April 8, 2012

Past Venue: Legion Field


Birmingham, AL



Year opened: 1927
Capacity: 71,594, up from 21,000 at opening

Names:
Legion Field, 1927 to date

Pro football tenants:
Birmingham Americans (WFL), 1974
Birmingham Vulcans (WFL), 1975
Alabama Vulcans (AFA), 1979
Alabama Magic (AFA), 1982
Birmingham Stallions (USFL), 1983-85
Birmingham Fire (WLAF), 1991-92
Birmingham Barracudas (CFL), 1995
Birmingham Thunderbolts (XFL), 2001

Postseason games hosted:
WFL Semifinal playoff, Americans 22 Hawaiians 19, Nov. 27, 1974
WFL Championship, Americans 22 Blazers 21, Dec. 5, 1974
USFL First Round playoff, Stallions 36 Bandits 17, July 1, 1984
USFL Quarterfinal playoff, Stallions 22 Gamblers 20, June 29, 1985
USFL Semifinal playoff, Stars 28 Stallions 14, July 7, 1985
WLAF Semifinal playoff, Dragons 10 Fire 3, June 1, 1991

Other tenants of note:
Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham (college football), 1991 to date

Notes: Hosted Dixie Bowl, 1948-49. Hosted annual Hall of Fame Classic, 1977-85. Hosted annual All-American Bowl, 1986-90. Hosts annual BBVA Compass Bowl, 2006 to date (originally Papajohns.com Bowl). Hosted one home game of AFL Boston Patriots, 1968. Hosted annual Alabama vs. Auburn football game, referred to as “Iron Bowl”, 1948-88. Frequently used for home games by the Univ. of Alabama and Auburn Univ. Owned by City of Birmingham and named in honor of the American Legion. Grass surface replaced by PolyTurf in 1970, restored to grass in 1996 and replaced by FieldTurf in 2006. Lights added in 1969. Upper deck removed in 2005. First game was college contest between Howard College (later Samford University) and Birmingham-Southern College, Nov. 19, 1927.

Fate: Still in use.



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