Another HBCU football classic for Bham? (Birmingham, Section: 2015, landscaping, bars)

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by magiccity3

I think MinivanDriver’s comment above is the best one I’ve ever read on here. Big amen from me.

These short-sighted objections are absolutely mind-boggling to me, emblematic of the mindset that held this city back for so long. We're not building JerryWorld here. We're building a modest 50,000-seat stadium to replace a complete dump of a place that is an embarrassment to this city. Hey, if demand picks up, the new stadium can certainly be upgraded, but it's not as if we're talking some gold plated palace to satisfy the ego of an NFL owner. In fact, I'll go on further. That study that was cited doesn't take into the halo effect that an NFL franchise confers on a city, making economic development easier. If you think that Charlotte, Nashville, or Jacksonville have regretted their civic investment, that's mighty potent crack you're smoking.

I mean, just for the sake of argument, let's forget the opportunity costs associated with not building the new stadium. Just take them off the table. Instead, let's just compare the cost of a new stadium versus keeping the wheezing old facility on the respirator. The last time I checked, the anticipated costs to just patch together the shambles that is Legion Field was going to be around $30 million, all of which would have been borne by the City of Birmingham. And that's just the costs projected to be spent over a five year period. God knows what repair bill would come up next.

So instead of throwing good money after bad, we're getting a brand new facility, one that will certainly attract more events, more visitor income, and more tax revenue. It's also a venue that will add yet more momentum to the city's burgeoning reputation. It's penny-wise and pound foolish to argue otherwise.

[mcalumni01]

Can we just stick to the topic at hand, here. Another opportunity for the city to bring in outside visitors and their dollars. Good thing, right?

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by mcalumni01

Can we just stick to the topic at hand, here. Another opportunity for the city to bring in outside visitors and their dollars. Good thing, right?

Absolutely. Sorry to rail for a bit. But, c'mon.

[BammaBoy17]

would be nice if Protective Stadium could get a interactive rendering like this done at South Alabama

https://mixgulfcoast.iheart.com/cont...r-big-sponsor/

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by MinivanDriver

These short-sighted objections are absolutely mind-boggling to me, emblematic of the mindset that held this city back for so long. We're not building JerryWorld here. We're building a modest 50,000-seat stadium to replace a complete dump of a place that is an embarrassment to this city. Hey, if demand picks up, the new stadium can certainly be upgraded, but it's not as if we're talking some gold plated palace to satisfy the ego of an NFL owner. In fact, I'll go on further. That study that was cited doesn't take into the halo effect that an NFL franchise confers on a city, making economic development easier. If you think that Charlotte, Nashville, or Jacksonville have regretted their civic investment, that's mighty potent crack you're smoking.

I mean, just for the sake of argument, let's forget the opportunity costs associated with not building the new stadium. Just take them off the table. Instead, let's just compare the cost of a new stadium versus keeping the wheezing old facility on the respirator. The last time I checked, the anticipated costs to just patch together the shambles that is Legion Field was going to be around $30 million, all of which would have been borne by the City of Birmingham. And that's just the costs projected to be spent over a five year period. God knows what repair bill would come up next.

So instead of throwing good money after bad, we're getting a brand new facility, one that will certainly attract more events, more visitor income, and more tax revenue. It's also a venue that will add yet more momentum to the city's burgeoning reputation. It's penny-wise and pound foolish to argue otherwise.

Good Comments.. Dream Big Baby...

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

Good Comments.. Dream Big Baby...

I'm not sure if you're being facetious or not (The Birmingham Stalliions logo), but we'll never get anywhere by dreaming small. That's for damned sure.

[Carter 1977]

A bunch of Morehouse (and Spelman) students and alums in Birmingham? It sounds like a dream to me! Would do a great deal to improve the city's reputation among young people. Especially since Atlanta's university center regularly produces some of the top black professionals in the country.

