$50 Million Amphitheater Adds Another Attraction to Birmingham’s Uptown Entertainment District

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times Birmingham’s booming Uptown Entertainment District got another boost on Monday when the BJCC, along with city officials and amphitheater operator Live Nation, broke ground to begin construction on a new 9,380-capacity amphitheater on the city’s north side. Recently, forbes.com, a national business media and publishing company, named the Uptown Entertainment District, with its Protective Stadium, renovated Legacy Arena and dining and shopping options, as a Neighborhood to Watch. And that review came before Monday’s groundbreaking. The $50 million amphitheater will be located near the former Carraway Hospital which is being redeveloped to bring other entertainment, dining, retail, and residential options to the Druid Hills neighborhood. It also follows historic investments in BJCC venues, including a major upgrade to Legacy Arena and the construction of Protective Stadium. “The amphitheater rounds out the venues in the state’s largest entertainment district, and it will bring more people to enjoy the amenities across the county,” said Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens. (The Black Contractors Association of Alabama and two other plaintiffs last week filed a lawsuit accusing the BJCC of failing to adhere to all or part of the terms of the resolution and agreements with...