Legion Field Upgrade Plan On Hold For Now

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A Birmingham City Council resolution that would allocate $30 million for renovations to Legion Field was tabled at this week's council meeting, as council members decided they needed more information and more time to consider the resolution.

Legion Field was built in 1927 at a construction cost of roughly $425,000, and was once dubbed The Football Capital of the South, as the stadium once hosted University of Alabama football games regularly. Currently it is the home field for UAB football, and has been the venue for countless high school football games, the WFL's Birmingham franchises, the USFL's Birmingham Stallions, the CFL's Birmingham Barracudas, the WLAF's Birmingham Fire, the XFL's Birmingham Bolts, 1996 Olympic Soccer and several bowl games and exhibitions - in addition to concerts and other events.

When the University of Alabama stopped playing games in Legion Field in 2003, the upper deck was removed, and in 2015, a new scoreboard and sound system were installed. But the condition of the stadium has been the source of debate and concern over the last decade, with some city officials in favor of demolishing the stadium, while others want to upgrade it.

The $30 million is part of a $100 million plan to revitalize the surrounding Smithfield neighborhood by addressing housing, infrastructure improvements and improving parks/greenspace. The allocation has already been recommended by the Parks and Recreation Committee. Council members William Parker and Lashunda Scales have been outspoken about their support of the project.

Other council members pointed to a project in the works to build a new stadium at the BJCC, where UAb would play and other events could be held. The $175 million project is still in its infancy but the concern among many Birmingham leaders is that upgrading Legion Field may be tossing a great deal of money into a project that will not be used in a few years.

Photo of Legion Field hosting FIFA soccer in 2005, by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images