[Carter 1977]

Originally Posted by MinivanDriver

These short-sighted objections are absolutely mind-boggling to me, emblematic of the mindset that held this city back for so long. We're not building JerryWorld here. We're building a modest 50,000-seat stadium to replace a complete dump of a place that is an embarrassment to this city. Hey, if demand picks up, the new stadium can certainly be upgraded, but it's not as if we're talking some gold plated palace to satisfy the ego of an NFL owner. In fact, I'll go on further. That study that was cited doesn't take into the halo effect that an NFL franchise confers on a city, making economic development easier. If you think that Charlotte, Nashville, or Jacksonville have regretted their civic investment, that's mighty potent crack you're smoking.

I mean, just for the sake of argument, let's forget the opportunity costs associated with not building the new stadium. Just take them off the table. Instead, let's just compare the cost of a new stadium versus keeping the wheezing old facility on the respirator. The last time I checked, the anticipated costs to just patch together the shambles that is Legion Field was going to be around $30 million, all of which would have been borne by the City of Birmingham. And that's just the costs projected to be spent over a five year period. God knows what repair bill would come up next.

So instead of throwing good money after bad, we're getting a brand new facility, one that will certainly attract more events, more visitor income, and more tax revenue. It's also a venue that will add yet more momentum to the city's burgeoning reputation. It's penny-wise and pound foolish to argue otherwise.

I agree with everything you've said 100%. People don't realize how big a deal the construction at the BJCC is. Not only are we getting a brand new, state of the art, 50,000 seat stadium (that could easily be expanded to 75,000 with an upper deck), but also a complete renovation of the arena to help bring it out of the 1970s. I'm tired of Birmingham being viewed as some third-tier, minor league town that USED to host the Crimson Tide from time to time. The NBA (yes, I said NBA although we are just getting a G-League team) coming to town is also huge. The NBA directly runs the G-League so now we will have that league investing in our community. This is not like minor league baseball which is it's own thing and is only loosely associated with MLB. I'd imagine Protective Stadium would also get the eyes of MLS on us at some point, especially if the Legion keep selling matches out and continue winning. Legion Field needs to be IMPLODED! I don't get the arguments that people have for keeping it. I'm a black man, and I've noticed that so many black people in BHAM feel like Legion Field is theirs and by demolishing it, the city would be taking something from them. The idea of keeping the Magic City Classic at Legion Field after Protective opens in asinine and is proof of the backward, me vs. him, black vs. white mentality that this city/metro has that has kept us from reaching our full potential. No one cares anymore that Alabama used to play home games there or that the Iron Bowl used to be there. Neither team has played a meaningful game there in over 20 years. Tear it down and build a monument or something.

*Rant Over*

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by Carter 1977

I agree with everything you've said 100%. People don't realize how big a deal the construction at the BJCC is. Not only are we getting a brand new, state of the art, 50,000 seat stadium (that could easily be expanded to 75,000 with an upper deck), but also a complete renovation of the arena to help bring it out of the 1970s. I'm tired of Birmingham being viewed as some third-tier, minor league town that USED to host the Crimson Tide from time to time. The NBA (yes, I said NBA although we are just getting a G-League team) coming to town is also huge. The NBA directly runs the G-League so now we will have that league investing in our community. This is not like minor league baseball which is it's own thing and is only loosely associated with MLB. I'd imagine Protective Stadium would also get the eyes of MLS on us at some point, especially if the Legion keep selling matches out and continue winning. Legion Field needs to be IMPLODED! I don't get the arguments that people have for keeping it. I'm a black man, and I've noticed that so many black people in BHAM feel like Legion Field is theirs and by demolishing it, the city would be taking something from them. The idea of keeping the Magic City Classic at Legion Field after Protective opens in asinine and is proof of the backward, me vs. him, black vs. white mentality that this city/metro has that has kept us from reaching our full potential. No one cares anymore that Alabama used to play home games there or that the Iron Bowl used to be there. Neither team has played a meaningful game there in over 20 years. Tear it down and build a monument or something.

*Rant Over*

Word. I'm tired of limited thinking from both sides of the racial divide. Randall Woodfin? I don't know what we did to get a mayor like him, but I'm glad he's here. Young, fresh, new ideas. Holy smokes. If he represents the direction of the metro, then things are getting really bright around here.

[mcalumni01]

3 football games on Oct. 9th in the area

https://www.al.com/sports/2021/05/bi...e-in-town.html