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

https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/birmingh...eater.html

Funding approved for the new Crossplex family fun center

Renovations for both Rickwood and Legion Fields

5% living cost increase for city employees

I've heard really good things about the new Orion amphitheater in Huntsville. It was interesting to see that Live Nation plans to close Oak Mountain when the new one opens, but it doesn't surprise me. Seems more shows go to Tuscaloosa now, and I don't blame them. It's a better facility. Oak Mt. is a nightmare- from ingress/egress (both in the car and on foot into the venue), concessions, parking. I welcome a new outdoor music venue downtown.

Like the idea of the new venue, but I have a lot of fond memories of shows at Oak Mountain and it will be missed. One thing, I do not think this is good for the spirit of regional cooperation. Oak Mountain generated a lot of revenue for Pelham and i read a new entertainment/dining facility is being developed directly across the street from the amphitheater. This will certainly hurt that.

(01-31-2023 03:53 PM)BatesUAB Wrote:  I've heard really good things about the new Orion amphitheater in Huntsville. It was interesting to see that Live Nation plans to close Oak Mountain when the new one opens, but it doesn't surprise me. Seems more shows go to Tuscaloosa now, and I don't blame them. It's a better facility. Oak Mt. is a nightmare- from ingress/egress (both in the car and on foot into the venue), concessions, parking. I welcome a new outdoor music venue downtown.

agree... but (there's ALWAYS a 'but' on BlazerTalk, no? ) - they REALLY need to get moving on some new parking decks... they are supposed to build one behind the West side of the stadium, not sure of any other new ones, unless the new Carraway project has one or more in it's scope... they tore down the existing decks, so... who knows?

(01-31-2023 05:22 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 03:53 PM)BatesUAB Wrote:  I've heard really good things about the new Orion amphitheater in Huntsville. It was interesting to see that Live Nation plans to close Oak Mountain when the new one opens, but it doesn't surprise me. Seems more shows go to Tuscaloosa now, and I don't blame them. It's a better facility. Oak Mt. is a nightmare- from ingress/egress (both in the car and on foot into the venue), concessions, parking. I welcome a new outdoor music venue downtown.

agree... but (there's ALWAYS a 'but' on BlazerTalk, no? ) - they REALLY need to get moving on some new parking decks... they are supposed to build one behind the West side of the stadium, not sure of any other new ones, unless the new Carraway project has one or more in it's scope... they tore down the existing decks, so... who knows?

This article says some of the parking decks are going to be renovated for future use.

https://constructionreviewonline.com/new...n-alabama/

(01-31-2023 04:13 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  Like the idea of the new venue, but I have a lot of fond memories of shows at Oak Mountain and it will be missed. One thing, I do not think this is good for the spirit of regional cooperation. Oak Mountain generated a lot of revenue for Pelham and i read a new entertainment/dining facility is being developed directly across the street from the amphitheater. This will certainly hurt that.

I don't think they'll be too upset as long as the Bulls stay out there.

(01-31-2023 06:01 PM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 04:13 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  Like the idea of the new venue, but I have a lot of fond memories of shows at Oak Mountain and it will be missed. One thing, I do not think this is good for the spirit of regional cooperation. Oak Mountain generated a lot of revenue for Pelham and i read a new entertainment/dining facility is being developed directly across the street from the amphitheater. This will certainly hurt that.

I don't think they'll be too upset as long as the Bulls stay out there.

Very true. I forget about the Bulls being there.

(01-31-2023 05:31 PM)BlazerDave Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 05:22 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 03:53 PM)BatesUAB Wrote:  I've heard really good things about the new Orion amphitheater in Huntsville. It was interesting to see that Live Nation plans to close Oak Mountain when the new one opens, but it doesn't surprise me. Seems more shows go to Tuscaloosa now, and I don't blame them. It's a better facility. Oak Mt. is a nightmare- from ingress/egress (both in the car and on foot into the venue), concessions, parking. I welcome a new outdoor music venue downtown.

agree... but (there's ALWAYS a 'but' on BlazerTalk, no? ) - they REALLY need to get moving on some new parking decks... they are supposed to build one behind the West side of the stadium, not sure of any other new ones, unless the new Carraway project has one or more in it's scope... they tore down the existing decks, so... who knows?

