WesternBlazer
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No news, but downtown stadium prediction [01/19 update @post 126]
Looks like stadium prediction is #2(via search for "stadium" on BBJ website" - see below), but need subscription to read it... . Anyone? Beuhler! Beuhler!
NEWS 22 HOURS AGO
10 predictions for Birmingham's business world in 2018
quarter. 2. Plans will be cemented for a new downtown stadium. After years of talk, stalls and numerous false starts, Birmingham leaders will finally pull the trigger on a new stadium at the Birmingham…
https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/n...ld-in.html
(This post was last modified: 01-19-2018 08:38 PM by WesternBlazer.)
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01-03-2018 09:55 AM |
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hooverblazer
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
Not much too it, but the BBJ editor's predictions are usually pretty good.
2. Plans will be cemented for a new downtown stadium.
After years of talk, stalls and numerous false starts, Birmingham leaders will finally pull the trigger on a new stadium at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
The timing is right, with the return of football at UAB, the debut of Topgolf and the chance to synch the project with the Interstate 20/59 project.
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01-03-2018 10:13 AM |
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BAMANBLAZERFAN
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
The final stumbling block to building the new (smaller) open air stadium is accepting B'ham's permanently subordinate role in regional convention competition. The list of regional cities that B'ham can't "be like" is growing longer by the years. What is the next regional city to step over B'ham as they grow by building newer and larger facilities instead of newer and smaller?
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01-03-2018 12:17 PM |
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BatesUAB
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-03-2018 12:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: The final stumbling block to building the new (smaller) open air stadium is accepting B'ham's permanently subordinate role in regional convention competition. The list of regional cities that B'ham can't "be like" is growing longer by the years. What is the next regional city to step over B'ham as they grow by building newer and larger facilities instead of newer and smaller?
I don't know why I'm responding, but I am. Maybe it's the lawyer in me, but I just can't help myself....
Okay, let's talk regional cities with which Birmingham would be in competition for conventions. Which of them has domes? Charlotte? Nope. Nashville? Nope. Seriously, how many domes are in the Southeast? Atlanta. NOLA. I can't think of any others.
I don't know why you and others think that in order to have more convention space, that space has to be a football field with a roof over it. Nashville is a prime example. Their convention hall is massive. Hell, the NRA had something like 50,000 people in there. It isn't a football field with a roof over it. So, by all means lets expand convention space, but let's build a football stadium. I hate watching games in domes anyway...
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01-03-2018 02:35 PM |
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Blazing Saddles
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-03-2018 02:35 PM)BatesUAB Wrote: (01-03-2018 12:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: The final stumbling block to building the new (smaller) open air stadium is accepting B'ham's permanently subordinate role in regional convention competition. The list of regional cities that B'ham can't "be like" is growing longer by the years. What is the next regional city to step over B'ham as they grow by building newer and larger facilities instead of newer and smaller?
I don't know why I'm responding, but I am. Maybe it's the lawyer in me, but I just can't help myself....
Okay, let's talk regional cities with which Birmingham would be in competition for conventions. Which of them has domes? Charlotte? Nope. Nashville? Nope. Seriously, how many domes are in the Southeast? Atlanta. NOLA. I can't think of any others.
I don't know why you and others think that in order to have more convention space, that space has to be a football field with a roof over it. Nashville is a prime example. Their convention hall is massive. Hell, the NRA had something like 50,000 people in there. It isn't a football field with a roof over it. So, by all means lets expand convention space, but let's build a football stadium. I hate watching games in domes anyway...
Amen to all of this.
Also, BJCC complex desperately needs to be renovated and expanded.
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01-03-2018 02:48 PM |
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BlazerFromMD
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-03-2018 02:35 PM)BatesUAB Wrote: (01-03-2018 12:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: The final stumbling block to building the new (smaller) open air stadium is accepting B'ham's permanently subordinate role in regional convention competition. The list of regional cities that B'ham can't "be like" is growing longer by the years. What is the next regional city to step over B'ham as they grow by building newer and larger facilities instead of newer and smaller?
I don't know why I'm responding, but I am. Maybe it's the lawyer in me, but I just can't help myself....
Okay, let's talk regional cities with which Birmingham would be in competition for conventions. Which of them has domes? Charlotte? Nope. Nashville? Nope. Seriously, how many domes are in the Southeast? Atlanta. NOLA. I can't think of any others.
I don't know why you and others think that in order to have more convention space, that space has to be a football field with a roof over it. Nashville is a prime example. Their convention hall is massive. Hell, the NRA had something like 50,000 people in there. It isn't a football field with a roof over it. So, by all means lets expand convention space, but let's build a football stadium. I hate watching games in domes anyway...
