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Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex facts for kids

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Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
BJCC Arena Nov 2011.jpg
Exterior view of the complex (c.2011)
Address 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N
Birmingham, AL 35203-1102
Location Druid Hills
Owner Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority
Operator Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority
Inaugurated 1976
Opened January 1972
Renovated 2009, 2019-21
Expanded 2019-21
Construction cost
 $104 million
($830 million in 2022 dollars )
Former names
 Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center (1976-98)
Classroom-style seating
 51 (Medical Forum Classroom E)
Banquet/ballroom 2,900 (Sheraton Ballroom)
1,780 (East Ballroom)
Theatre seating
 19,000 (Arena)
2,835 (Concert hall)
1,000 (Theater)
275 (Forum Theater)
Enclosed space
 • Exhibit hall floor 220,000 square feet (20,000 m2)
 • Breakout/meeting 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2)
 • Ballroom 40,522 square feet (3,800 m2)

The Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) is a huge place in Birmingham, Alabama. It's where lots of exciting sports, big meetings, and fun shows happen! It used to be called the Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center.

The BJCC has many different parts. These include large halls for exhibits, meeting rooms, and ballrooms. It also has three main entertainment spots. These are a big arena, a concert hall, and a theater. A new college football stadium was also built nearby. Two hotels, the Sheraton Birmingham and Westin Birmingham, are connected to the complex.

Building the BJCC

The Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center was designed by a group called Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham. They won a big contest to design the building. It was one of the largest architectural contests ever held.

The first buildings were constructed between 1974 and 1976. It cost about $104 million to build. An important goal was to connect the complex to other parts of the city. This was tricky because a large highway, I-59/I-20, runs right next to it.

Over the years, there have been plans to make the complex even bigger. A new football stadium was a big part of these plans. Construction for this stadium started in 2019.

Fun Places to Visit

The BJCC has several exciting venues for different events.

Legacy Arena

BJCC Arena Nov 2011
Legacy Arena at the BJCC

Legacy Arena is a huge space for sports and concerts. It can hold up to 17,654 people for sports games. For concerts, it can fit as many as 19,000 fans! It was once called the BJCC Coliseum and then the BJCC Arena.

Many different teams have played here.

  • The Birmingham Bulls hockey team played here from 1976 to 1978.
  • Another Bulls hockey team played from 1992 to 2001.
  • The UAB men's basketball team played here until 1988.
  • The Alabama Steeldogs, an arena football team, played from 2000 to 2007.

Legacy Arena also hosts many other exciting events. These include:

Protective Stadium

Protective Stadium
Protective Stadium

A brand new football stadium was built next to the main complex. It's called Protective Stadium. Construction started in July 2019 and it was finished in 2021.

This stadium can seat 47,000 people. It is the home field for the UAB Blazers football team. It was also a main stadium for the 2022 World Games.

BJCC Concert Hall

The BJCC Concert Hall is a beautiful place for music and shows. It has 2,835 seats. The Alabama Symphony Orchestra used to perform here.

Today, it hosts many concerts and touring Broadway shows. The stage is very large, about 84 feet long and 88 feet wide. It also has a tall proscenium, which is the arch over the stage. The concert hall is the tallest building in the whole complex. It even has a pipe organ! Backstage, there are many dressing rooms and rehearsal areas for performers.

BJCC Theater

The BJCC Theater is a smaller, cozy venue with 1,000 seats. It's used for:

  • Operas
  • Ballets
  • Smaller concerts
  • Stage shows

It is also the home of the Birmingham Children's Theatre. This is the largest children's theater in the country! The theater has a stage that is 46 feet by 70 feet. It also has dressing rooms and rehearsal areas for the actors.

Exhibition Hall

The Exhibition Hall is a massive space. It's about 220,000 square feet! This hall is used for Birmingham's biggest trade shows and conventions. It can be divided into three smaller halls. It has enough space for 1,100 exhibit booths.

Other Facilities

The BJCC complex has many other useful spaces.

  • There are 64 meeting rooms. These rooms offer 100,000 square feet of meeting space.
  • A large ballroom is 16,000 square feet. It can seat up to 1,200 people for big dinners.
  • The Medical Forum is a ten-story building. It has meeting spaces, classrooms, and a theater with 275 seats.
  • The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel is right next door. It has 838 rooms and its own large ballroom.
  • The Westin Birmingham Hotel is also nearby. It has 294 rooms and more meeting spaces.
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