UAB Opens Protective Stadium Saturday Night

BIRMINGHAM, AL — A moment many UAB fans never thought would come is happening Saturday, as Protective Stadium — the newly constructed 45,000-seat stadium in downtown Birmingham — opens for the first time for the Blazers' game against Liberty.

Ground was broken for the stadium in December of 2018 and the anticipation of UAB's first game at the new venue goes beyond football and the university.

"For the city to continue to grow we have to believe in economic development and invest in economic development," Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin said. "When you visit other cities, you realize from the venue standpoint these are the necessary investments you make to get the return you need not only for visitors in tourism but to also support your citizens within your city."

"When we welcome UAB fans to Protective Stadium on Saturday, we’ll realize a decades-long vision for Birmingham," said Tad Snider, executive director and CEO, BJCC Authority. "The wait is over for a facility that will boost our ability to draw large outdoor events and enhance entertainment options for our citizens. We’re excited for that first game, but even more so for everything that’s going to come after it. Protective Stadium will have broad and lasting impact on our region."

From a football standpoint, UAB fans, players and coaches are gearing up for a major event for the city and the university.

" I could not be more excited," UAB head coach Bill Clark said. "I hope we've got that thing packed out. I believe we will. The environment is really going to be that great. So just cannot wait to get in there and just get back home around our fans and folks who we've had so much success with at Legion. And now to get to be at our home stadium it's going to be terrific. We're excited and we've got a lot of work to do against a great team and so it should be fun."

After UAB's football program was shut down by the Unoversity of Alabama Board of Trustees in 2015, the thought that UAB would play football again at all — much less in a brand new stadium — seemed unlikely. But the program was reinstated in 2017 and the team and university has marched forward with impressive momentum.

"You know the history of what's happened to us," Clark said. "To bring the program back and really having the dream of building the stadium for our city. You know for all the people that came together and this is such a great story because so many different groups had to come together to make this stadium happen. It was truly a team effort. A lot people said it would never happen and then to see it where it's at. It has so many other great benefits for our program and the city. It's just really is that special. For all the things we all had to go through to make it happen so I'm really excited."

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.

Funding for the stadium has come from a variety of sources. The Birmingham City Council in March of 2018 voted to approve a resolution that would commit $90 million over 30 years toward the new stadium. The city's pledge added to the BJCC Authority's $10.7 million to the annual debt service on the project. The Jefferson County Commission has committed $1 million a year for 30 years.

UAB and corporate partners committed to a combined $4 million a year for 10 years through a lease agreement, sponsorship and naming rights. The state legislature also approved a bill that would use car rental tax funds to help pay for the stadium.

Kickoff for Saturday's game is at 6 p.m.