The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Back in the old days. UA played one SEC Miss school in one game and LSU played the other in a Saturday double header. The next year, they swapped opponents and game times. I never liked the stadium in Jackson because it crowded the fans together in a narrow passage between the outer chain-link fence and the crowds waiting for service at the ground-level concessions.

It is a good idea to replace the old stadium just like so many have proposed doing with Legion Field by building something really new. Fifteen years ago, B'ham tried to do it with a MPF, but the "MAPS" proposal was defeated so we still await the alternative promised by "RAPS" (which may turn out to be the OCS for UAB). Perhaps by the time UAB can build it, it may be thinking of a similar stadium itself to avoid the "too hot, too cold, too wet" problems of outdoor fields.

Stop that put UAB in a dome talk right now.

Playing on a rug was a concession I made grudgingly. Football was meant to be played under God's sky.

Dome are for people who play their football too damn far from the equator.

(02-23-2013 09:32 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Stop that put UAB in a dome talk right now.

Playing on a rug was a concession I made grudgingly. Football was meant to be played under God's sky.

Dome are for people who play their football too damn far from the equator.

There are many who agree with you about open sky and green natural grass and open to the elements, whatever they happen to be that day. I just don't know of any other business that imposes them on their customers unless they have to. I don't know if it is good sense to essentially build "Legion Field South" as our OCS.

For myself, I like the idea of having the creature comforts that go with modern design. I would even want escalators for transport to higher levels rather than ramps. Who knows? Perhaps one day your body (Feet, legs, heart, lungs) will speak to you in a similar fashion.

So, just so I understand you, you want a domed stadium because you're old?

Domed stadiums have stairs too. You don't have escalators taking you up the aisles to your seats.

(02-23-2013 09:53 PM)Smaug Wrote:  So, just so I understand you, you want a domed stadium because you're old?

I want modern comforts because that is human progress. I don't still drive a Model A Ford just because it was such a good car (for its day). We don't still have all our schools without AC for good reason nor do we have Apple IIEs as "state of the art" computers for the same good reasons. Building a 1926 era stadium in 2015 (or whenever) is not what I want for UAB. We have already seen football practices called off or moved to Legion Field because of weather conditions. I was one who sat through that Wednesday night "monsoon" a few years ago. I would like to think we are good students of what we see happening and can learn from it and apply what we have learned to future decisions.

I still don't see how modern comforts = domed stadium. No one said we would build a 1926 stadium. That is silly senile talk.

If you want modern comforts, buy a suite. If you can't afford it....same goes for UAB.

I don't by that a dome is the next step in some stadium evolutionary chain. It's a step sideways, for those who want/need such things.

Lots of outdoor stadiums have 21st century amenities. I have no doubt UAB's on-campus facility will be state-of-the-art when it's built.

When the UAB OCS is finally built, we can then compare its amenities to its competitors around the nation (and what we moved from to get there). I have my opinions and you have yours. Probably neither of us will have the final "say" on its design, but I hope we are happy with it for the next half century it will be ours.

I'll go out on a limb and assume it will be a significant to profound improvement over Legion Field, all outdoorsy and all.

(02-23-2013 10:33 PM)Smaug Wrote:  I'll go out on a limb and assume it will be a significant to profound improvement over Legion Field, all outdoorsy and all.

Just out of curiosity, what do you visualize as being those "profound improvements" when the projected physical layout is very similar to Legion Field but much smaller? My favorite change would be all professional food purveyors rather than the fund-raising "amateur night at the concession stand" that Legion Field now has (except for Poppa John's Pizza).

Concessions will probably be similar to that at Bartow Arena. I think what you want is an NFL stadium or maybe Bryant Denny.

We are not going to get the food court at the Galleria.

(02-23-2013 10:47 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 10:33 PM)Smaug Wrote:  I'll go out on a limb and assume it will be a significant to profound improvement over Legion Field, all outdoorsy and all.

Just out of curiosity, what do you visualize as being those "profound improvements" when the projected physical layout is very similar to Legion Field but much smaller? My favorite change would be all professional food purveyors rather than the fund-raising "amateur night at the concession stand" that Legion Field now has (except for Poppa John's Pizza).

