Protective Stadium Tops Out, Set For Completion In 2021

BIRMINGHAM, AL — For about a year, construction has been ongoing for Protective Stadium, Birmingham's 45,000-seat downtown stadium, and in less than a year, the project will be complete. The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex celebrated the topping out of Protective Stadium last week as the project inches closer to completion.

A topping out marks the ceremonial placement of the last steel beam in a construction project. Protective Stadium’s modified topping out celebration was designed to adhere to Alabama’s “Safer-at-Home” order. One-by-one over the course of three days, city and county leaders and corporate partners signed a construction beam stationed at Uptown.

Once signed, the beam was lifted by crane and fastened to the support structure for Protective Stadium’s scoreboard.

"It was important for us to mark this construction milestone, albeit a little differently than we would have," said Tad Snider, executive director and CEO, BJCC Authority. "Protective Stadium is a public-private partnership, with many entities working together to produce a worldclass facility for Birmingham. The topping out honors those partnerships while demonstrating the project’s significant progress."

Construction Progress:

• 3,700,000 pounds of rebar tied
• 26,000 cubic yards of concrete placed
• 150,000 square feet of elevated concrete
• 130,000 blocks of cubic masonry units
• 160,000 feet of conduit hung
• 14,600 feet of pipe
• 31,000 linear feet of concrete seating
• 8,500 feet of ductwork

"Protective Stadium’s construction has moved forward smoothly and on schedule," said Dennis Lathem, chairman, BJCC Board of Directors. "This year and this project have reinforced how important it is to keep the long view in focus. The stadium’s construction, as well as the comprehensive renovation of Legacy Arena, will yield long term benefits, strengthening Birmingham as a destination for large scale sporting events."

"When I look at the progress that has been made on the stadium, I don’t just see a place where our community can come together for football, concerts and other events," Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin said. "I see a springboard for economic development, I see new opportunities for small businesses, and I see revenue that will go toward revitalizing each of our city’s 99 neighborhoods. I’m proud to see this great new venue taking shape, but I’m most excited about the groundwork that is being laid to uplift all our communities."

"The progress being made at Protective Stadium is remarkable and this milestone reiterates that," UAB athletic director Mark Ingram said. "We are incredibly excited to make Protective Stadium our new home and are appreciative of the partnerships that have helped bring this project to fruition."

Protective Stadium will also serve as the host venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of The World Games 2022, coming to Birmingham July 7-17, 2022.