BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), along with city officials and amphitheater operator Live Nation, broke ground today to officially begin construction on a new 9,380-capacity amphitheater on Birmingham’s north side.
“This is a day that’s made possible by the hard work and commitment of so many individuals and leaders in our community,” BJCC CEO Tad Snider said. “We’re proud of the collective effort put into building a new entertainment venue that will serve local residents and give visitors yet another reason to come to Birmingham.”
As a part of Birmingham’s Uptown Entertainment District, the amphitheater will host various events and concerts while contributing to Birmingham’s economy. The Amphitheater is expected to host around 20 shows each summer concert season. The venue will also accommodate a variety of festivals, community gatherings, special events, and more.
The $50 million amphitheater will be located near the former Carraway site, which has been idle and deteriorating since the hospital closed in 2008. It is an important anchor in Corporate Realty’s larger redevelopment plan, bringing other entertainment, dining, retail, and residential options to the Druid Hills neighborhood.
“As excited as we all will be to have a new place to see concerts, I’m most excited about what this will do for all of our Northside neighborhoods,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “This will be an anchor that will spur other development that will improve the quality of life for residents in the area and for the city as a whole.”
The amphitheater follows historic investments in BJCC venues, including a major upgrade to Legacy Arena and the construction of Protective Stadium.
“The amphitheater rounds out the venues in the state’s largest entertainment district, and it will bring more people to enjoy the amenities across the county,” said Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to make something like this happen,” said State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, who is also a member of the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board. “Without the assistance of state tourism leaders and the CVB, we literally wouldn’t be here today.”
As the amphitheater is built and other development occurs, it is expected to spur economic and tourist activity that will pay dividends for the community overall.
“We know that our investments in community infrastructure like this create a ripple effect that adds new life and vitality to our city,” said Darrell O’Quinn, president of the Birmingham City Council. “They also generate new resources for city services and investments that touch all corners of the city and county.”
The BJCC board of directors chair said the addition of the amphitheater comes at a time of historic success for the complex.
“We have broken every kind of record in recent months, thanks to the community’s support and investments in our facilities, and the hard work of our staff,” BJCC board chair Michael Keel said. “The BJCC is a community asset in every sense of the word, and the amphitheater will ensure that we can serve our community even better in the future.”
Birmingham has a long history as a destination for live music.
“Greater Birmingham is full of passionate live music fans,” said Live Nation Co-President of U.S. Concerts Jordan Zachary. “Live Nation and Red Mountain Entertainment are excited to take our long history in Alabama to the next level by working together with the BJCC to continue to elevate the live entertainment experience in the city.”
Live Nation has a proven track record of operating venues with an exceptional hospitality experience for fans, artists and employees. As part of the Birmingham community, Live Nation will create more than 300 jobs at the new venue and will partner with local vendors for food & beverage concessions and backstage artist hospitality programs. The venue will also feature Live Nation’s Green Nation sustainability program, which has zero-waste teams working to reduce single-use plastics and promote recycling, composting, and food donations.
