Proponents of a stadium at the BJCC in downtown Birmingham got a boost earlier this month when the Jefferson County Commission agreed to set aside $30 million dollars toward the facility. While it may be a significant step, a stadium is far from a done deal.
The BJCC’s master plan includes a proposal for a $174 million open-air stadium. It would seat 45,000 people and include meeting and exhibition space. But who foots the bill is a key sticking point. The Birmingham City Council, for one, isn’t ready to commit, according Councilman Darrel O’Quinn. He represents the area where the stadium would be built.
O’Quinn says they’ve had general discussion with the BJCC but not conversations with all the players involved. He says the council has not been been given details to determine if it would be a good use of city money. O’Quinn says the commission’s move appears to be an effort to force the hands of others involved, especially the city’s.
“It seems to me that, and I’ve heard this from other councilors, that the county could do more in terms of their investment,” says O’Quinn. “Maybe not quite ask so much from the City of Birmingham.”
University of Alabama economist Amanda Ross says studies show the economic impact of stadiums is a wash. However, certain businesses might see a boost, such as restaurants near the building. While she says some cities have seen success competing in the municipal arms race of building bigger and better sports facilities, it really comes down to priorities.
“Every local government is going to be limited,” says Ross. “So I think the biggest thing is sitting down and deciding what’s our priority? What do we want to deal with now? What’s our long-term goal? And thinking from a long-term fashion when deciding how to allocate the scarce resources.”
The Jefferson County Commission’s appropriation is contingent on construction starting this year. O’Quinn calls that ambitious.
For more discussion about the proposed stadium, listen to the WBHM Politics podcast.
Photo by curtis palmer