This article says some of the parking decks are going to be renovated for future use.

https://constructionreviewonline.com/new...n-alabama/

cool - I figured some would remain... there's still some stuff there (I just drove by a few months back), but didn't know what was what over there...

(01-31-2023 04:13 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  Like the idea of the new venue, but I have a lot of fond memories of shows at Oak Mountain and it will be missed. One thing, I do not think this is good for the spirit of regional cooperation. Oak Mountain generated a lot of revenue for Pelham and i read a new entertainment/dining facility is being developed directly across the street from the amphitheater. This will certainly hurt that.

The development across the street from Oak Mountain includes apartments. I cannot see Oak Mountain, even with the City of Pelham wanting it to stay, remaining all that viable as residential development starts to creep in

Regional cooperation is one thing, but Birmingham didn't go seeking out this development. I am convinced that Live Nation and the real estate developers came to them with this plan. I am also not super convinced Live Nation won't shut down Oak Mountain anyway if they don't get this new facility

Time for BHM to get their public transportation figured out. Moving students and residents from the south side to what is becoming a large entertainment district at the BJCC and Carraway, also out to Crossplex, Legion and Rickwood.

Have another question. When they tore down BIR at the fairgrounds, they were supposed to rebuild a new race track. What about turning the horse/dog track at Birmingham Race Course into a auto track and bring back short track racing to Birmingham?

The current growth of metro Birmingham has been amazing over the last few years.

Now we just need to save BSC. (Reminder, my son is a junior there, we need one more academic year out of them)

(01-31-2023 10:03 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Time for BHM to get their public transportation figured out. Moving students and residents from the south side to what is becoming a large entertainment district at the BJCC and Carraway, also out to Crossplex, Legion and Rickwood.

Have another question. When they tore down BIR at the fairgrounds, they were supposed to rebuild a new race track. What about turning the horse/dog track at Birmingham Race Course into a auto track and bring back short track racing to Birmingham?

The current growth of metro Birmingham has been amazing over the last few years.

Now we just need to save BSC. (Reminder, my son is a junior there, we need one more academic year out of them)

I believe the new Bus Rapid Transit line addresses some of those issues in town, but it's still limited and needs to be expanded. Mass transit outside of the city is still a massive issue that I don't see changing anytime soon. Unfortunately the US, especially the southeast, is way behind the rest of the world when it comes to the need for mass transit.

If BSC does shut down, where will your son go?

(01-31-2023 11:01 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 10:03 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Time for BHM to get their public transportation figured out. Moving students and residents from the south side to what is becoming a large entertainment district at the BJCC and Carraway, also out to Crossplex, Legion and Rickwood.

Have another question. When they tore down BIR at the fairgrounds, they were supposed to rebuild a new race track. What about turning the horse/dog track at Birmingham Race Course into a auto track and bring back short track racing to Birmingham?

The current growth of metro Birmingham has been amazing over the last few years.

Now we just need to save BSC. (Reminder, my son is a junior there, we need one more academic year out of them)

I believe the new Bus Rapid Transit line addresses some of those issues in town, but it's still limited and needs to be expanded. Mass transit outside of the city is still a massive issue that I don't see changing anytime soon. Unfortunately the US, especially the southeast, is way behind the rest of the world when it comes to the need for mass transit.

If BSC does shut down, where will your son go?

He was in here duel degree program at BSC for engineering. Taking all the math class and such at BSC before transferring to UAB for a 5th year to get his engineering degree from UAB, with the mathematics degree from BSC. He would just transfer a year early and forego the BSC degree. That is if football is not an opportunity somewhere.

(01-31-2023 11:01 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 10:03 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Time for BHM to get their public transportation figured out. Moving students and residents from the south side to what is becoming a large entertainment district at the BJCC and Carraway, also out to Crossplex, Legion and Rickwood.

Have another question. When they tore down BIR at the fairgrounds, they were supposed to rebuild a new race track. What about turning the horse/dog track at Birmingham Race Course into a auto track and bring back short track racing to Birmingham?

