Birmingham's Plan B

[autkidd 0]

The only thing wrong with The Ham are the politicians running it. They are trying to be so PC that they aren't.

The worst thing they could have done is put in the artificial turf at legion field. Getting rid of one of the big economic impacts to the Birmingham area... international soccer. I know many don't care about that sport. But it was a huge boost in tourism up there and they had to do away with it.

A mini dome would not be a bad thing though. It just has to be done RIGHT. That means hiring the most qualified people for the job and not some guy that is a minority that is not qualified...

[abrnfanatc 6]

The only thing wrong with The Ham are the politicians running it. They are trying to be so PC that they aren't.

The worst thing they could have done is put in the artificial turf at legion field. Getting rid of one of the big economic impacts to the Birmingham area... international soccer. I know many don't care about that sport. But it was a huge boost in tourism up there and they had to do away with it.

A mini dome would not be a bad thing though. It just has to be done RIGHT. That means hiring the most qualified people for the job and not some guy that is a minority that is not qualified...

I never thought I would say this, but I agree with Comm. Langford. If they are going so far as to build a 40,000 seat arena that would be locked in to nothing but basketball and arena football, why not spend a little more and get a 70,000 seat dome with all the skyboxes and such, that could easily be converted for basketball.

[Boonan 0]

I think the price difference for nearly doubling the seating makes it a bit more than a "spend a little more" kind of investment. I'm sure it probably raises the price of construction a boatload.

[auwallace 6]

I'm proud to say that Bham, along with Memphis, are two of the last few remaining true "southern cities" with a decent sized population. Atlanta lost that battle a long time ago.

I love it here. And I don't think we need to build a dome that seats 70k...waste taxpayers money...just trying to keep up with Atlanta.

Yeah, Atlanta hasn't been a southern city since 1864 when Sherman gutted the place. Out of all the South, Atlanta is a Yankee city. It has been for years. Its just like Florida. No old South stuff left.

Ryan

Birmingham Old South? It wasn't even a city when Sherman burned Atlanta.

[lca408 366]

I'm proud to say that Bham, along with Memphis, are two of the last few remaining true "southern cities" with a decent sized population. Atlanta lost that battle a long time ago.

I love it here. And I don't think we need to build a dome that seats 70k...waste taxpayers money...just trying to keep up with Atlanta.

Yeah, Atlanta hasn't been a southern city since 1864 when Sherman gutted the place. Out of all the South, Atlanta is a Yankee city. It has been for years. Its just like Florida. No old South stuff left.

Ryan

Birmingham Old South? It wasn't even a city when Sherman burned Atlanta.

Well, I guess I should clarify what I meant. Old South makes it sound like plantations and slaves and racist stuff and such.

Birmingham is a Southern city. It was an industrial city, but it kept a little of its "southern attitude" if you know what I mean. Atlanta was completely rebuilt and through the years, completely lost the things that made it a southern city. Northern businessmen and property buyers ate up what was left. With the airport, and inner city expansion and everything, it just lost that little something that made it a "southern" city. Jackson, Birmingham, Memphis, Nashville, Charlotte to an extent, Charleston, New Orleans, and even Richmond still retain that bit of quaintness. Atlanta no longer does.

Ryan

[DKW 86 7,440]

It just irks me BG that what was the "Football Capital of the South" wont even put up a fight to stay even with its sister cities.

I guess what I am saying here is that we (Alabama and Auburn folks) want to be the top in college sports. We celebrate being national champs in football, gymnastics, swimming and diving, equestrian events, etc. Why then does Bham just lay down like a cheap date and give it up?

I cant imagine Bear or Shug being real happy that bham didnt even try.

[AURainman 6]

What bothers me is the "Good Ole' Boy" mentality that still runs rampant through Birmingham.

It's the same sentiment that BG shared earlier. "I'm GLAD we don't want to compete with the big boys. We'd lose our 'southern-ness' if we did." Birmingham could be AWESOME. It simply needs an attraction.

While the 'World of Wheels' and the 'Bassmaster Classic' are good for bringing the locals together, there's really not a place that makes someone from, say Tennessee, South Carolina, or Mississippi WANT to come to B'ham and throw some money down on a hotel room. There's nothing that pushes the economy forward. Instead, we have to settle for ads that push the amazing golf in this state, 'cause that's pretty much all we've got. Oh, and Visionland. AND, most of the good golf is nowhere near B'ham.

