Protective Stadium

Protective Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium owned and operated by the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, United States.[2][3][4] It opened on October 2, 2021 as the new home of the UAB Blazers football program, with the inaugural game being a 36–12 UAB loss to Liberty.[5]

Protective Stadium
LocationBirmingham, Alabama
Coordinates33.5278°N 86.8092°W / 33.5278; -86.8092
OwnerBirmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority
OperatorBirmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority
Capacity47,100[1]
Construction
Broke ground2019
OpenedOctober 2, 2021
Construction costUS$175 million
ArchitectPopulous
Tenants
UAB Blazers (2021–present)
Birmingham Legion FC (2022–present)
Birmingham Bowl (2021–present)
AHSAA Super 7 (2021–2030, every three years)

The stadium will also host the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2022 World Games. Starting in December 2021, it will host the Super 7, the football championship games of the Alabama High School Athletic Association, in a three-year rotation with Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn that will run through at least 2032.[6][lower-alpha 1] Starting with the 2021 contest the Birmingham Bowl will be played at the stadium.[7] In October 2021 it was announced that the new version of the United States Football League would play all of its 2022 games in Birmingham at Protective Stadium and Legion Field.[8]

On December 7, 2021, it was announced that USL Championship soccer team Birmingham Legion FC will play at Protective Stadium starting in the 2022 season.[9]

Attendance records
Rank Attendance Date Game Result
137,167October 2, 2021UAB 12, Liberty 36
225,191October 9, 2021UAB 31, Florida Atlantic 14
324,845October 23, 2021UAB 24, Rice 30
421,261November 6, 2021UAB 52, Louisiana Tech 38
519,683November 26, 2021UAB 42, UTEP 25

Footnotes
  1. While the current AHSAA rotation runs through 2032, the last event in Birmingham during this cycle will be in 2030.

References
  1. "Seating increased for Protective Stadium". Birmingham Business Journal.
  2. "BJCC bond sale closes, generates $313 million for stadium, arena renovations". Alabama Live. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  3. "BJCC Reveals Protective Stadium Official Design Plans". UAB Sports. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  4. "BJCC And Protective Life Announce Naming Rights for Downtown Stadium". UAB Sports. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  5. Johnson, Roy S (October 28, 2021). "USFL, BJCC ready to 'finalize' agreement to host inaugural season in Birmingham in spring 2022". AL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  6. "AHSAA announces 2021-2032 sites for Super 7" (Press release). Alabama High School Athletic Association. November 13, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  7. https://ticketsmarterbirminghambowl.com/visitors/stadium/
  8. Johnson, Roy S (October 28, 2021). "USFL, BJCC ready to 'finalize' agreement to host inaugural season in Birmingham in spring 2022". AL.com. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  9. https://www.bhmlegion.com/news_article/show/1197520


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