The current growth of metro Birmingham has been amazing over the last few years.

Now we just need to save BSC. (Reminder, my son is a junior there, we need one more academic year out of them)

I believe the new Bus Rapid Transit line addresses some of those issues in town, but it's still limited and needs to be expanded. Mass transit outside of the city is still a massive issue that I don't see changing anytime soon. Unfortunately the US, especially the southeast, is way behind the rest of the world when it comes to the need for mass transit.

If BSC does shut down, where will your son go?

BRT is really a solid route once people look at it more like transit (which is what everyone claims they want) and not like driving your car. I live downtown and have taken it a few times, it'll drop you off a convenient walking distance to Avondale and Pepper Place. The thing that really frustrates me is that you can't bring anything on board with you, so if I wanted to bring a wagon to go to the Pepper Place market then you can't, or if I wanted to bring an electric scooter to get to my final destination quicker I can't do that either.

If we could get the Magic City Connector to be more consistent (or somehow switch it to a rapid route) then that's what the city really needs. MCC and BRT will get you just about anywhere you want for activities or date night or whatever. But MCC as is, I've tried to take it multiple times since moving downtown and it's never been running when I want to use it.

(02-01-2023 09:50 AM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 11:01 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 10:03 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Time for BHM to get their public transportation figured out. Moving students and residents from the south side to what is becoming a large entertainment district at the BJCC and Carraway, also out to Crossplex, Legion and Rickwood.

Have another question. When they tore down BIR at the fairgrounds, they were supposed to rebuild a new race track. What about turning the horse/dog track at Birmingham Race Course into a auto track and bring back short track racing to Birmingham?

The current growth of metro Birmingham has been amazing over the last few years.

Now we just need to save BSC. (Reminder, my son is a junior there, we need one more academic year out of them)

I believe the new Bus Rapid Transit line addresses some of those issues in town, but it's still limited and needs to be expanded. Mass transit outside of the city is still a massive issue that I don't see changing anytime soon. Unfortunately the US, especially the southeast, is way behind the rest of the world when it comes to the need for mass transit.

If BSC does shut down, where will your son go?

BRT is really a solid route once people look at it more like transit (which is what everyone claims they want) and not like driving your car. I live downtown and have taken it a few times, it'll drop you off a convenient walking distance to Avondale and Pepper Place. The thing that really frustrates me is that you can't bring anything on board with you, so if I wanted to bring a wagon to go to the Pepper Place market then you can't, or if I wanted to bring an electric scooter to get to my final destination quicker I can't do that either.

If we could get the Magic City Connector to be more consistent (or somehow switch it to a rapid route) then that's what the city really needs. MCC and BRT will get you just about anywhere you want for activities or date night or whatever. But MCC as is, I've tried to take it multiple times since moving downtown and it's never been running when I want to use it.

I haven’t used BRT yet, but it sounds like Birmingham finally got some rapid transit that works like light rail, so it is a “We have this for convenience, but we are going to make it inconvenient to use” situation.

(01-31-2023 08:01 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 05:31 PM)BlazerDave Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 05:22 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  

(01-31-2023 03:53 PM)BatesUAB Wrote:  I've heard really good things about the new Orion amphitheater in Huntsville. It was interesting to see that Live Nation plans to close Oak Mountain when the new one opens, but it doesn't surprise me. Seems more shows go to Tuscaloosa now, and I don't blame them. It's a better facility. Oak Mt. is a nightmare- from ingress/egress (both in the car and on foot into the venue), concessions, parking. I welcome a new outdoor music venue downtown.

agree... but (there's ALWAYS a 'but' on BlazerTalk, no? ) - they REALLY need to get moving on some new parking decks... they are supposed to build one behind the West side of the stadium, not sure of any other new ones, unless the new Carraway project has one or more in it's scope... they tore down the existing decks, so... who knows?

This article says some of the parking decks are going to be renovated for future use.

https://constructionreviewonline.com/new...n-alabama/

cool - I figured some would remain... there's still some stuff there (I just drove by a few months back), but didn't know what was what over there...

The old hospital had about four or five parking structures. Some big and some smaller.