A Vision Grows Operation New Birmingham The Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority Sets To Work The BJCC Authority Issues Bonds Ground Broken for the Colosseum Legacy Arena Opens Its Doors To The Public Rebranded as Legacy Arena Upgrades to Legacy Arena
A Vision Grows
Operation New Birmingham
The Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority Sets To Work
The BJCC Authority Issues Bonds
Ground Broken for the Colosseum
Legacy Arena Opens Its Doors To The Public
Rebranded as Legacy Arena
Upgrades to Legacy Arena
January 1957
January 1, 1957
1957-1961: The BJCC (originally known as the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center) was just an idea of small scope devised in the minds of citizens who saw the need for a massive new entertainment facility in the business district of downtown Birmingham.
January 1962
January 1, 1962
A group of architects created plans for the BJCC–but there were problems. They needed right of way through two sets of railroad tracks, which called for their removal. Toward 1965, the architects revealed their plan to the public. Local government passed two pieces of legislation: the first created the Authority,..Read More
December 1965
December 1, 1965
1965-1969: Originally, the BJCC stood for the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. Only later would it be known as the Convention Complex. Act 547 decreed that the Authority be established for the purpose of building the BJCC., setting many events in motion: Board members installed on the Authority: the Mayor of Birmingham,..Read More
January 1969
January 1, 1969
The Authority commences the sale of bonds for construction financing of the civic center. Simultaneously, builders broke ground for the BJCC’s Exhibition Hall.
January 1974
January 1, 1974
Named after the famed Colosseum in Rome, ground was broken for the stadium that would come to be known as Legacy Arena. Just two years later, the Ice Follies would be the first show to grace the Colosseum. To follow were countless generational acts and epic contests, from John Denver..Read More
December 1976
December 1, 1976
1976-2015: The first big musical act to hit Legacy Arena, John Denver packed the stadium with 19,000 tickets sold. Later that year, Elvis came for a stop on his last tour. But 1976 was only the first of over 40 years that’s seen the world’s greatest musical talent: In February..Read More
December 2015
December 1, 2015
On January 1, 2015, Legacy Community Federal Credit Union agreed to sign a 5-year, $2 million deal to rename the Colosseum as Legacy Arena.
February 2020
February 1, 2020
More recently, Legacy Arena has been undergoing renovations and expansion. The new and improved Legacy Arena will be available to the public once again in 2022.