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 Protective Stadium in 2021 | |
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| Location | Birmingham, Alabama, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°31′40″N86°48′33″W / 33.5278°N 86.8092°W /33.5278; -86.8092 |
| Owner | Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority |
| Operator | Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority |
| Capacity | 47,100[1] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2019 |
| Opened | October 2, 2021 |
| Construction cost | US$175 million |
| Architect | Populous Goodwyn Mills Cawood |
| Structural engineer | Walter P. Moore[citation needed] |
| General contractor | Brasfield & Gorrie[citation needed] |
| Tenants | |
| UAB Blazers (NCAA) 2021–present Birmingham Bowl (NCAA) 2021–present Birmingham Legion FC (USLC) 2022–present Birmingham Stallions (USFL,UFL) 2022–present New Orleans Breakers (USFL) 2022–2023 | |
Protective Stadium is a outdoor multi-purpose stadium owned and operated by theBirmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority in downtownBirmingham, Alabama, U.S.[2][3] Since its opening in 2021, the stadium has been named forProtective Life, a financial service holding company based in Birmingham, which pays $1 million per year as part of a 15-yearnaming rights deal.[4] It is the host site of the annualBirmingham Bowl and serves as the home stadium of theUAB Blazers football team. The stadium has also served as the home for the city's professional soccer and football team.
The stadium replacedLegion Field as the home of theUAB Blazers football program. TheBlazers played their first game in the stadium on October 2, 2021 againstLiberty.[5] The stadium has a capacity of over 47,100.[citation needed]
In December 2021, the stadium hosted the Super 7, thefootball championship games of theAlabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), as part of a three-year rotation withBryant–Denny Stadium inTuscaloosa andJordan–Hare Stadium inAuburn that will run through at least 2032.[6][a]
The stadium has hosted the annualBirmingham Bowl since the bowl's2021 edition—played on December 28, 2021, it was the first event at the venue to sell out.[7]
TheUnited States Football League (USFL) played most of its 2022 games in Birmingham at Protective Stadium with the rest played atLegion Field.[8] In 2023, Protective Stadium became one of the league's four hub sites, hosting home games for theBirmingham Stallions and also "home" games for theNew Orleans Breakers.[9]
Birmingham Legion FC, aUSLC soccer team, has played at Protective Stadium since the 2022 season.[10] Birmingham Legion FC set a club-best attendance mark of 18,418 fans in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match played againstMajor League Soccer (MLS) clubInter Miami CF on June 7, 2023.[11]
A June 2022 concert byGarth Brooks set an attendance record for the venue of approximately 50,000 fans.[12]
The stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the2022 World Games in July 2022.
A round of the 2024Monster EnergyAmerican Motorcyclist Association (AMA)Supercross Championship Series was held at the stadium in March. It is the second Supercross race held in Alabama during the 50-year history of the series.
Monster Jam came to the stadium on March 23, 2024 as part of the Stadium Championship Series West. This was the first Monster Jam stadium show in Alabama.[citation needed]
| Rank | Attendance | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | approx. 50,000[12] | June 4, 2022 | Garth Brooksconcert |
| 2 | 47,100[1][b] | December 28, 2021 | Houston 17 –Auburn 13 |
| 3 | 37,167 | October 2, 2021 | UAB 12 –Liberty 36 |
| 4 | 32,542[13] | September 1, 2022 | UAB 59 –Alabama A&M 0 |
| 5 | approx. 27,000[14] | July 7, 2022 | World Games Opening Ceremony |
| 6 | 25,363 | August 31, 2023 | UAB 35 –North Carolina A&T 6 |
| 7 | 25,191 | October 9, 2021 | UAB 31 –Florida Atlantic 14 |
| 8 | 24,845 | October 23, 2021 | UAB 24 –Rice 30 |
| 9 | 24,302 | September 17, 2022 | UAB 35 –Georgia Southern 21 |
| 10 | 23,694 | October 8, 2022 | UAB 41 –Middle Tennessee 14 |