played ooutdoors under God's blue sky on a beautiful fall day".

All of that remains moot when the city and county don't have the money to build the thing. The city raised taxes and fees to build a fund for the dome, but has been spending it hand over fist for years now. No money, no dome. Simple.

Could we for a second assume that Clark might get a winning product on the field that might attract bigger crowds. Plus the proposed dome would have a smaller seating capacity than LF currently does.