1. (and this is the big one), it's on campus.
2. The concessions will be professional, and one near me will be opened.
3. It won't have a monument to someone hellbent for us not to have a football team out front.
4. Bathrooms will look like bathrooms and not cattle barns, and actually have soap and hand-drying amenities.
5. A video board synched with the audio (and on the same end of the field).
6. Like MB mentioned, I envision the football version of Bartow.

That you think a new open air stadium would just be a mini-Legion Field (state of the art from the friggin' Coolidge administration) is telling.

(02-23-2013 09:20 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 09:17 PM)Smaug Wrote:  There isn't any new news.

Yes there is. Polls at al.com reflect an overwhelming victory for OCS supporters. Should be making an announcement any day now.

I don't think anyone said that it would. If so please point it out.

(02-23-2013 05:59 PM)Matrix Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:58 PM)rebounder2u Wrote:  Legion field is a poor home field for UAB because is is obsolete compared to the modern facilities around the country, its not because of the community. That statement is quite true...You're being nice by using the term, "obsolete"...
Legion field is just not attractive when compared to more up to date facilities that aren't located in residential areas. Most definitely true!!! If it were so "iconic" and "historic", why are there so few tenants there and it's not even good enough to be part of the Super 6 annual rotation, which further hinders recruiting efforts on behalf of UAB Football. Just a matter of time before the BBVA Compass Bowl runs up against it, in spite of the very nice turnout for the previous installment, it won't be enough to cover up the glaring inadequacies of this place.


Legion field is one of the safest facilities in Birmingham on game days.Partially true, but the bombardment of negative perception and dependent upon individual experiences (I was caught up in 3 separate "jackpots" in many visits there for games), just overall digust with the place for everything from rude, obnoxious treatment by park personnel, police officers, third-rate concession service, or victimization/encounters with insidious elements in the surrounding area, make for a lot of good reasons why UAB should not be playing there anymore and should have a place of their own on campus.

UAB is like a disgruntled homeless guest, you give them a place to stay and they ***** about the condition of your house, the quality of your neighbors, and the accessibility of your driveway. All the while talking about their dream house, one that their parents won't allow them to build. What if a new tenant moved in with a greater sense of appreciation, the ability to generate more revenue, pays their fair share of the bills, and UAB was asked to vacate the basement?

Legion field isn't any more dangerous than Cullman, Jasper, or Trussville, all places that were considered dangerous by a lot of black people when I was growing up.

(02-23-2013 05:45 PM)TheGORILLA Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 02:15 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  More power to them if they can get it done.

If we had a modern stadium on the LF site, there would still be some griping about it, but the vast majority of us would take that in a heartbeat. The only way it could be better than that is if it were built on campus. Jackson State thinks the same, and proposes to build on their campus, which is where it properly belongs.

No, the vast majority of UAB Fans would "NOT" take a modern stadium on the Legion Field site. That is ubsurd, preposterous, ridiculous, ludicrous, senseless, and "unacceptable". Oh my gosh, what are you thinking?

Compared to what we're stuck with now? Really?

Of FN *course* I'd rather have the OCS. If you read the rest of what I wrote, that position is pretty clear.

(02-24-2013 10:11 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 05:59 PM)Matrix Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:58 PM)rebounder2u Wrote:  Legion field is a poor home field for UAB because is is obsolete compared to the modern facilities around the country, its not because of the community. That statement is quite true...You're being nice by using the term, "obsolete"...
Legion field is just not attractive when compared to more up to date facilities that aren't located in residential areas. Most definitely true!!! If it were so "iconic" and "historic", why are there so few tenants there and it's not even good enough to be part of the Super 6 annual rotation, which further hinders recruiting efforts on behalf of UAB Football. Just a matter of time before the BBVA Compass Bowl runs up against it, in spite of the very nice turnout for the previous installment, it won't be enough to cover up the glaring inadequacies of this place.


Legion field is one of the safest facilities in Birmingham on game days.Partially true, but the bombardment of negative perception and dependent upon individual experiences (I was caught up in 3 separate "jackpots" in many visits there for games), just overall digust with the place for everything from rude, obnoxious treatment by park personnel, police officers, third-rate concession service, or victimization/encounters with insidious elements in the surrounding area, make for a lot of good reasons why UAB should not be playing there anymore and should have a place of their own on campus.

UAB is like a disgruntled homeless guest, you give them a place to stay and they ***** about the condition of your house, the quality of your neighbors, and the accessibility of your driveway. All the while talking about their dream house, one that their parents won't allow them to build. What if a new tenant moved in with a greater sense of appreciation, the ability to generate more revenue, pays their fair share of the bills, and UAB was asked to vacate the basement?

