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

(09-21-2015 01:55 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Regarding the use of a new BJCC area stadium by local high schools, this should not be considered certain. All suburban high schools have built their own stadiums and at least some of the city high schools have as well. Even back in the 1990s, the city high schools were protesting the rental costs of using Legion Field since city school crowds did not warrant the space (If you think 20,000 looked bad there, think how 1,200 or less looked).

A new "mini Legion Field" for UAB's use would be nice, but I can't see the city paying for it 100% considering that if it is "UAB size", it would be too small for the other revenue producing games (B'ham Bowl and HBCU Classics) that need greater seating. If a unique design can be found that would make a "UAB Only" stadium cost effective, it might be a good idea, particularly if built on campus.

A 40-45k seat stadium may be a little small for the Classic, but ticket prices would offset that financially and the Uptown business area would benefit greatly from the move. That part is attractive for the city. A sold-out stadium for the bowl would also be attractive for everyone and raise the profile of the bowl and the city. Plus, again the Uptown area would take off. The city would also control parking and concessions, so they would stand to gain aplenty on the deal.

(09-21-2015 02:13 PM)the Dragon Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 01:55 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Regarding the use of a new BJCC area stadium by local high schools, this should not be considered certain. All suburban high schools have built their own stadiums and at least some of the city high schools have as well. Even back in the 1990s, the city high schools were protesting the rental costs of using Legion Field since city school crowds did not warrant the space (If you think 20,000 looked bad there, think how 1,200 or less looked).

A new "mini Legion Field" for UAB's use would be nice, but I can't see the city paying for it 100% considering that if it is "UAB size", it would be too small for the other revenue producing games (B'ham Bowl and HBCU Classics) that need greater seating. If a unique design can be found that would make a "UAB Only" stadium cost effective, it might be a good idea, particularly if built on campus.

A 40-45k seat stadium may be a little small for the Classic, but ticket prices would offset that financially and the Uptown business area would benefit greatly from the move. That part is attractive for the city. A sold-out stadium for the bowl would also be attractive for everyone and raise the profile of the bowl and the city. Plus, again the Uptown area would take off. The city would also control parking and concessions, so they would stand to gain aplenty on the deal.

Once you acknowledge that this new stadium is too small for the HBCU Classics - and probably for the developing B'ham Bowl - this still leaves the city "on the hook" for maintenance and upkeep for Legion Field as the only suitable site for them in the metro area - now while paying for the "mini Legion Field" as well. Should the city commit to sustaining two sizes of Legion Field at the same time?

The ONLY suitable replacement for Legion Field is the MPF with its greater convention and sports capabilities. As Larry Langford stated, B'ham should build the MPF and demolish Legion Field. Langford suggested a large western park development there with a prominent water feature like East Lake Park.

Regarding stadium size, remember the trend is smaller stadium. Most new mlb stadiums are are under 40k. The Redskins have shrunk FedEx field by about 12k.

They are recognizing that the stadium is primarily a TV studio and game attendance is defining everywhere except the biggest program s

With the original dome estimate of over $500 million some years ago during the economic downturn, one could only guess what the price would be now(perhaps $750). Perhaps the reality is that it is cheaper to build a convention center complex and a separate 45-50K open air stadium next to it...

(09-21-2015 04:32 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  With the original dome estimate of over $500 million some years ago during the economic downturn, one could only guess what the price would be now(perhaps $750). Perhaps the reality is that it is cheaper to build a convention center complex and a separate 45-50K open air stadium next to it...

Convention space is a lot cheaper to build than a stadium and we won't get the SEC championship or an NFL team. The smaller outdoor stadium is the best bang for the buck right now.

The 3 newest college stadiums that seat 40K plus...

40,000 seat TDECU Stadium in Houston cost $128 million.
45,000 McLane Stadium at Baylor cost $266 million.
50,000 TCF Bank Stadium cost $303 million

(09-21-2015 03:09 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 02:13 PM)the Dragon Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 01:55 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Regarding the use of a new BJCC area stadium by local high schools, this should not be considered certain. All suburban high schools have built their own stadiums and at least some of the city high schools have as well. Even back in the 1990s, the city high schools were protesting the rental costs of using Legion Field since city school crowds did not warrant the space (If you think 20,000 looked bad there, think how 1,200 or less looked).

