City Council Approves Funding For New Birmingham Stadium

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Birmingham City Council Tuesday voted to approve a resolution that would commit $90 million over 30 years toward a new stadium in the Uptown district of Birmingham's downtown. Tuesday's vote came after nearly four hours of public comment and discussion from councilor members, including comments of support from UAB football players, and former UAB football coach Jim Hilyer.

The city's pledge adds to the BJCC Authority's $10.7 million to the annual debt service on the project. The Jefferson County Commissison has committed $1 million a year for 30 years. UAB and corporate partners have committed to a combined $4 million a year for 10 years through a lease agreement, sponsorship and naming rights. The state legislature last week approved a bill that would use car rental tax funds to help pay for the stadium.

The council approved the funding by a 6-3 vote, with council members Darrell O'Quinn, Lashunda Scales and Sheila Tyson voting against it. O'Quinn said he could not support the funding for the stadium since he only received a copy of the resolution Tuesday morning and did not feel he was given proper time to learn enough about the complete resolution to approve it.

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The BJCC's 20-year, $300 million master plan includes the construction of a $174 million open-air stadium, a Legacy Arena makeover and an outside piazza renovation. The stadium would have up to 55,000 seats and additional meeting and exhibition space.

The expansion of the BJCC will reportedly generate close to $500,000 in additional revenues to the city each year. Additional city revenues could reach $9.9 million a year with the BJCC expansion, two new hotels near the BJCC and the former Carraway Hospital being redeveloped into a retail and entertainment district.

UAB's football team, which enjoyed its best season its its history in 2017, would move to the new stadium from Legion Field, and UAB coach Bill Clark has been a vocal supporter of the project to build the stadium. He took to social media Tuesday when the vote had been finalized to voice his approval of the result.

The project will begin construction no later than Jan. 1, 2019. The BJCC expects to have the project completed by July 1, 2021.

Image from the BJCC