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Legion FC and UAB to End Stadium Lease Agreement

Quote:BIRMINGHAM, AL (Nov. 5, 2021) – Following today’s vote of approval for early termination by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, Legion FC and the University of Alabama at Birmingham will end the lease agreement for the club’s use of PNC Field (formerly BBVA Field) following the conclusion of the 2021 USL Championship playoffs.

“We would like to thank the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB President Ray L. Watts, and UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram, for the critical role the university played in helping launch Legion FC,” said Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps. “We are excited for our first home playoff game on campus at PNC Field this Sunday and look forward to continuing our existing partnerships within UAB.”

UAB Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration Brian Burnett says UAB appreciates what its partnership with Legion FC has done for the club, the university and the city.

“We have been proud to partner with Legion FC in its efforts to launch an exciting brand of professional soccer in Birmingham,” Burnett said. “The relationship has been mutually beneficial with both Legion FC and UAB Athletics working together to enhance facilities for a great gameday experience for athletes and fans, as well as for the everyday use of UAB athletes and our campus. We look forward to an exciting future for UAB and our soccer teams at PNC Field and wish Legion FC all the best in what is next for them.”

Legion FC will play all upcoming, home 2021 USL Championship playoff games at PNC Field (formerly BBVA Field), including the club’s first-ever home playoff game versus Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC this Sunday, Nov. 7, at 4:00 p.m.

“With regards to Legion FC’s home venue for the 2022 season and beyond, we will make that announcement at the appropriate time once an agreement can be finalized,” said Heaps. “At this moment, our focus is on the players and on the 2021 USL Championship playoffs.”

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved changing the name of BBVA Field to PNC Field on Nov. 5, 2021, in recognition of PNC’s acquisition of BBVA.

...Soooooooooo... ...moving to Protective?

(11-05-2021 01:39 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote:  ...Soooooooooo... ...moving to Protective?

Very likely. Goodman mentions that in his story about the Legion today.

Quote:Birmingham Legion FC is an independent, locally owned professional sports franchise in the USL Championship that has built a title contender from scratch, and the club’s footprint in Birmingham has grown steadily over the past three years. This year, they added an academy team. Next year, they’re planning a move to Protective Stadium.

Protective seems way too big for them at the moment. Better atmosphere at PNC Field, but I imagine they're making the move over the playing field conditions.

I like going to legion games and think a move to protective is a mistake. It feels empty enough with the crowds UAB has been getting. I can't imagine how empty it will feel for Legion.

whats the facts behind the field conditions?

(11-05-2021 02:03 PM)mrchance33 Wrote:  I like going to legion games and think a move to protective is a mistake. It feels empty enough with the crowds UAB has been getting. I can't imagine how empty it will feel for Legion.

Protective will have better seating for everyone and I assume they will take better care of the field than UAB has been taking care of BBVA. I live two blocks from the stadium and will miss walking to the game, though.

(11-05-2021 02:16 PM)Blazer Engineer Wrote:  whats the facts behind the field conditions?

UAB let the field turn to absolute crap when they changed the grass out and didn't even bother to tell anyone, apparently. There was dead grass, holes, and sand everywhere. Legion publicly called UAB out and played the next game at Legion Field. The field has also been unplayable anytime it rains.

(11-05-2021 02:21 PM)JSUBlazer Wrote:  

(11-05-2021 02:16 PM)Blazer Engineer Wrote:  whats the facts behind the field conditions?

UAB let the field turn to absolute crap when they changed the grass out and didn't even bother to tell anyone, apparently. There was dead grass, holes, and sand everywhere. Legion publicly called UAB out and played the next game at Legion Field. The field has also been unplayable anytime it rains.

Can't blame Legion FC

(11-05-2021 02:21 PM)JSUBlazer Wrote:  

(11-05-2021 02:16 PM)Blazer Engineer Wrote:  whats the facts behind the field conditions?

UAB let the field turn to absolute crap when they changed the grass out and didn't even bother to tell anyone, apparently. There was dead grass, holes, and sand everywhere. Legion publicly called UAB out and played the next game at Legion Field. The field has also been unplayable anytime it rains.

Yes noticed that as well on TV games (didn't go to any games this year) but saw many bald/sandy spots during the whole season especially early in the season

UAB should have prepared better for there being 4 teams playing on the field at the same time but kind of dropped the ball. Oh well live and learn and our college teams will still have one of the nicest stadiums to play in.

Does this mean that UAB will lose the naming rights money the campus field generated?

They just changed the name from BBVA to PNC today. The World Games is having Lacrosse there next year. I guess that partnership is still in place.

Who didn't see this coming?

Still overall a great deal for UAB athletics. Got Legion to pay for a good bit of that stadium.

(11-05-2021 03:52 PM)Plaid Blazer Wrote:  Still overall a great deal for UAB athletics. Got Legion to pay for a good bit of that stadium.

It's bad business.

Next time you play on a grass field, don’t scrimmage there the night before the opening weekend nor after 3 days of heavy rain.

Speaking of, things aren’t going well with our own program. Fix the field issue and find another coach.

Does the USL require actual grass, or is manufactured turf acceptable? Protective isn’t real grass like “PNC” Stadium

(11-05-2021 04:57 PM)Engblazr Wrote:  Does the USL require actual grass, or is manufactured turf acceptable? Protective isn’t real grass like “PNC” Stadium

It is not required. Only the US national teams require real grass.

UAB men's soccer lost at Charlotte Saturday 3-0 to end their season. The Blazers finish 2-12-1 overall, 0-7-1 in C-USA. We have not made the C-USA tournament since 2015.

Tough to see for this old UAB soccer fan. We climbed so far, finally got nice facilities, and then the bottom dropped out. The UAB soccer ladies seem to be improving but it's hard to see any on the men's side. At some point Ingram will have to make another change.