The Steel City of the South has got a LOOOOONG way to go before anyone even considers it among the top cities in America, and that's sad given how much culture and history the city has. There is SO much potential wasted because of the "protect our smallness" stalwarts out there.

For the record, born in Hueytown, raised in Hoover. Live in Auburn.

[AU! 0]

casinos.... thats all ya need.

But really, a couple professional teams would help a lot, I assume the reason that there are none is that there aren't enough people living in b-ham???

[Guest Tigrinum Major]

Not so fast. There was a movement to get an NFL team a few years back. It was squashed by the most powerful man in the state at that time.

Birmingham has always supported their professional teams, especially back in the WFL/USFL/even the CFL days. The leagues have all sucked, especially the XFL. When Rick and Bubba are your play by play men, you're doomed.

[BamaGrad03 0]

What bothers me is the "Good Ole' Boy" mentality that still runs rampant through Birmingham.

It's the same sentiment that BG shared earlier. "I'm GLAD we don't want to compete with the big boys. We'd lose our 'southern-ness' if we did." Birmingham could be AWESOME. It simply needs an attraction.

While the 'World of Wheels' and the 'Bassmaster Classic' are good for bringing the locals together, there's really not a place that makes someone from, say Tennessee, South Carolina, or Mississippi WANT to come to B'ham and throw some money down on a hotel room. There's nothing that pushes the economy forward. Instead, we have to settle for ads that push the amazing golf in this state, 'cause that's pretty much all we've got. Oh, and Visionland. AND, most of the good golf is nowhere near B'ham.

The Steel City of the South has got a LOOOOONG way to go before anyone even considers it among the top cities in America, and that's sad given how much culture and history the city has. There is SO much potential wasted because of the "protect our smallness" stalwarts out there.

For the record, born in Hueytown, raised in Hoover. Live in Auburn.

You're missing the point. Most people who live here DONT want it to be another Atlanta.

[Guest Tigrinum Major]

We are not a "Southern" city. We are an industrical city. Mobile and Montgomery (and Auburn and Tuscaloosa and Selma and Tuscumbia and the list goes on and on) have a ton more history associated with them than Birmingham.

Birmingham is not a tourist attraction. Alabama Visionventure does not bring in people from any farther away than McCalla.

I have worked in the Birmingham area for over ten years, but I prefer to live outside of the metro area. Not to sya there aren't some great places to live near and even in Birmingham, but they aren't for me.

We're not Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans or even Memphis or Savannah. There is nothing that can be done to change that.

Would a "mini-dome" be a boon for the city? Yes, but I don't want to pay an additional occupational tax to support it. Ughh, I hate that my new job will be in Birmingham and not Homewood.

[TitanTiger 20,510]

Live in Nashville. It's one of the fastest growing areas in the Southeast. Got an NFL and NHL franchise within the last decade. And we still talk about not wanting to become what Atlanta is. There's nothing wrong with eschewing unbridled growth to retain what makes your city its own place in the world.

The NFL isn't looking to expand again anytime soon and if an NFL team moves, Birmingham, even with a 70k seat dome, isn't high on the pecking order. Not when LA doesn't have a team and if you got past them you've got to deal with Las Vegas or San Antonio.

I think this size facility is realistic for what Birmingham would actually use.

[AURainman 6]

You're missing the point. Most people who live here DONT want it to be another Atlanta.

So, taking a leap forward INSTANTLY makes you Atlanta? I don't buy it.

Common worries that could have stopped advancement:

If Birmingham tries to be a first-class city, they'll turn into Atlanta.

If women get to vote, we're all doomed.

If African Americans go to the same schools as whites, our kids will not get a quality education.

Rock n Roll will be the downfall of society.

Rap will be the downfall of society.

Beethoven will be the downfall of society.

Cellphones must cause cancer.

I could go on.

Let's face it. The powers-that-be refuse to take the necessary steps to make Birmingham great. So, they'll have to settle for an NCAA regional every 8 years, the AHSAA Super Six, and UAB.

[Guest Tigrinum Major]

Correction: An NCAA first round of games. NCAA will not hold a Regional here anymore.

Don't forget the AHSAA Final Four, to be held in the BJCC next week, Tuesday through Saturday. A most excellent event.

Come see the next Richard Hendrix foul out in the championship game!

[jumbo 0]

I think 40k is too small, like Lankford said and I agree over 65 thousand people go the Magic City Classic and the Swac Football Championship, If you dont build it big enough Bham may lose those games I support a dome but do it right!