Deuce
Well-Known Member
The Birmingham News ran an article in yesterday's (6/9/02) paper regarding the proposed domed stadium and convention complex. The following is an exerpt from that article.
BJCC officials start talks with developers on dome
Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex officials have begun talking with development partners interested in helping build a proposed domed convention and sports facility.
BJCC Executive Director Frank Poe said last week he has held preliminary discussions with Alabama and out-of-state developers about the $300 million facility as well as a proposed $28 million entertainment district comprising shops, restaurants and a hotel that would be built near the current BJCC (civic center).
"It's a project extremely doable from a public-private standpoint. The developers we're talking with have good track records." A study by Deloitte & Touche last month estimated conventions, entertainment and sporting events at a domed facility would have annual economic impact of $100 million each of its first five years and create 2,800 jobs in its first year. The facility and entertainment district would provide $60 million in state and local taxes during its first five years, the study said.
The BJCC proposes selling naming rights, personal seat licenses, luxury boxes and advertising for the 70,000 seat stadium that would be a central component of the new domed convention and sports facility. Money raised would go into a reserve account controlled by the BJCC board and used by an event marketing group the complex would hire to go after events such as NCAA basketball tournament games, the southeastern conference football championship and the southwestern athletic conference football championship.
Though funding isn't complete and it would take nearly three years to build the proposed facility, Poe said the BJCC wants to have marketing teams and developers in place now because destinations for conventions and sporting events are often planned years in advance.
BJCC officials start talks with developers on dome
Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex officials have begun talking with development partners interested in helping build a proposed domed convention and sports facility.
BJCC Executive Director Frank Poe said last week he has held preliminary discussions with Alabama and out-of-state developers about the $300 million facility as well as a proposed $28 million entertainment district comprising shops, restaurants and a hotel that would be built near the current BJCC (civic center).
"It's a project extremely doable from a public-private standpoint. The developers we're talking with have good track records." A study by Deloitte & Touche last month estimated conventions, entertainment and sporting events at a domed facility would have annual economic impact of $100 million each of its first five years and create 2,800 jobs in its first year. The facility and entertainment district would provide $60 million in state and local taxes during its first five years, the study said.
The BJCC proposes selling naming rights, personal seat licenses, luxury boxes and advertising for the 70,000 seat stadium that would be a central component of the new domed convention and sports facility. Money raised would go into a reserve account controlled by the BJCC board and used by an event marketing group the complex would hire to go after events such as NCAA basketball tournament games, the southeastern conference football championship and the southwestern athletic conference football championship.
Though funding isn't complete and it would take nearly three years to build the proposed facility, Poe said the BJCC wants to have marketing teams and developers in place now because destinations for conventions and sporting events are often planned years in advance.
