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BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
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hooverblazer Offline
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Post: #21
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
In a mayoral debate this morning, Bell said there's a meeting scheduled in two weeks between the city, jeffco, UAB, and some corporate entities to finalize the financial plan of the stadium and they expect to release details on funding shortly thereafter.

Perhaps we could get an announcement at the Sam Hunt concert?
08-10-2017 09:32 AM
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mobileblazer Offline
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Post: #22
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
^^^^^
Might be the plan!
08-10-2017 11:25 AM
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Smaug Offline
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Post: #23
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
Soon. Soon. How many times must we hear this?

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08-10-2017 12:49 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #24
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-08-2017 10:07 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  
(08-04-2017 05:22 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  You are correct in that B'ham will never be another Atlanta. That ship sailed several decades ago when our 1960s state and city leaders made us look more like 1930s Germany than 1970s America. The question is - in that frame of reference - just exactly what will B'ham become? Another Dothan? Another Bessemer? Another Macon? Another Columbus? Another Jackson? If B'ham can't see its way to become another great city, what level example city should it aim to become short of that?

We have built a minor league baseball park for our Class AA team, and now we want to build a minor league seasonal stadium. There is (in my opinion) a good chance that without the year round traffic of the MPF, the Uptown entertainment district will whither and go away just like the Morris Avenue entertainment district did.

Morris Ave in the 80s and 90s were a victim of crime. I don't know if you've been downtown to the 2nd Ave corridor, but Birmingham is doing pretty well without a debt saddled domed stadium ideal for literally nothing in town.

"Debt saddled" is what every choice for public expenditure / investment comes with in a state that brags about its lowest in America tax structure. Whether it be a prison, university building, stadium (of any size), city government building or highway, it comes with a debt charge for using borrowed money instead of having income from taxes.

Interest charges eat up a major share of state and local appropriations annually. At one time, interest charges consumed the entire state highway budget for the year. The state's plan for new prisons would have Alabama paying back for two prisons for every one prison built.

Morris Avenue was hurt by a couple of well publicized crimes, but was killed by state and municipal "Blue Laws" which banned sale of all alcoholic beverages (except for private clubs) after midnight during the week and all day on Sunday. When a city makes it hard on "visiting firemen", it fails in competition with other cities.
(This post was last modified: 08-10-2017 01:25 PM by BAMANBLAZERFAN.)
08-10-2017 01:24 PM
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WesternBlazer Offline
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Post: #25
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
Tim Stephens‏ @twstephensmedi
Per Bham Mayor William Bell, only couple of seasons left for Legion Field before Old Gray Lady is "put out to pasture" for new stadium
08-10-2017 01:31 PM
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UAB Band Dad Offline
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Post: #26
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-10-2017 12:49 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Soon. Soon. How many times must we hear this?

I think it's really more like "After the election."
08-10-2017 02:53 PM
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mixduptransistor Offline
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Post: #27
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-10-2017 02:53 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  
(08-10-2017 12:49 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Soon. Soon. How many times must we hear this?

I think it's really more like "After the election."

That's literally the timing they gave after this last delay
(This post was last modified: 08-10-2017 02:54 PM by mixduptransistor.)
08-10-2017 02:54 PM
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UAB Band Dad Offline
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Post: #28
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-03-2017 06:07 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Now I see that mantra denied in order to get the smaller, cheaper and easier objective. The city will live with whatever choice it makes, and its consequences for the city's status among its peers. I will abide the choice made, but if it is the usual, I will not think it the best for the city's brightest future. It will have settled for something less.

I would very much prefer to see a modern, state of the art open air stadium, the refurbishment of the existing BJCC complex (possibly to include another convention hall to expand the available space), and after that is in place a parking deck to service the BJCC area.

This is something that can actually be built, which I find far more valuable than another ten years of the city wrangling about a dome which it cannot fund.

I've watched this city chase a dome since, what, 1978?

If actually building a functional facility we can afford instead of debating one which we cannot is "settling", I would be more than happy to settle for that.
(This post was last modified: 08-10-2017 03:03 PM by UAB Band Dad.)
08-10-2017 02:59 PM
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BlazintheATL Offline
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Post: #29
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
I think a modernization of the existing BJCC is what the city needs above all else. No city the size of Bham needs a dome stadium, or a MPF if you prefer. The civic center is badly outdated and in dire need of a renovation. It's why the city can't get tournament games, lots of big concerts, etc. If the city can refurbish the BJCC and build a new outdoor stadium for UAB, USL, bowl games, the classic etc. for cheaper than the cost of a dome then the debate should end right there.
08-10-2017 03:10 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #30
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-10-2017 03:10 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  I think a modernization of the existing BJCC is what the city needs above all else. No city the size of Bham needs a dome stadium, or a MPF if you prefer. The civic center is badly outdated and in dire need of a renovation. It's why the city can't get tournament games, lots of big concerts, etc. If the city can refurbish the BJCC and build a new outdoor stadium for UAB, USL, bowl games, the classic etc. for cheaper than the cost of a dome then the debate should end right there.

