Legacy Arena

{{Short description|Arena in Birmingham, Alabama}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Legacy Arena | former_names = BJCC Coliseum {{small|(1976–99)}} BJCC Arena {{small|(1999–2014)}} | nickname = | logo_image = [[File:Legacy Arena logo.svg|150px]] | image = Legacy Arena 2022.jpg | image_caption = | address = 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N. | location = [[Birmingham, Alabama]], U.S. | coordinates = {{Coord|33.523780|-86.812935|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Alabama#USA | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_label = Legacy Arena | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Alabama##Location within the United States | broke_ground = | built = | opened = September 28, 1976 | renovated = 2020–21 | closed = | demolished = | owner = Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority | operator = [[Comcast Spectacor#Spectra|Comcast Spectra]] | construction_cost = | architect = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | tenants = [[Birmingham Bulls (WHA)|Birmingham Bulls]] {{small|([[World Hockey Association|WHA]]) (1976–79)}} [[UAB Blazers men's basketball]] {{small|([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1978–88)}} [[Birmingham South Stars]] {{small|([[Central Hockey League (1963–84)|CHL]]) (1982–83)}} [[Birmingham Bulls (ECHL)|Birmingham Bulls]] {{small|([[ECHL]]) (1992–2001)}} [[Alabama Steeldogs|Birmingham/Alabama Steeldogs]] {{small|([[af2]]) (2000–07)}} [[Birmingham Squadron]] {{small|([[NBA G League|NBAGL]]) (2021–26)}} | seating_capacity = Concerts: 18,000 Sporting Events: 17,654 Theater seating: 8,000 }}

'''Legacy Arena''' (formerly known as the '''BJCC Coliseum''' and the '''BJCC Arena''') is an arena located at the [[Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. The arena seats 17,654 for sporting events, up to 16,250 for [[concert]]s and 6,000 in a cut-down theater configuration.

==Arena information== The arena stands ten stories tall, but it actually measures only 75 feet (23 m) from floor to ceiling and contains an oval-shaped 24,200-square-foot (2,244.5 m2) (110' by 220' (33.5 x 67 m)) arena floor. The arena contains several luxury suites and a press box. The BJCC Arena Club is also located in the arena. It is a lounge that is limited to 500 guests and available for most arena events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bjcc.org/arena-club.php|title=Arena Club|publisher=bjcc.org|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> Backstage there are 2 locker rooms and 6 dressing rooms as well as a press room and a VIP Reception area. The arena can accommodate 8 trucks backstage—3 on truck docks and room for 5 more. The arena's four-sided center-hung scoreboard, designed by [[Daktronics]], measures 18' by 18' (5.5 x 5.5 m) on each side. Also on each side is a 7.5'-by-8'8" ProStar 16.5 mm video display.

==History== The arena opened in 1976 as part of the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex.

The arena was home of the [[Birmingham Bulls (WHA)|Birmingham Bulls]] of the [[World Hockey Association|WHA]] from 1976 to 1979; when the WHA folded, a minor league team with the same name called the arena home through 2001.<ref name="Birmingham WHA">{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/06/when_hockey_was_big_in_birming.html|title="When hockey was big in Birmingham, Gordie Howe made it huge"|newspaper=[[The Birmingham News]]|date=2016-06-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925032313/http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/06/when_hockey_was_big_in_birming.html|archive-date=2016-09-25}}</ref> It was there in December 1977 that hockey legend [[Gordie Howe]], then playing for the WHA's [[New England Whalers]], scored his 1,000th career goal at the age of 49; his Whalers defeated the Bulls 6–3.<ref name="Birmingham WHA"/> The arena was also the home of the [[University of Alabama at Birmingham|UAB]] [[UAB Blazers men's basketball|men's basketball team]] before it moved into [[Bartow Arena]] in 1988 and was home to the [[Alabama Steeldogs]] [[arena football]] team of the [[AF2|af2]] from 2000 to 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/uabsports/docs/guide2014-15|title=UAB Men's Basketball Media Guide, BJCC Coliseum-Bartow Arena|publisher=issuu.com|page=50|date=2019-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghamprosports.com/birminghamsteeldogshistory.html|title=Team and League History|publisher=birminghamprosports.com|date=2019-04-01}}</ref>

On December 17, 2014, the Civic Center board and officials of Legacy Credit Union announced a five-year, $2 million naming rights contract. Beginning January 1, 2015 the arena was officially renamed as Legacy Arena at the BJCC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2014/12/two_million_dollar_deal_will_b.html|title=BJCC Arena sells naming rights in 5-year, $2 million deal with Legacy Community Federal Credit Union|work=AL.com|date=18 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218061118/http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2014/12/two_million_dollar_deal_will_b.html|archive-date=2014-12-18}}</ref>

On October 24, 2018, the [[New Orleans Pelicans]] and the [[NBA G League]] announced that the Pelicans have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA G League team in Birmingham, Alabama.<ref name="Birmingham G League">{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/new-orleans-pelicans-purchase-nba-g-league-team-play-renovated-legacy-arena-birmingham-alabama|title=New Orleans Pelicans purchase NBA G League Team to play in renovated Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama|work=nba.com|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> The team was expected to begin play in Birmingham by the 2022–23 basketball season playing at Legacy Arena following renovations to the arena.<ref name="Arena Renovation">{{cite web|url=https://alabamanewscenter.com/2018/11/02/bjcc-shares-details-123m-legacy-arena-expansion-renovation/|title=BJCC shares details of $123M Legacy Arena expansion and renovation|date=2 November 2018|publisher=alabamanewscenter.com|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/10/24/pelicans-to-operate-g-league-team-in-birmingham-alabama/38265691/|title=Pelicans to operate G League team in Birmingham, Alabama|publisher=usatoday.com|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> In the interim, the team began play for the 2018–19 season in Erie, Pennsylvania, as the Erie BayHawks, while the arena underwent a $123 million expansion and renovation.<ref name="Birmingham G League"/><ref name="Arena Renovation"/> The renovations were completed in time for the 2021–22 season and the Pelicans chose to move the franchise, now known as the [[Birmingham Squadron]], at that time.

==Notable events==

===Sports===

====Basketball==== [[File:NCAA Tournament 2023 Birmingham.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The 2023 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Legacy Arena]] Legacy Arena has held many regular season men's and women's [[college basketball]] games as well as 11 [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] pre-season games. It has hosted the men's conference tournaments for the [[Southeastern Conference]], [[Sun Belt Conference]], [[Conference USA]], and [[American Conference (NCAA)|American Conference]] as well as the women's tournament for Conference USA and the American Conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conferenceusa.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061215aac.html |title=C-USA Basketball Championships to Return to Birmingham |access-date=2019-04-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210206/http://www.conferenceusa.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061215aac.html |archive-date=2015-09-23 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=Birmingham, Tampa Selected As Host Cities For 2026-28 Basketball Championships |url=https://theamerican.org/news/2025/5/30/mens-basketball-birmingham-tampa-selected-as-host-cities-for-2026-28-basketball-championships.aspx |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=theamerican.org |language=en}}</ref> It has also hosted the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA men's college basketball tournament]] serving as first and second round host in 1984, 1987, 2000, 2003, 2008, and 2023 and as a regional site in 1982, 1985, 1988, 1995 and 1997. It was selected as a first and second round site for the 2028 men's tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SEC to host 2028 NCAA Men's Basketball opening rounds |url=https://www.secsports.com/news/2024/10/sec-to-host-2028-ncaa-mens-basketball-first-second-rounds-in-birmingham |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Southeastern Conference |language=en}}</ref> Legacy Arena hosted the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight for the [[2025 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2025 NCAA women's college basketball tournament]]. It also serves as the host for the [[Alabama High School Athletic Association]] basketball state finals each year.

=====Men's College Basketball conference tournaments at Legacy Arena===== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! width= px | Year ! width= px | Conference ! width= px | Champion ! width= px | Score ! width= px | Runner-up ! width= px | MVP |- align="center" | 1979 |rowspan=3| [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] | '''[[1978–79 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team|Tennessee]]''' | {{nowrap|75–69OT}} | [[1978–79 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] | [[Kyle Macy]], Kentucky |- align="center" | 1980 | '''{{cbb link|1979|sex=men|team=LSU Tigers|title=LSU}}''' | 80–78 | [[1979–80 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] | [[DeWayne Scales]], LSU |- align="center" | 1981 | '''[[1980–81 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team|Ole Miss]]''' | 66–62 | {{cbb link|1980|sex=none|team=Georgia Bulldogs|title=Georgia}} | [[Dominique Wilkins]], Georgia |- align="center" | 1982 |rowspan=2| [[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] | '''[[1981–82 UAB Blazers men's basketball team|UAB]]''' | 94–83 | [[1981–82 VCU Rams men's basketball team|VCU]] | [[Oliver Robinson]], UAB |- align="center" |rowspan=2| 1983 | '''[[1982–83 UAB Blazers men's basketball team|UAB]]''' | 64–47 | {{cbb link|1982|team=South Florida Bulls|title=South Florida}} | Cliff Pruitt, UAB |- align="center" | SEC | '''[[1982–83 Georgia Bulldogs basketball team|Georgia]]''' | 86–71 | [[1982–83 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team|Alabama]] | [[Vern Fleming]], Georgia |- align="center" | 1984 | Sun Belt | '''[[1983–84 UAB Blazers men's basketball team|UAB]]''' | 62–60 | {{cbb link|1983|team=Old Dominion Monarchs|title=Old Dominion}} | [[McKinley Singleton]], UAB |- align="center" | 1985 | SEC | '''[[1984–85 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team|Auburn]]''' | {{nowrap|53–49OT}} | [[1984–85 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team|Alabama]] | [[Chuck Person]], Auburn |- align="center" | 1986 |rowspan=2| Sun Belt | '''[[1985–86 Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball team|Jacksonville]]''' | 70–69 | [[1985–86 UAB Blazers men's basketball team|UAB]] | [[Otis Smith (basketball)|Otis Smith]], Jacksonville |- align="center" | 1990 | '''[[1989–90 South Florida Bulls men's basketball team|South Florida]]''' | 81–74 | {{cbb link|1989|team=UNC Charlotte 49ers|title=UNC Charlotte}} | [[Radenko Dobraš]], South Florida |- align="center" | 1992 | SEC | '''[[1991–92 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]''' | 80–54 | [[1991–92 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team|Alabama]] | [[Jamal Mashburn]], Kentucky |- align="center" | 1999 |rowspan=4| [[Conference USA|C-USA]] | '''[[1998–99 UNC Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team|UNC Charlotte]]''' | 68–59 | [[1998–99 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville]] | [[Galen Young]], UNC Charlotte |- align="center" | 2015 | '''[[2014–15 UAB Blazers men's basketball team|UAB]]''' | 73–60 | [[2014–15 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team|Middle Tennessee]] | Robert Brown, UAB |- align="center" | 2016 | '''[[2015–16 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team|Middle Tennessee]]''' | 55–53 | [[2015–16 Old Dominion Monarchs basketball team|Old Dominion]] | [[Reggie Upshaw]], Middle Tennessee |- align="center" | 2017 | '''[[2016–17 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team|Middle Tennessee]]''' | 83–72 | [[2016–17 Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team|Marshall]] | Giddy Potts, Middle Tennessee |- align="center" | 2026 | [[American Conference (NCAA)|American]] | '''[[2025–26 South Florida Bulls men's basketball team|South Florida]]''' | 70–55 | [[2025–26 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team|Wichita State]] | Wes Enis, South Florida |}