A new "mini Legion Field" for UAB's use would be nice, but I can't see the city paying for it 100% considering that if it is "UAB size", it would be too small for the other revenue producing games (B'ham Bowl and HBCU Classics) that need greater seating. If a unique design can be found that would make a "UAB Only" stadium cost effective, it might be a good idea, particularly if built on campus.

A 40-45k seat stadium may be a little small for the Classic, but ticket prices would offset that financially and the Uptown business area would benefit greatly from the move. That part is attractive for the city. A sold-out stadium for the bowl would also be attractive for everyone and raise the profile of the bowl and the city. Plus, again the Uptown area would take off. The city would also control parking and concessions, so they would stand to gain aplenty on the deal.

Once you acknowledge that this new stadium is too small for the HBCU Classics - and probably for the developing B'ham Bowl - this still leaves the city "on the hook" for maintenance and upkeep for Legion Field as the only suitable site for them in the metro area - now while paying for the "mini Legion Field" as well. Should the city commit to sustaining two sizes of Legion Field at the same time?

The ONLY suitable replacement for Legion Field is the MPF with its greater convention and sports capabilities. As Larry Langford stated, B'ham should build the MPF and demolish Legion Field. Langford suggested a large western park development there with a prominent water feature like East Lake Park.

Neither the city nor the county is paying for the the new stadium, so all of the posts which consider the ramifications of one or both of those entities having a say in the matter are off target. The BJCC Board is going to build stadium and they don't need the permission of anyone else to build it. They have the money lined up, they already own the location which has been designated, the design has been completed, and the contractor has been selected. All they have to do is pull the trigger,

(09-21-2015 12:01 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 11:50 AM)TheGORILLA Wrote:  A stadium downtown. How is bankrupt Jefferson County going to finance 70 to 100 million dollars? And the city? They are deeply in debt, too. Don't hold your breath. It ain't gonna happen!

Jefferson County exited bankruptcy 3 years ago. The City of Birmingham had a $13 million surplus last year. And the BJCC Authority is independent of both of them anyway.

Also the city voted on a bond a couple of yrs ago & has 50-70 mill of that 150mil in the bank gathering interest from that bond

(09-21-2015 04:56 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 03:09 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 02:13 PM)the Dragon Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 01:55 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Regarding the use of a new BJCC area stadium by local high schools, this should not be considered certain. All suburban high schools have built their own stadiums and at least some of the city high schools have as well. Even back in the 1990s, the city high schools were protesting the rental costs of using Legion Field since city school crowds did not warrant the space (If you think 20,000 looked bad there, think how 1,200 or less looked).

A new "mini Legion Field" for UAB's use would be nice, but I can't see the city paying for it 100% considering that if it is "UAB size", it would be too small for the other revenue producing games (B'ham Bowl and HBCU Classics) that need greater seating. If a unique design can be found that would make a "UAB Only" stadium cost effective, it might be a good idea, particularly if built on campus.

A 40-45k seat stadium may be a little small for the Classic, but ticket prices would offset that financially and the Uptown business area would benefit greatly from the move. That part is attractive for the city. A sold-out stadium for the bowl would also be attractive for everyone and raise the profile of the bowl and the city. Plus, again the Uptown area would take off. The city would also control parking and concessions, so they would stand to gain aplenty on the deal.

Once you acknowledge that this new stadium is too small for the HBCU Classics - and probably for the developing B'ham Bowl - this still leaves the city "on the hook" for maintenance and upkeep for Legion Field as the only suitable site for them in the metro area - now while paying for the "mini Legion Field" as well. Should the city commit to sustaining two sizes of Legion Field at the same time?

The ONLY suitable replacement for Legion Field is the MPF with its greater convention and sports capabilities. As Larry Langford stated, B'ham should build the MPF and demolish Legion Field. Langford suggested a large western park development there with a prominent water feature like East Lake Park.

Neither the city nor the county is paying for the the new stadium, so all of the posts which consider the ramifications of one or both of those entities having a say in the matter are off target. The BJCC Board is going to build stadium and they don't need the permission of anyone else to build it. They have the money lined up, they already own the location which has been designated, the design has been completed, and the contractor has been selected. All they have to do is pull the trigger,

Is the contractor on the list of our 51 fund raising business leaders?

(09-21-2015 04:48 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  The 3 newest college stadiums that seat 40K plus...

40,000 seat TDECU Stadium in Houston cost $128 million.
45,000 McLane Stadium at Baylor cost $266 million.
50,000 TCF Bank Stadium cost $303 million

I think a Houston like stadium would be perfect. Looks really good, might be too big but hopefully not.

