Protective Stadium

The BJCC stadium is a proposed 45,000 seat open-air stadium to be constructed adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex north of I-59/20 in downtown Birmingham. It would host home games for the UAB Blazers football team as well as the annual Birmingham Bowl.

The stadium, projected to cost $174 million, was proposed as part of a larger $300 million renovation and expansion of the BJCC that was outlined in a master plan commissioned from Populous architects and released in August 2016. As described, the stadium proposal would allow for expansion to 55,000 seats.

In his 2017 State of the City address, Birmingham mayor William Bell alluded to a $200-225 projected cost for an open air stadium and a $450 million-plus cost for an enclosed stadium, which he would prefer. He hoped to secure a public-private partnership to finance the project and said that an announcement could be expected "fairly soon."

By the end of 2017, the BJCC Authority projected being able to cover an additional $10.7 million per year from its own revenues to service new debt for improvements. The Jefferson County Commission voted in January 2018 to commit to $1 million a year for 30 years as its contribution to debt service on the proposed new facility. New Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin requested that the City Council commit $3 million a year for 30 years as an investment in revenue-generating infrastructure. The Birmingham City Council approved that proposal in March. UAB and corporate partners have also committed $4 million a year, part of which includes leasing the stadium, along with sponsorship deals and naming rights.