PNC Field
BBVA Compass Field is a soccer field at 800 11th Street South, south of the northbound I-65 offramp onto University Boulevard in Birmingham's Southside. It is used by the UAB Blazers men's and women's soccer teams.
Development of the facility was supported by a $1.5 million gift from BBVA Compass bank in November 2014. The first games were played on the new field in October 2015.
In November 2017, before the final phase of construction began, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved an expansion of the seating capacity (and associated restroom and concession facilities) to 5,000 seats. The total cost for the project was increased from $4.5 million to $7.3 million, with the difference to be recouped by leasing the field to Birmingham's newly-announced United Soccer League professional team for an eight-year period.
References
- Bakken, Jim (November 7, 2014) "$1.5 million BBVA Compass gift supports on-campus soccer facility at UAB." UAB News
- Bakken, Jim (December 9, 2015) "Birmingham’s newest sports venue, BBVA Compass Field at UAB, officially debuts." UAB News
- Patchen, Tyler & Ty West (November 3, 2017) "UAB may expand soccer stadium to house USL team." Birmingham Business Journal
