Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile: neighborhood, construction, high schools)

[mcalumni01]

https://public.earthcam.net/Protecti...nd_street_view

Work is being done to the South end entry point with the open pavilion/walkway area

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by mcalumni01

https://public.earthcam.net/Protecti...nd_street_view

Work is being done to the South end entry point with the open pavilion/walkway area

Looks like it's coming along nicely, but where will fans park?

What will happen to Legion Field?

[mcalumni01]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

Looks like it's coming along nicely, but where will fans park?

What will happen to Legion Field?

Plenty of parking within a two block radius of the stadium with the additions of two more lots becoming parking as well as possibility of building a new parking deck.

https://www.wbrc.com/2019/08/06/bjcc...dium-downtown/

Legion Field will be still around. The MCC sign a new extension contract to play there for another four years. Another football classic is in the works to be played there this year and next year and possible years after those two years. Both stadiums will be hosting events for the forseeable future. It is what it is.

[TimCity2000]

the next decade will be interesting for legion field. anyone know what the capacity was when it was first built? i wouldn't mind seeing it downsized to something like that, so that the historic portions are preserved at least. maybe high schools could still play there. plus it would be less for the city to maintain. the immediate surrounding area needs some other development to complement the stadium and the neighborhood, but that's not likely to happen anytime soon.

as for parking, the same questions were raised about regions field, and it works just fine. the good thing about having these stadiums (stadia?) in the core is that street parking is plentiful. also, there is at least one garage in the area and i imagine we might see another built in the surrounding area at some point.

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

the next decade will be interesting for legion field. anyone know what the capacity was when it was first built? i wouldn't mind seeing it downsized to something like that, so that the historic portions are preserved at least. maybe high schools could still play there. plus it would be less for the city to maintain. the immediate surrounding area needs some other development to complement the stadium and the neighborhood, but that's not likely to happen anytime soon.

as for parking, the same questions were raised about regions field, and it works just fine. the good thing about having these stadiums (stadia?) in the core is that street parking is plentiful. also, there is at least one garage in the area and i imagine we might see another built in the surrounding area at some point.

The problem with Legion Field is that it's literally falling apart. I think the city of Birmingham will have to plow $30 million into the place over the next five years just to keep it running.

[mcalumni01]

It's not falling apart as it stands now. If that was the case, the city would have closed the place up a long time ago. Pretty sure they have inspectors come out and check every bolt, fixture, etc. every so often. If it was in such terrible conditions that would put people live's in danger, they would let the public know. Is it an old outdated facility. Yes. Can it still be of valuable to the city. Yes. They debated putting that much into it, but it never materalized. They installed a new turf last year, wants to install a new scoreboard on the north end, pave the entire parking lot and do a few cosmetic work. Events at LF will be until probably around 2025

[mcalumni01]

Football stadium in this state and the year they were built.

Bryant-Denny (Tuscaloosa, 1929)
Jordan-Hare (Auburn, 1939)
Legion Field (Birmingham, 1926)
Ladd-Pebbles (Mobile, 1948)
Veterans Memorial (Troy, 1950)
JSU (Jacksonville, 1947)
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, 1922)

[MinivanDriver]

Originally Posted by mcalumni01

It's not falling apart as it stands now. If that was the case, the city would have closed the place up a long time ago. Pretty sure they have inspectors come out and check every bolt, fixture, etc. every so often. If it was in such terrible conditions that would put people live's in danger, they would let the public know. Is it an old outdated facility. Yes. Can it still be of valuable to the city. Yes. They debated putting that much into it, but it never materalized. They installed a new turf last year, wants to install a new scoreboard on the north end, pave the entire parking lot and do a few cosmetic work. Events at LF will be until probably around 2025

Well, there's falling apart from a structural standpoint and there's falling apart as in being a usable venue. That place is a dump.

[mcalumni01]

Originally Posted by MinivanDriver

Well, there's falling apart from a structural standpoint and there's falling apart as in being a usable venue. That place is a dump.

Well it is what it is. Good thing is everyone has an opinion. That's that. Some people cool with it, some are not. I'm not a fan of old facilities, personally, but I have no problem with LF or whatever the decision the city decides to do with it, whether invest money in it or demolish it and redevelop it. It's there. Use it, dump and all.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by MinivanDriver

The problem with Legion Field is that it's literally falling apart. I think the city of Birmingham will have to plow $30 million into the place over the next five years just to keep it running.

But there's no telling what might happen given the Covid-19 effects. There's an article on al.com that says Birmingham is expecting to see $75-$120M shortfall just from decreased taxes with the loss of taxes and fees. And no one knows what's going to happen with restaurant and business closures. Presumably similar-sized cities in the state are facing the same shortfalls. All mayors and councils are going to have to do some repriotizing as to how they spend their money.