What’s the Future of Legion Field?

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/09/Magic_City_Classic_2011.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1174;s:4:"file";s:35:"2019/09/Magic_City_Classic_2011.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-336x193.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:193;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-771x442.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:442;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-80x80.jpg";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:35:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-600x338.jpg";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:35:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-543x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:543;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-462x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:462;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"Magic_City_Classic_2011-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:11:{s:8:"aperture";i:0;s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:10:"Nexus S 4G";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";i:1319900495;s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:3:"3.4";s:3:"iso";s:2:"50";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:18:"0.0011600928074246";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";i:1;}}
        )

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

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

    [_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:52:"Backup failed: The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Andre Natta
        )

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

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

    [_edit_lock] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1696951494:26
        )

)
1655407547 
1569582109

It won’t be long before construction starts on the new Protective Stadium at the BJCC in downtown Birmingham. It’s expected to be finished in 2021. That brings up a big question: what happens to Birmingham’s current stadium, Legion Field? An article published Friday in the Birmingham Business Journal explores some options. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke about those with BBJ editor Ty West.

Interview Highlights

Turning Legion Field into a youth sports complex:

“That’s an idea that we talked to some experts about and they think there is some potential there. But they cautioned us that that’s a very competitive marketplace. There’s a lot of competition for big national events that would bring tourism dollars and would bring a lot of visitors. There’s less competition, there’s a lot of demand for more regional events, things that would be Alabama-type tournaments or tournaments from the South.”

Examples from other cities:

“When the Nashville Sounds, their minor league [baseball] affiliate, built a new stadium recently, they just elected to demolish the old stadium and they’re incorporating it into a public park … Obviously the [Atlanta] Braves recently moved to a new stadium. Instead of demolishing this stadium they had a third party come in, Georgia State University. But also the land around the stadium is being redeveloped into a new commercial real estate property … Montgomery had the Cramton Bowl, similar to Legion Field, [a] historic stadium … They’ve tried to keep the Cramton Bowl alive and competitive by rethinking it as a multi-use, multi-sport complex. They are able to recruit basketball, wrestling, a lot of indoor sports.”

What will drive the decision in Birmingham:

“There’s a lot of feelings about the Magic City Classic and its future. That’s frankly a big question with Legion Field because they haven’t committed to going to Protective Stadium at this point. From what we understand, that’s going to be up to the schools, Alabama State and Alabama A&M. I do think what happens with the Magic City Classic is going to play a big role in that because if the Classic says we’ll stay in Birmingham but only if we can stay in Legion Field, then the city is going to have to look for ways that they can reinvest and keep that environment at Legion Field, maintain that facility. Obviously that would cary some costs. I think that’s going to be a key question and how that question gets answered could go a long way to determining the future of Legion Field.”

Photo by Andre Natta

 

The darter fish and the data center

A newly identified species is already in danger of extinction. A proposed massive data center in Bessemer would “nuke” its habitat, scientists say.

President Trump fires a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Christopher Hanson was appointed to serve on the commission overseeing the nation's nuclear reactors by President Biden in 2020.

Purdue Pharma, Sacklers reach new $7.4 billion opioid settlement

A new $7.4 billion opioid settlement for Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family has been approved by all U.S. states and territories

Top House Democrat asks Microsoft about DOGE code allegedly tied to NLRB data removal

A top House Democrat is asking Microsoft for information about a DOGE staffer's GitHub account connected to whistleblower allegations of sensitive data leaving the National Labor Relations Board.

Sean Combs trial: Judge dismisses juror

Judge Arun Subramanian said that the juror's conflicting statements about which state he currently resides in may have been an attempt to get on and stay on the federal trial of the hip-hop mogul.

The suspect in the shooting of 2 Minnesota lawmakers has been captured and charged

Vance Boelter was captured in a wooded area on Sunday night, and charged in the shootings of two state lawmakers and their spouses. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

More Front Page Coverage