As a result of a city council vote on Tuesday, a proposed Birmingham stadium that would host college football has taken a step forward.
On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council voted on a resolution of intent to offer its support of the concept of building a new outdoor stadium as part of a renovation and expansion of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The city is expected to be a financial partner in the plan, contributing $90 million to the project.
Approval of the resolution of intent does not allocate city funds, so discussion over the proposal will continue. However, the vote comes a week after Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin called on the city council to approve a financial contribution of $3 million annually over 30 years. More from AL.com:
The expansion of the BJCC is projected to generate $9.9 million in additional tax revenue for the city, according to the BJCC.
Woodfin said that new tax revenue will go into a new fund to be used only for neighborhood revitalization.
The BJCC’s 20-year, $300 million master plan includes the construction of a $174 million open-air stadium, a Legacy Arena makeover and an outside piazza renovation. The stadium would have up to 55,000 seats and additional meeting and exhibition space.
“None of us think this is a slam-dunk win,” Council President Valerie Abbott said. “The devil is in the details. The details haven’t been worked out,” she said, which is why only a resolution of intent was considered Tuesday.
Slated for Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex property, the venue would be designed to accommodate large outdoor events and multiple sports, including soccer and University of Alabama Birmingham football. It is estimated to have a fixed seating capacity of 45,000 that would offer the room to be expanded for larger events.
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