Legion field isn't any more dangerous than Cullman, Jasper, or Trussville, all places that were considered dangerous by a lot of black people when I was growing up.

Um, UAB is a paying tenant, that doesn't get priority scheduling.

(02-24-2013 01:09 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(02-24-2013 10:11 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 05:59 PM)Matrix Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 01:58 PM)rebounder2u Wrote:  Legion field is a poor home field for UAB because is is obsolete compared to the modern facilities around the country, its not because of the community. That statement is quite true...You're being nice by using the term, "obsolete"...
Legion field is just not attractive when compared to more up to date facilities that aren't located in residential areas. Most definitely true!!! If it were so "iconic" and "historic", why are there so few tenants there and it's not even good enough to be part of the Super 6 annual rotation, which further hinders recruiting efforts on behalf of UAB Football. Just a matter of time before the BBVA Compass Bowl runs up against it, in spite of the very nice turnout for the previous installment, it won't be enough to cover up the glaring inadequacies of this place.


Legion field is one of the safest facilities in Birmingham on game days.Partially true, but the bombardment of negative perception and dependent upon individual experiences (I was caught up in 3 separate "jackpots" in many visits there for games), just overall digust with the place for everything from rude, obnoxious treatment by park personnel, police officers, third-rate concession service, or victimization/encounters with insidious elements in the surrounding area, make for a lot of good reasons why UAB should not be playing there anymore and should have a place of their own on campus.

UAB is like a disgruntled homeless guest, you give them a place to stay and they ***** about the condition of your house, the quality of your neighbors, and the accessibility of your driveway. All the while talking about their dream house, one that their parents won't allow them to build. What if a new tenant moved in with a greater sense of appreciation, the ability to generate more revenue, pays their fair share of the bills, and UAB was asked to vacate the basement?

Legion field isn't any more dangerous than Cullman, Jasper, or Trussville, all places that were considered dangerous by a lot of black people when I was growing up.

Um, UAB is a paying tenant, that doesn't get priority scheduling.

What is the current rent for UAB? What was it in the beginning? How many tickets does Birmingham purchase? What is the economic impact for surrounding area, when it comes to UAB games? What is the cost of hosting a game versus the revenue generated? Just because you pay rent to a landlord doesn't necessarily mean the rent covers the mortgage, utilities, and cost of maintenance. One could make a legitimate argument that UAB is more of a liability to LF and the surrounding neighborhood than an asset. By the way, I didn't say UAB doesn't pay rent, I used "like" refer to English 101.

I don't see anyone else beating done Legion Field's door to be a regular tenant.

(02-24-2013 08:10 AM)Smaug Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 10:47 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(02-23-2013 10:33 PM)Smaug Wrote:  I'll go out on a limb and assume it will be a significant to profound improvement over Legion Field, all outdoorsy and all.

Just out of curiosity, what do you visualize as being those "profound improvements" when the projected physical layout is very similar to Legion Field but much smaller? My favorite change would be all professional food purveyors rather than the fund-raising "amateur night at the concession stand" that Legion Field now has (except for Poppa John's Pizza).

1. (and this is the big one), it's on campus.
2. The concessions will be professional, and one near me will be opened.
3. It won't have a monument to someone hellbent for us not to have a football team out front.
4. Bathrooms will look like bathrooms and not cattle barns, and actually have soap and hand-drying amenities.
5. A video board synched with the audio (and on the same end of the field).
6. Like MB mentioned, I envision the football version of Bartow.

That you think a new open air stadium would just be a mini-Legion Field (state of the art from the friggin' Coolidge administration) is telling.

Of your 6 points, #1, & #3, are only circumstantial to location , not the accommodations of what is built OC. We agree on #2, but that may not be what actually happens in that we may just trade LF concessions to the OCS since those who make the call may be sitting in those skyboxes with their caterers. #4 is a good idea IF IT happens. #5 would be much improvement for sure and needs to be of sufficient size to show up. #6 is hard to judge since it is subjective to your view of what is "Bartow".

While it is likely that any OCS built in this decade will be similar to the offered projection, I still feel we REALLY need to build an indoor facility that is available for a greater range of events than the shown "outdoorsy" stadium. I hope we are both able to enjoy whatever is built whenever it happens.