Why not just say that no city the size of B'ham needs to attract major sports events, major conventions or major concerts. According to what has been posted, there is no plan to expand or enlarge the BJCC, only renovate the Legacy Arena to make it nicer and more user friendly with maybe less seating to make room for luxury boxes.

Perhaps that and a minor league football stadium will be sufficient for what might be the state's 2nd or 3rd largest city by 2030 or 2040. That may be the result of building according to the city's priorities and ways of thinking (smaller and cheaper) from the 1960s.

BTW, what part of the state is Alabama promoting for that new Mazda / Toyota assembly plant since we are one of the 11 states still in contention?
(This post was last modified: 08-10-2017 04:39 PM by BAMANBLAZERFAN.)
08-10-2017 04:19 PM
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mixduptransistor Offline
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Post: #31
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-10-2017 04:19 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  
(08-10-2017 03:10 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  I think a modernization of the existing BJCC is what the city needs above all else. No city the size of Bham needs a dome stadium, or a MPF if you prefer. The civic center is badly outdated and in dire need of a renovation. It's why the city can't get tournament games, lots of big concerts, etc. If the city can refurbish the BJCC and build a new outdoor stadium for UAB, USL, bowl games, the classic etc. for cheaper than the cost of a dome then the debate should end right there.

Why not just say that no city the size of B'ham needs to attract major sports events, major conventions or major concerts. According to what has been posted, there is no plan to expand or enlarge the BJCC, only renovate the Legacy Arena to make it nicer and more user friendly with maybe less seating to make room for luxury boxes.

Perhaps that and a minor league football stadium will be sufficient for what might be the state's 2nd or 3rd largest city by 2030 or 2040. That may be the result of building according to the city's priorities and ways of thinking (smaller and cheaper) from the 1960s.

BTW, what part of the state is Alabama promoting for that new Mazda / Toyota assembly plant since we are one of the 11 states still in contention?

I'll say it: no city the size of Birmingham needs to try to attract sporting events on par with those that a city the size of LA or New York or Atlanta draw. The SEC Championship game is not coming back. The BCS game is not coming here. There is nowhere near the infrastructure to handle 70,000 people coming to any event downtown at one time.

It will take decades to build up to that point and build that infrastructure. You don't build a dome and then hope everything else will appear. You gradually build to it. You build something reasonable and hotels will come. You build a transit system and fix the transportation systems and the hotels will come, and then you can handle a 70,000 attendance event.

None of it matters because the city and county and BJCC combined can't afford a dome. If we keep putting off every project waiting for the one that can't be afforded, then NO project will ever happen. A dome is a terrible idea for UAB and would be Legion Field 2.0. An open air stadium is just right for every NCAA football event that happens in the city. It will be just right for a minor league soccer team. It will be just right for the Super 6 to return to Birmingham. I don't know if you own stock in Harbert Construction or something but you really have to get the dome out of your head. It's not 1999, and as much as it sucks, MAPS didn't happen and the world left us behind. While we sit around and dream about a dome, the world is still going. In 20-30 years, maybe Birmingham will need and can afford a dome, but in those intervening years it would be infinitely better to build something smaller than nothing at all.
08-10-2017 05:12 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #32
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-10-2017 05:12 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  
(08-10-2017 04:19 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  
(08-10-2017 03:10 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  I think a modernization of the existing BJCC is what the city needs above all else. No city the size of Bham needs a dome stadium, or a MPF if you prefer. The civic center is badly outdated and in dire need of a renovation. It's why the city can't get tournament games, lots of big concerts, etc. If the city can refurbish the BJCC and build a new outdoor stadium for UAB, USL, bowl games, the classic etc. for cheaper than the cost of a dome then the debate should end right there.

Why not just say that no city the size of B'ham needs to attract major sports events, major conventions or major concerts. According to what has been posted, there is no plan to expand or enlarge the BJCC, only renovate the Legacy Arena to make it nicer and more user friendly with maybe less seating to make room for luxury boxes.

Perhaps that and a minor league football stadium will be sufficient for what might be the state's 2nd or 3rd largest city by 2030 or 2040. That may be the result of building according to the city's priorities and ways of thinking (smaller and cheaper) from the 1960s.

BTW, what part of the state is Alabama promoting for that new Mazda / Toyota assembly plant since we are one of the 11 states still in contention?

I'll say it: no city the size of Birmingham needs to try to attract sporting events on par with those that a city the size of LA or New York or Atlanta draw. The SEC Championship game is not coming back. The BCS game is not coming here. There is nowhere near the infrastructure to handle 70,000 people coming to any event downtown at one time.

It will take decades to build up to that point and build that infrastructure. You don't build a dome and then hope everything else will appear. You gradually build to it. You build something reasonable and hotels will come. You build a transit system and fix the transportation systems and the hotels will come, and then you can handle a 70,000 attendance event.