+1
Our convention center in DC handles up to 42,000. It is neither a dome nor a stadium. http://www.dcconvention.com/Venues/Conve...enter.aspx
(This post was last modified: 01-03-2018 02:55 PM by BlazerFromMD.)
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01-03-2018 02:55 PM |
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blazer-J
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-03-2018 02:48 PM)Blazing Saddles Wrote: (01-03-2018 02:35 PM)BatesUAB Wrote: (01-03-2018 12:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: The final stumbling block to building the new (smaller) open air stadium is accepting B'ham's permanently subordinate role in regional convention competition. The list of regional cities that B'ham can't "be like" is growing longer by the years. What is the next regional city to step over B'ham as they grow by building newer and larger facilities instead of newer and smaller?
I don't know why I'm responding, but I am. Maybe it's the lawyer in me, but I just can't help myself....
Okay, let's talk regional cities with which Birmingham would be in competition for conventions. Which of them has domes? Charlotte? Nope. Nashville? Nope. Seriously, how many domes are in the Southeast? Atlanta. NOLA. I can't think of any others.
I don't know why you and others think that in order to have more convention space, that space has to be a football field with a roof over it. Nashville is a prime example. Their convention hall is massive. Hell, the NRA had something like 50,000 people in there. It isn't a football field with a roof over it. So, by all means lets expand convention space, but let's build a football stadium. I hate watching games in domes anyway...
Amen to all of this.
Also, BJCC complex desperately needs to be renovated and expanded.
I agree. If the BJCC needs another 80,000 to 100,000 square feet of space, surely it could be built cheaper than the $300m that it would cost to build a dome vs open air stadium.
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01-03-2018 03:37 PM |
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Memphis Blazer
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-03-2018 02:35 PM)BatesUAB Wrote: (01-03-2018 12:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: The final stumbling block to building the new (smaller) open air stadium is accepting B'ham's permanently subordinate role in regional convention competition. The list of regional cities that B'ham can't "be like" is growing longer by the years. What is the next regional city to step over B'ham as they grow by building newer and larger facilities instead of newer and smaller?
I don't know why I'm responding, but I am. Maybe it's the lawyer in me, but I just can't help myself....
Okay, let's talk regional cities with which Birmingham would be in competition for conventions. Which of them has domes? Charlotte? Nope. Nashville? Nope. Seriously, how many domes are in the Southeast? Atlanta. NOLA. I can't think of any others.
I don't know why you and others think that in order to have more convention space, that space has to be a football field with a roof over it. Nashville is a prime example. Their convention hall is massive. Hell, the NRA had something like 50,000 people in there. It isn't a football field with a roof over it. So, by all means lets expand convention space, but let's build a football stadium. I hate watching games in domes anyway...
Johnson City, TN has a mini dome.
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01-03-2018 05:19 PM |
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BAMANBLAZERFAN
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-03-2018 03:37 PM)blazer-J Wrote: (01-03-2018 02:48 PM)Blazing Saddles Wrote: (01-03-2018 02:35 PM)BatesUAB Wrote: (01-03-2018 12:17 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: The final stumbling block to building the new (smaller) open air stadium is accepting B'ham's permanently subordinate role in regional convention competition. The list of regional cities that B'ham can't "be like" is growing longer by the years. What is the next regional city to step over B'ham as they grow by building newer and larger facilities instead of newer and smaller?
I don't know why I'm responding, but I am. Maybe it's the lawyer in me, but I just can't help myself....
Okay, let's talk regional cities with which Birmingham would be in competition for conventions. Which of them has domes? Charlotte? Nope. Nashville? Nope. Seriously, how many domes are in the Southeast? Atlanta. NOLA. I can't think of any others.
I don't know why you and others think that in order to have more convention space, that space has to be a football field with a roof over it. Nashville is a prime example. Their convention hall is massive. Hell, the NRA had something like 50,000 people in there. It isn't a football field with a roof over it. So, by all means lets expand convention space, but let's build a football stadium. I hate watching games in domes anyway...
Amen to all of this.
Also, BJCC complex desperately needs to be renovated and expanded.
I agree. If the BJCC needs another 80,000 to 100,000 square feet of space, surely it could be built cheaper than the $300m that it would cost to build a dome vs open air stadium.
And just exactly where have any of you seen a plan to build this "80,000 to 100,000 square feet enclosed convention space" after they can barely afford the seasonally useful smaller open air (football only) stadium? UAB will be happy to play in any new facility that replaces Legion Field so they can have the same unfettered ticket pricing that they presently have for the best seats at Bartow Arena.
The renovation plans I have heard about for the Legacy Arena are to make it SMALLER in seating capacity by taking out seats in favor of adding plush "sky boxes" for corporate use. So B'ham winds up in the 2020s with a 55,000 seat stadium of limited use and an 11,000 seat Legacy Arena unless someone comes up with a so far unmentioned financial plan for additional convention space. Does that sound regionally competitive to you?
