Construction of a new Birmingham, AL stadium will begin late summer or early fall of this year, with a 2021 completion eyed by project officials.
Estimated at $174 million, the stadium is part of a larger improvement plan for the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in downtown Birmingham. Plans call for it to be an open-air facility that is designed to host multiple types of events, including college football for the University of Alabama Birmingham.
A ceremonial groundbreaking was staged at the stadium site in December, but it was expected at the time that construction would not actually start until spring or early summer. An update on the timeline emerged this week, as BJCC officials revealed that they are planning to begin new Birmingham stadium construction either late this summer or early in the fall. The stadium, which is currently in the design phase, is slated to be completed in time for the World Games in July 2021. More from AL.com:
“The design phase is moving forward at a very rapid pace, and is keeping with our expectations. We will know more regarding future milestones as the design phase progresses,” said Tad Snider, executive director & chief executive officer at Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center Authority
A survey of the site is currently under way. Schoel Engineering Company, Inc. won the bid for a survey of the site, which will cost $18,700. Populous, a international architectural firm based on Missouri, won the bid to design the stadium. The design will cost $10,084,048.
The design phase is still ongoing. BJCC officials say Populous will be contracting with local businesses including the Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise as design team consultants.
No construction contracts have been awarded since the design phase is still ongoing.
The new stadium is not the only sports facility included in the overall BJCC project. Plans are also taking shape for a renovation to Legacy Arena that would be completed in 2022, with the facility set to host a New Orleans Pelicans’ franchise in the NBA Gatorade League starting in the 2022-23 season.
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