Actually its a little under mile from the civic center from the most northern point on campus. So walking up 20th street from campus really is not that bad of a hike.

I'm with Cajun on the fact that the city has little to no input on this re: the Magic City Classic since the BJCC is apparently the vehicle via which this will be built. Also, if those 20,000 extra seats are so important then the two Classic schools can throw in some money to help out. If UAB is going to be a primary tenant, and our donations are going to help build it, then secondary uses should be considered but are just that...secondary.

If our donors are helping build it, then we should get a slice of the revenue generated therein, regardless of who's doing the generating.

(09-21-2015 05:05 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  Actually its a little under mile from the civic center from the most northern point on campus. So walking up 20th street from campus really is not that bad of a hike.

Every game-day morning, we can make the Dragon March up 20th Street, with bagpipes playing, TreeMissile banners flying, and mighty chants of Fire Ray Watts!

(09-21-2015 04:56 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 03:09 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 02:13 PM)the Dragon Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 01:55 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Regarding the use of a new BJCC area stadium by local high schools, this should not be considered certain. All suburban high schools have built their own stadiums and at least some of the city high schools have as well. Even back in the 1990s, the city high schools were protesting the rental costs of using Legion Field since city school crowds did not warrant the space (If you think 20,000 looked bad there, think how 1,200 or less looked).

A new "mini Legion Field" for UAB's use would be nice, but I can't see the city paying for it 100% considering that if it is "UAB size", it would be too small for the other revenue producing games (B'ham Bowl and HBCU Classics) that need greater seating. If a unique design can be found that would make a "UAB Only" stadium cost effective, it might be a good idea, particularly if built on campus.

A 40-45k seat stadium may be a little small for the Classic, but ticket prices would offset that financially and the Uptown business area would benefit greatly from the move. That part is attractive for the city. A sold-out stadium for the bowl would also be attractive for everyone and raise the profile of the bowl and the city. Plus, again the Uptown area would take off. The city would also control parking and concessions, so they would stand to gain aplenty on the deal.

Once you acknowledge that this new stadium is too small for the HBCU Classics - and probably for the developing B'ham Bowl - this still leaves the city "on the hook" for maintenance and upkeep for Legion Field as the only suitable site for them in the metro area - now while paying for the "mini Legion Field" as well. Should the city commit to sustaining two sizes of Legion Field at the same time?

The ONLY suitable replacement for Legion Field is the MPF with its greater convention and sports capabilities. As Larry Langford stated, B'ham should build the MPF and demolish Legion Field. Langford suggested a large western park development there with a prominent water feature like East Lake Park.

Neither the city nor the county is paying for the the new stadium, so all of the posts which consider the ramifications of one or both of those entities having a say in the matter are off target. The BJCC Board is going to build stadium and they don't need the permission of anyone else to build it. They have the money lined up, they already own the location which has been designated, the design has been completed, and the contractor has been selected. All they have to do is pull the trigger,

What causes the trigger to be pulled? Reaching the next milestone? Watts retirement announcement? Lining up a corporate sponsor?

Alan Collins reported earlier tonight that the stadium announcement, in whatever form and location, could be announced "as early as the beginning of next year." So if his sources are correct, we are still looking at a few months before the announcement is made officially.

If it's really going to be next year before the announcement is made then everyone has severely jumped the gun on the talk about it happening. A lot can happen in four months.

Well if the site straddles 11th Ave North....Houston we have problem. ALDOT is suppose to route I59/20 on 11th Ave North while they replace the bridges downtown. So someone needs to talk with ALDOT before they pull the trigger otherwise nothing will happen on that site until the interstate bridges are replaced downtown.

(09-21-2015 07:21 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  Well if the site straddles 11th Ave North....Houston we have problem. ALDOT is suppose to route I59/20 on 11th Ave North while they replace the bridges downtown. So someone needs to talk with ALDOT before they pull the trigger otherwise nothing will happen on that site until the interstate bridges are replaced downtown.

That plan has changed. 11th Ave is no longer the main routing for downtown access for the 20/59 rebuild. Specifically, in part, because of the BJCC's long term plans with that site.

(09-21-2015 06:56 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  Alan Collins reported earlier tonight that the stadium announcement, in whatever form and location, could be announced "as early as the beginning of next year." So if his sources are correct, we are still looking at a few months before the announcement is made officially.

http://www.wbrc.com/story/30081095/recor...birmingham