Funding For New BJCC Stadium Takes Step Forward With New Bill

MONTGOMERY, AL - The Alabama legislative session is coming to a close soon, but not before a bill passed that would help make the plan for a new stadium in downtown Birmingham a reality. The Alabama Legislature has passed a bill this week that would activate a dormant car rental tax in Jefferson County to fund upgrades to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex and new stadium at the BJCC.

Mayor Randall Woodfin has already pledged his support for the stadium, with a $90 million funding recommendation. The City of Birmingham's investment on BJCC expansion would be $3 million a year for 30 years. The estimated return on investment would be $9.9 million in additional revenue for the city per year. Some of the funding would come from excess lodging taxes, Woodfin said via social media. The Jefferson County Commission already backed the project with a $30 million pledge.

With the passage of this bill, however, car rental tax would generate an additional $3.5 million per year. Voting in favor of the bill were Reps. Louise Alexander, D-Birmingham; Jim Carns, R-Vestavia Hills; Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove; Dickie Drake, R-Leeds; Allen Farley, R-McCalla; David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook; Danny Garrett, R-Trussville; Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham; Rod Scott, D-Fairfield; Kyle South, R-Fayette; Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham; Allen Treadaway, R-Morris; Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley and Jack Williams, R-Vestavia Hills, who handled the bill in the House.

Woodfin expressed his approval of the passage of the bill in a statement Tuesday:

“The action the Alabama House took today puts us one step closer to Birmingham having state-of-the art facilities to better compete for tourism, sporting and entertainment business," Woodfin said. "In addition, expanding and renovating the BJCC will generate millions of dollars over the next decade for the city that will go to neighborhood revitalization. This public/private partnership between the city, county, BJCC, UAB and the corporate community will create thousands of jobs for citizens in Birmingham, and be a significant shot in the arm for our economy for decades to come.”

Image courtesy of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex