Legion Field
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"Football Capital of the South" "Old Gray Lady" |
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| Location | 400 Graymont Avenue West Birmingham, AL 35204 |
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| Coordinates | 33°30′41″N 86°50′34″W / 33.51139°N 86.84278°WCoordinates: 33°30′41″N 86°50′34″W / 33.51139°N 86.84278°W |
| Owner | City of Birmingham |
| Operator | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| Capacity | 71,594 |
| Surface |
FieldTurf (2006–present) Grass (1927–1969, 1995–2005) AstroTurf (1975–1994) PolyTurf (1970–1974) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1926 |
| Opened | November 19, 1927 |
| Renovated | 1961, 1965, 2005, 2015 |
| Expanded | 1934, 1948, 1961, 1965, 1977, 1991 |
| Construction cost | $439,000 USD |
| Architect | D.O. Whilldin |
| Tenants | |
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Alabama Crimson Tide (NCAA) (1927–2003) Auburn Tigers (NCAA) (1926–1991) UAB Blazers (NCAA) (1991–2014, 2017–) Birmingham Bowl (NCAA) (2006–present) Birmingham Americans (WFL) (1974) Birmingham Vulcans (WFL) (1975) Alabama Vulcans (AFA) (1979) Birmingham Stallions (USFL) (1983–1985) Birmingham Fire (WLAF) (1991–1992) Birmingham Barracudas (CFL) (1995) Birmingham Thunderbolts (XFL) (2001) Dixie Bowl (NCAA) (1948–1949) All-American Bowl (NCAA) (1977–1990) |
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"Football Capital of the South"
Legion Field is a stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans and opened in 1927. Since the 2004 removal of the upper deck, Legion Field seats approximately 71,594 spectators. At its peak it seated 83,091 people for football and had the name "Football Capital of the South" emblazoned from the facade on its upper deck. Legion Field is colloquially called "The Old Gray Lady" and "The Gray Lady on Graymont". The stadium's current primary tenant are the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers, who are currently on a two-year hiatus.
Construction of a 21,000 seat stadium began in 1926 at the cost of $439,000. It was completed in 1927 and named Legion Field in honor of the American Legion. In the stadium's first event, 16,800 fans watched Howard College (now known as Samford University) shut out Birmingham-Southern College 9–0 on November 19, 1927.
Over the years, the stadium grew. The expansions didn't follow the designer's initial intent on the stadium becoming a monumental horseshoe-shaped amphitheater. Capacity was increased to 25,000 in 1934 and to 45,000 in 1948, and the bowl was enclosed. In 1961, a 9,000 seat upper deck was added to the east side of the stadium, increasing capacity to 54,600. In 1965, a new press box was built in the stadium and capacity was further increased to 68,821. The first nationally televised night college football game at Legion Field was between Ole Miss and Alabama on October 4, 1969.
In 1970, the natural grass turf was replaced with Poly-Turf, which was replaced by Astroturf in 1975. Seating capacity was increased to 75,808 in 1977 and further increased to 83,091 in 1991. The turf was changed to Bermuda grass in 1995 in order to host soccer events for the Summer Olympics taking place in Atlanta. In 2006, the field went back to an artificial surface, Field Turf.
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