State and Local Leaders Break Ground for BJCC Stadium

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/12/bjcc_rendering2.jpeg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:675;s:4:"file";s:28:"2018/12/bjcc_rendering2.jpeg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-336x177.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:177;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-771x407.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:407;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-140x140.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-768x405.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:405;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"bjcc_rendering2-80x80.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-600x338.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-600x600.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-590x311.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:590;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-470x248.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:248;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-600x400.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-600x600.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bjcc_rendering2-125x125.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:28:"The file could not be saved.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Source: BJCC
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1677198391 
1544719734

Local and state leaders turned the first dirt today on a lot that will become a new open-air stadium in downtown Birmingham. The $175 million stadium is part of a larger BJCC expansion.

This is the third ground breaking in 20 years for a stadium at the BJCC. Mayor Randall Woodfin says this time the stadium will be built because government and business leaders are working together.

“Everyone has come together to say what can be and make it a reality,” Woodfin says.

Completion of the new stadium is targeted for mid-2021, just in time for The World Games 2021 and the UAB football season.  The BJCC expansion will help revitalize Birmingham neighborhoods and create more business opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, Woodfin says.

Ray Watts, President of UAB, says the new stadium will be home to UAB Blazer Football. He says the BJCC expansion may be the most important Birmingham economic development project to date.

 

The FDA creates a quicker path for gene therapies

The Food and Drug Administration aims to evaluate treatments for rare diseases based on plausible evidence that they would work — without requiring a clinical trial first.

BAFTAs apologize after guest with Tourette syndrome uses racial slur during ceremony

A man with Tourette syndrome shouted a racial slur and other offensive remarks during the BAFTA awards ceremony Sunday. The BBC did not edit out his outbursts in its delayed broadcast.

‘Everything was in pieces:’ Lindsey Vonn describes grueling surgery on broken leg

In a recent video, the Olympic skier credits her surgeon with saving her leg from potential amputation.

A new lawsuit alleges DHS illegally tracked and intimidated observers

Observers watching federal immigration enforcement in Maine who were told by agents they were "domestic terrorists" and would be added to a "database" or "watchlist" are now part of a new federal class action lawsuit.

Kate Hudson on regret, rom-coms and finding a role that hits all the notes

Hudson always wanted to sing, but feared it would derail her acting career. Now she's up for an Oscar for her portrayal of a hairdresser who performs in a Neil Diamond tribute band in Song Sung Blue.

A powerful winter storm is roiling travel across the northeastern U.S.

Forecasters called travel conditions "extremely treacherous" and "nearly impossible" in areas hit hardest by the storm, and air and train traffic is at a standstill in many parts of the region.

More Front Page Coverage