=====Women's College Basketball conference tournaments at Legacy Arena===== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! width= px | Year ! width= px | Conference ! width= px | Champion ! width= px | Score ! width= px | Runner-up ! width= px | MVP |- align="center" | 2015 |rowspan=3| [[Conference USA|C-USA]] | '''[[2014–15 Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball team|Western Kentucky]]''' | 60–57 | [[2014–15 Southern Miss Lady Eagles basketball team|Southern Miss]] | Alexis Govan, Western Kentucky |- align="center" | 2016 | '''[[2015–16 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders women's basketball team|Middle Tennessee]]''' | 70–54 | [[2015–16 Old Dominion Monarchs women's basketball team|Old Dominion]] | Ty Petty, Middle Tennessee |- align="center" | 2017 | '''[[2016–17 Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball team|Western Kentucky]]''' | 67–56 | [[2016–17 Southern Miss Lady Eagles basketball team|Southern Miss]] | Kendall Noble, Western Kentucky |- align="center" | 2026 | [[American Conference (NCAA)|American]] | '''[[2025–26 UTSA Roadrunners women's basketball team|UTSA]]''' | 54–40 | [[2025–26 Rice Owls women's basketball team|Rice]] | Cheyenne Rowe, UTSA |}

====Tennis==== [[File:Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex, Legacy Arena tennis.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Interior of the arena during the 2009 Davis Cup]] In 2009, the arena hosted the first round tie of the [[2009 Davis Cup]] between the United States and Switzerland.<ref name="Davis Cup">{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2016/11/davis_cup_tennis_event_announc.html|title=Davis Cup tennis event announced for Birmingham in February|date=18 November 2016|publisher=al.com|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> Several tennis stars participated including [[Andy Roddick]], [[James Blake (tennis)|James Blake]], [[Bryan brothers|Bob and Mike Bryan]] and [[Stan Wawrinka|Stanislas Wawrinka]]. The arena also hosted the [[2017 Davis Cup]] on February 3–5, 2017.<ref name="Davis Cup"/>

====The World Games==== Birmingham was the host city for the [[2022 World Games|World Games 2022]], with many events taking place in venues around the city. Legacy Arena hosted the Latin, standard, and rock'n'roll [[dancesport]] competitions as well as the aerobatic, acrobatic, rhythmic, trampoline and tumbling [[gymnastics]] competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex |url=https://twg2022.com/venues/bjcc/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=The World Games 2022 {{!}} Birmingham, USA |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Professional wrestling====

Legacy Arena has hosted professional wrestling events for several decades, with regular appearances from promotions including the [[WWE]].

On December 10, 2000, the arena hosted [[Armageddon (2000)]], a pay-per-view event notable for featuring a six-man Hell in a Cell match for the WWF Championship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Armageddon 2000 Results |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/2000/results |website=WWE.com |access-date=2025-06-16}}</ref> The event drew approximately 14,920 attendees.<ref>{{cite web |title=WWF Armageddon 2000 |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=2185 |website=CageMatch.net |access-date=2025-06-16}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex]] *[[2025 SEC Gymnastics Championship]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.bjcc.org/}}

[[Category:Alabama Steeldogs]] [[Category:College basketball venues in Alabama]] [[Category:Erie BayHawks (2019–2021)]] [[Category:Event venues established in 1976]] [[Category:Ice hockey venues in Alabama]] [[Category:NBA G League venues]] [[Category:Sports venues in Birmingham, Alabama]] [[Category:Tennis venues in the United States]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Birmingham, Alabama]] [[Category:UAB Blazers men's basketball]] [[Category:World Hockey Association venues]] [[Category:1976 establishments in Alabama]] [[Category:Indoor arenas in Alabama]]