None of it matters because the city and county and BJCC combined can't afford a dome. If we keep putting off every project waiting for the one that can't be afforded, then NO project will ever happen. A dome is a terrible idea for UAB and would be Legion Field 2.0. An open air stadium is just right for every NCAA football event that happens in the city. It will be just right for a minor league soccer team. It will be just right for the Super 6 to return to Birmingham. I don't know if you own stock in Harbert Construction or something but you really have to get the dome out of your head. It's not 1999, and as much as it sucks, MAPS didn't happen and the world left us behind. While we sit around and dream about a dome, the world is still going. In 20-30 years, maybe Birmingham will need and can afford a dome, but in those intervening years it would be infinitely better to build something smaller than nothing at all.

You are correct that an MPF can't be afforded, but neither can that open air stadium. BORROWED money is needed for both. The city has always opted for the smaller and cheaper and this is no exception.

It is not 1970 anymore, but we still have the BJCC that was built then and adding the open air seasonal stadium will not make it any newer or more year round useful. To date, I have not heard nor seen a single long term commitment from the MCC nor the ESPN Bowl people to sign on to use the smaller venue. Perhaps UAB and maybe the soccer team will have it all to themselves (BTW, You can add the Super 7 to events that will not be returning to B'ham.)

In 20 or 30 years, B'ham may be the 2nd, 3rd or even 4th largest city in a collapsing state economy since the state has "given the finger" to its K-12 academic educators outside its suburban enclaves and the private schools. Based upon Alabama History, whatever is built will be what UAB has for most of the next 50 - 75 years.
(This post was last modified: 08-12-2017 09:32 PM by BAMANBLAZERFAN.)
08-10-2017 06:02 PM
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mixduptransistor Offline
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Post: #33
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-10-2017 06:02 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  You are correct that an MPF can't be afforded, but neither can that open air stadium. BORROWED money is needed for both.

You keep saying that like I'm an idiot, but I've had a finance class, I know how debt works. Yes, the city and county have to borrow to build whatever they build. That doesn't mean that they can borrow an infinite amount. Affordability in this case means the ability to pay the debt service, not the ability to pay cash for the thing. The fact that they have to borrow to build either of them doesn't mean they can afford to borrow an infinite amount of money. I'm a Democrat, but even I recognize this.
(This post was last modified: 08-10-2017 08:53 PM by mixduptransistor.)
08-10-2017 08:52 PM
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BeliefBlazer Offline
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Post: #34
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
The MPF will happen when that tunnel freeway gets built under Red Mountain.
(This post was last modified: 08-10-2017 08:55 PM by BeliefBlazer.)
08-10-2017 08:54 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #35
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-10-2017 08:54 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  The MPF will happen when that tunnel freeway gets built under Red Mountain.

It is hard to predict the future of B'ham even with an MPF, but by the time of the city's bicentennial in 2071, historians may see the city's failure to build with confident vision had put a final nail in Joe Volker's visionary view for a greater city. Deciding to always settle for less expensive, less useful and less rewarding may condemn the city (and ultimately affect its university) to atrophy among other growth metro areas. By 2100, will we be North Hoover in reality if not by actual name?

Will UAB"s view of GA State, FAU, USA, College of Charleston, WKU,etc. be their tail lights like we now see former peers USF, UCF, Memphis, Louisville, Cinncy and Houston?
(This post was last modified: 08-12-2017 10:05 PM by BAMANBLAZERFAN.)
08-12-2017 09:54 PM
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iam4uab Offline
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Post: #36
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
Okay, I can't keep up...

You do realize that UAB's future is much brighter with the open air stadium than with an MPF, right?

The domed stadium had it's chance, it failed. Time to move on.
08-13-2017 11:07 AM
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mixduptransistor Offline
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Post: #37
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-12-2017 09:54 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Will UAB"s view of GA State, FAU, USA, College of Charleston, WKU,etc. be their tail lights like we now see former peers USF, UCF, Memphis, Louisville, Cinncy and Houston?

Literally none of those teams play football in a domed stadium
08-13-2017 11:24 AM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #38
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
(08-13-2017 11:24 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  
(08-12-2017 09:54 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Will UAB"s view of GA State, FAU, USA, College of Charleston, WKU,etc. be their tail lights like we now see former peers USF, UCF, Memphis, Louisville, Cinncy and Houston?

Literally none of those teams play football in a domed stadium

True enough. How many of them are going to be playing for a presently undetermined time in Legion Field? The MPF is not just about a site for playing football, but the BJCC plan is limited to only that with maybe a soccer team too. If the BJCC stadium is built, UAB will be delighted to be its only tenant if it turns out that way.
08-13-2017 02:57 PM
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BAMANBLAZERFAN Offline
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Post: #39
RE: BBJ: Q&A with Mayor Bell
CITY ELECTION NEXT TUESDAY ON AUGUST 22. How many Blazer Talkers can participate in that decision?
08-16-2017 04:42 PM
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