Legacy Arena

Legacy Arena (formerly known as the BJCC Coliseum and the BJCC Arena) is an arena located at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama. The arena seats 17,654 for sporting events, 19,000 for concerts and 8,000 in a theater setting. When the arena is converted to theater seating, the arena serves under the name Magic City Theatre.

Legacy Arena
Interior of the arena during the 2009 Davis Cup
Former namesBJCC Coliseum (1976–99)
BJCC Arena (1999–2014)
Address2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N.
Birmingham, AL 35203-1102
LocationBJCC
OwnerBirmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority
OperatorComcast Spectra
CapacityConcerts: 19,000
Sporting Events: 17,654
Theater seating: 8,000
Construction
OpenedSeptember 28, 1976
Renovated2020-21
Tenants
Birmingham Bulls (WHA/CHL) (1976–81)
UAB Blazers men's basketball (NCAA) (1978–88)
Birmingham South Stars (CHL) (1982–83)
Birmingham Bulls (ECHL) (1992–2001)
Birmingham/Alabama Steeldogs (af2) (2000–07)
Birmingham (NBA G League) (beginning in 2022)

Arena information

The arena stands ten stories tall, but it actually measures only 75 feet (23 m) from floor to ceiling and contains an oval-shaped 24,200-square-foot (2,244.5 m²) (110' by 220' (33.5 x 67 m)) arena floor. The arena contains several luxury suites and a press box. The BJCC Arena Club is also located in the arena. It is a lounge that is limited to 500 guests and available for most arena events.[1] Backstage there are 2 locker rooms and 6 dressing rooms as well as a press room and a VIP Reception area. The arena can accommodate 8 trucks backstage—3 on truck docks and room for 5 more. The arena's four-sided center-hung scoreboard, designed by Daktronics, measures 18' by 18' (5.5 x 5.5 m) on each side. Also on each side is a 7.5'-by-8'8" ProStar 16.5 mm video display.

History

The arena opened in 1976 as part of the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex.

The arena was home of the Birmingham Bulls of the WHA from 1976 to 1979; when the WHA folded, a minor league team with the same name called the arena home through 2001.[2] It was there in December 1977 that hockey legend Gordie Howe, then playing for the WHA's New England Whalers, scored his 1,000th career goal at the age of 49; his Whalers defeated the Bulls 6–3.[2] The arena was also the home of the UAB men's basketball team before it moved into Bartow Arena in 1988 and was home to the Alabama Steeldogs arena football team of the af2 from 2000 to 2007.[3][4]

On December 17, 2014 the Civic Center board and officials of Legacy Credit Union announced a five-year, $2 million naming rights contract. Beginning January 1, 2015 the arena was officially renamed as Legacy Arena at the BJCC.[5]

On October 24, 2018, the New Orleans Pelicans and the NBA G League announced that the Pelicans have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA G League team in Birmingham, Alabama.[6] The team is expected to begin play in Birmingham for the 2022–23 basketball season playing at Legacy Arena following renovations to the arena.[7][8] The team will begin play next season in Erie, Pennsylvania, as the Erie BayHawks, while the arena undergoes a $123 million expansion and renovation.[6][7]

Notable events

Sports

Basketball
College basketball at Legacy Arena

The arena has hosted four Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournaments between 1979 and 1992, five Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournaments in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, and the Conference USA men's basketball tournament in 1999, 2015, and 2016 (along with Bartow Arena),[9] as well as C-USA's 1996 and 2016 Women's Basketball Championship. It has also hosted the NCAA college basketball tournament serving as first and second round host in 1984, 1987, 2000, 2003 and 2008. The BJCC has been a regional site five times – 1982, 1985, 1988, 1995 and 1997. It also serves as the host for the AHSAA high school basketball state finals each year.

Tennis

In 2009, the arena hosted the first round tie of the 2009 Davis Cup between the United States and Switzerland.[10] Several tennis stars participated including Andy Roddick, James Blake, Bob and Mike Bryan and Stanislas Wawrinka. The arena also hosted the 2017 Davis Cup on February 3–5, 2017.[10]

Concerts

Legacy Arena is the site of major concert tours. Acts such as Bob Dylan, Celine Dion, Def Leppard, Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Grateful Dead, Jay-Z, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Luciano Pavarotti, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jimmy Buffett, Metallica, Michael Jackson, Pink, Prince, Taylor Swift and ZZ Top have played at the arena.[7][11]

In December 2014, it was announced that electronic music producer, Bassnectar, would be hosting his annual NYE360˚ show on December 31, 2015.[12] The arena also hosted NYE360˚ 2016.[13]

Professional wrestling

WWE held their Armageddon Pay Per View at the arena on December 10, 2000.

Other events

The arena has hosted Disney on Ice, American Idol Live!, the PBR Built Ford Tough Series, Monster Jam, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and other events including trade shows.[11] The arena also hosted the Church of God in Christ 2012 AIM Convention. The arena has hosted boxing events for former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

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See also

References
  1. "Arena Club". bjcc.org. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  2. ""When hockey was big in Birmingham, Gordie Howe made it huge"". The Birmingham News. 2016-06-10. Archived from the original on 2016-09-25.
  3. "UAB Men's Basketball Media Guide, BJCC Coliseum-Bartow Arena". issuu.com. 2019-04-01. p. 50.
  4. "Team and League History". birminghamprosports.com. 2019-04-01.
  5. "BJCC Arena sells naming rights in 5-year, $2 million deal with Legacy Community Federal Credit Union". AL.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-18.
  6. "New Orleans Pelicans purchase NBA G League Team to play in renovated Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama". nba.com. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  7. "BJCC shares details of $123M Legacy Arena expansion and renovation". alabamanewscenter.com. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  8. "Pelicans to operate G League team in Birmingham, Alabama". usatoday.com. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  9. "C-USA Basketball Championships to Return to Birmingham". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  10. "Davis Cup tennis event announced for Birmingham in February". al.com. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  11. "Legacy Arena at the BJCC celebrates 40th anniversary". alabamanewscenter.com. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  12. "Bassnectar NYE360 2015 – Birmingham, AL". bassnectar.net. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  13. "NYE360° @ BJCC in Birmingham, AL – 12/31/16". bassnectar.net. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
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