As with the lotteries and casinos in neighboring states, Alabamians can conveniently drive to nearby facilities like we can't / won't build. BTW, Tens of thousands just drove to NOLA and then will drive to Atlanta to see games in DOMES. A similar number went to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
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01-03-2018 08:46 PM |
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UAB Band Dad
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
So when do you think that the SEC Championship or the Football Playoff would be played in Birmingham if we built a dome?
My money's on the 12th of Never.
The BJCC plan includes renovation of Legacy Arena and the convention halls, the stadium, another convention hall IIRC, and eventually (last) a parking deck.
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01-04-2018 12:01 AM |
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blazers9911
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
Unless we are building Jerry world part two none of your beloved sec games are coming here.
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01-04-2018 12:26 AM |
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BAMANBLAZERFAN
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-04-2018 12:01 AM)UAB Band Dad Wrote: So when do you think that the SEC Championship or the Football Playoff would be played in Birmingham if we built a dome?
My money's on the 12th of Never.
The BJCC plan includes renovation of Legacy Arena and the convention halls, the stadium, another convention hall IIRC, and eventually (last) a parking deck.
That's about the same date that any major regional event is likely to come to the BJCC stadium or the Legacy Arena unless both are made substantially larger. Last I heard, Legacy was to be renovated with fewer regular seats - not more - to make room for luxury skyboxes.
Now if that 100,000 square feet convention hall is built, we just may get some of those larger conventions that have been passing B'ham by, but I have not heard of any concrete plans to build it.
The parking deck is already overdue and should be built concurrently with and next to any new stadium.
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01-04-2018 01:47 AM |
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BAMANBLAZERFAN
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-04-2018 12:26 AM)blazers9911 Wrote: Unless we are building Jerry world part two none of your beloved sec games are coming here.
Regular season P5 games - SEC or other conferences - are not likely to come to a 55,000 seat stadium. They are going to play all games on campus unless large (7 figure or better) payouts are guaranteed. According to NCAA regulations I have heard about, no "Official recruiting visits" are allowed at a neutral site game if the school has an OCS. In the 2017 regular season, how many P5 games were played at such neutral sites that are not "DOMES"?
BTW, I still have not seen or heard of a commitment by either the B'ham Bowl or the Magic City Classic to abandon Legion Field for the BJCC stadium.
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01-04-2018 02:17 AM |
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the_blazerman
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
I don't care what the Magic City Classic does, they can be ignorant if they wish.
The bowl game would move in a heartbeat pending any legal stuff that needed to be taken care of.
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01-04-2018 08:41 AM |
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B'ham Blazer
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-04-2018 08:41 AM)the_blazerman Wrote: I don't care what the Magic City Classic does, they can be ignorant if they wish.
The bowl game would move in a heartbeat pending any legal stuff that needed to be taken care of.
There is absolutely zero doubt about that. I was told the ESPN crew was shocked at the conditions at LF.
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01-04-2018 09:12 AM |
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UAB Band Dad
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
(01-04-2018 02:17 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote: Regular season P5 games - SEC or other conferences - are not likely to come to a 55,000 seat stadium. They are going to play all games on campus unless large (7 figure or better) payouts are guaranteed. According to NCAA regulations I have heard about, no "Official recruiting visits" are allowed at a neutral site game if the school has an OCS. In the 2017 regular season, how many P5 games were played at such neutral sites that are not "DOMES"?
The only regular season P5 games that are not played at home are played at huge neutral site venues like Atlanta's Mercedes Park or Jerryworld. P5 teams play at home and keep the money. They won't come to Birmingham if we build the Taj Mahal, which is about as affordable as a dome.
I don't understand what it is about "Domes cost two to three times as much money, and we're fighting to come up with the funding for a 55k open-air stadium as it is" that is so difficult to understand.
If Birmingham built the sort of convention complex you are describing (which it won't, because money) we would then be faced with the lack of sufficient hotel rooms and public transit to service the sort of numbers who go to those conventions.
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01-04-2018 11:03 AM |
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blazers9911
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
That’s not entirely accurate. there are more neutral site games than those his sec teams play in. There were neutral site games in Australia, Fenway park, Yankees stadium, Bank of America stadium, fedex field, etc. i don’t believe any of these are domes.
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01-04-2018 11:12 AM |
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Blazing Saddles
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
What will happen to the perpetual Legion Field seat licenses from the 1920s?
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01-04-2018 02:13 PM |
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Blazer Engineer
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RE: No news, but downtown stadium prediction
No........ Please .......No........
(01-04-2018 02:13 PM)Blazing Saddles Wrote: What will happen to the perpetual Legion Field seat licenses from the 1920s?
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01-04-2018 02:24 PM |
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