Birmingham’s Legacy Arena, part of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, celebrated a major renovation today at the site.
The first event in the renovated arena is a basketball game Sunday featuring the Birmingham Squadron, Birmingham’s NBA G league team.
The arena opened in 1976 with a performance by John Denver. Other concerts there have included Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, The Who, Tina Turner and Michael Jackson, as well as Davis Cup tennis, the Bassmaster Classic and Disney on Ice.
“When it was designed in the early 1970s, the vision for the arena was to transform Birmingham’s entertainment options, making us a destination for popular musical acts, productions and sports. It achieved that in spades,” said Tad Snider, executive director and CEO, BJCC Authority. “This is, literally, the place of memories. Today we’re proud to begin Legacy Arena’s second act. This modernization sets it up to serve the region well for its next 40 or 50 years.”
The renovation includes a Southwest entry plaza with floor-to-ceiling windows, new seating with expanded leg room, a 360-degree LED ribbon display, new lighting system and an expanded loading dock.
BL Harbert was the general contractor on the project that was designed by Kansas City-based Populous architects. Renovations began in April 2020.
“The renovations at Legacy Arena ensure that we can attract the kind of events that our residents enjoy and that will support other priorities like neighborhood revitalization,” Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said. “Tourism is an important piece of economic activity in our community, and we are eager to see our investment in Legacy Arena expand job opportunities, support local businesses and generate tax revenue for the benefit of our neighborhoods.”
