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

Was reading a twitter conversation and it was stating Clark alluding to UAB playing in a new stadium. One poster mentioned something downtown and west of the BJCC. Anyone have any idea or insight.

bjcc has been considering an open air stadium in uptown. smaller than legion field but big enough to host a bowl game

(09-17-2015 04:58 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  bjcc has been considering an open air stadium in uptown. smaller than legion field but big enough to host a bowl game

Oh please, NO! Not a county owned stadium in north Birmingham. What a nightmare!

ON CAMPUS STADIUM....UAB owned. NEVER settle for less.

Smith left the door open for either an on-campus facility or the MPF at the BJCC. In both cases, it sounds like the BJCC would own/pay for the facility.

If I had to guess, the movers and shakers of the community are probably split on which is best. I could see several with vested interests saying a stadium at Parkside (area around UAB and Regions Field) would be another boon to the development in the area. Then of course, you have the contingent that's wanted a MPF at the BJCC since the beginning of time.

An indoor 75,000 seat stadium should be a non-starter, no matter where it's at. A 30-40,000 seat outdoor stadium on campus is idea, but if we can get a good, appropriately sized outdoor stadium near the BJCC it wouldn't be the end of the world. If on-campus, owned by UAB is impossible at this point then of course something near Regions Field is better than the BJCC.

The ones that have investments around Uptown will want it there.

Gorilla, we all want the OCS, but if the BJCC issues bonds and pays to build a modern facility by the BJCC, that's where we'll be playing.

(09-17-2015 06:46 AM)TheGORILLA Wrote:  

(09-17-2015 04:58 AM)bladhmadh Wrote:  bjcc has been considering an open air stadium in uptown. smaller than legion field but big enough to host a bowl game

Oh please, NO! Not a county owned stadium in north Birmingham. What a nightmare!

ON CAMPUS STADIUM....UAB owned. NEVER settle for less.

Give them the $100,000,000 and we'll start building tomorrow. If the BJCC pays then they'll put it where is best for them.

I love the idea of the on campus stadium, but a brand new 40-45k seat stadium at the BJCC Uptown area is a suitable option. It would work well for the Bowl game, the Magic City Classic, the Labor Day Classic, and of course UAB. It makes sense for the city and it is more affordable for UAB since it doesn't have to foot the bill.

We could dig our heels in and demand an on campus stadium, but in that case, we would probably end up with nothing, which is the worst option available.

No not a dome. (aroox) 40,000 seat open air stadium tailored for UAB. Take it and run with it and be damn proud t get it.

We are in no position to act all high and mighty.

There is also talk of making a tailgate are plus shuttles for students.

After reading the Champlin article, I'm not holding out hope that anything will be ready by 2017, and I'd be surprised if something was ready by the end of Clark's contract.

1. Ingram said UAB is not actively participating in any discussions. They're essentially letting everyone else do the hard work and come to them and say "we figured out a place". They need to be involved like they were for Regions Field. UAB didn't issue a penny of debt for Regions Field but land swaps and other issues they helped with were instrumental in it being built. So much so that the UAB AD got a seat on the athletic facility authority that was created to managed Regions Field.
2. The BJCC shouldn't be the only option. They should look at partnering with the City and the Regions Field authority at possibly doing it that way. If the BJCC turns out to be the only option because they want to roll it up into a new/expanded arena, fine, but they should not limit themselves right out of the gate.

Uptown is nice, plus hotels right there. It would be best for Birmingham. Though I hope UAB/Birmingham sets up some transit system to shuttle students to the games.

1. It will not be ready by 2017. I am guessing 19. 18 if the trigger is pulled this year. That may be possible.
2. It will be at the BJCC.
3. Ingram is still................. never mind I said I would be nice.

I will reiterate that a stadium near the BJCC does not doom an eventual OCS. It merely gives a more enjoyable venue and more modern amenities to help with recruiting. That in turn allows us to build the fan base and improve the quality of the product on the field. As that happens and our economic influence and political power grow, an OCS becomes a real possibility.

(09-17-2015 07:49 AM)price4UAB Wrote:  Uptown is nice, plus hotels right there. It would be best for Birmingham. Though I hope UAB/Birmingham sets up some transit system to shuttle students to the games.

UAB has is own transit system

(09-17-2015 07:51 AM)Blazer85 Wrote:  I will reiterate that a stadium near the BJCC does not doom an eventual OCS. It merely gives a more enjoyable venue and more modern amenities to help with recruiting. That in turn allows us to build the fan base and improve the quality of the product on the field. As that happens and our economic influence and political power grow, an OCS becomes a real possibility.

I agree, this is a great opportunity. I would much rather see an ocs, but I don't think it will happen short term. I think the ocs would have a better chance after BOT reform or a couple well placed deaths.

Remember this is a marathon. Use the new stadium until we have leverage for a ocs. The stadium at uptown would be huge for recruitment.
The real fight is for facilities in particular a ipf.

If we want permanence with respect to football and the OCS doesn't happen in this current movement, we need to put full effort into an IPF, football support building and building and strengthening the UAB Athletics Foundation which will be the mouthpiece of our political and economic influence over UAB and the BOT.

If Clark doesn't have any issues with a stadium near the BJCC why should we?

(09-17-2015 08:39 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  If Clark doesn't have any issues with a stadium near the BJCC why should we?

While I'm OK with the right stadium at the BJCC, I am not just going to blindly follow every single thing that Bill Clark says. I trust him, sure, and he hasn't said anything I disagree with, but he's not the second coming and I have a brain and views of my own and will come to my own conclusions.

(09-17-2015 08:39 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  If Clark doesn't have any issues with a stadium near the BJCC why should we?

Because Coach C. is more politically savvy than we are.

(09-17-2015 08:39 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  If Clark doesn't have any issues with a stadium near the BJCC why should we?

Because we are free thinking fans of the program and not mindless followers?