"Football Capital of the South" "Old Gray Lady" | |
Aerial view in 2015 | |
Location in Alabama Location in the United States | |
Location | 400 Graymont Avenue West Birmingham, Alabama |
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Coordinates | 33°30′41″N 86°50′34″W / 33.51139°N 86.84278°W |
Owner | City of Birmingham |
Capacity | 71,594 |
Surface | FieldTurf (2006–present) AstroTurf (1975–1994) Poly-Turf (1970–1974) Natural grass (1927–1969, 1995–2005) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1926 |
Opened | November 19, 1927[2] |
Renovated | 1961, 1965, 2005, 2015[1] |
Expanded | 1934, 1948, 1961, 1965, 1977, 1991 |
Construction cost | $439,000 |
Architect | D.O. Whilldin |
Tenants | |
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Website | |
birminghamal.gov/legion-field | |
Designated | June 14, 2018[3] |
Legion Field is an outdoor stadium in the southeastern United States in Birmingham, Alabama, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but occasionally used for other large outdoor events. Opened in 1927, it is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans.
The stadium served as the primary venue for Alabama Crimson Tide home games until the late 1990s and was for many years the site of the annual Iron Bowl rivalry game against Auburn. The UAB football team played at Legion Field from their inception in 1991 through the 2020 season. It has also hosted teams from various professional football leagues.
Since the removal of its east-side upper deck in 2005, Legion Field has a seating capacity of approximately 71,594. At its peak, it seated 83,091 for football and had the name "Football Capital of the South" emblazoned from the facade on the upper deck. Legion Field is colloquially called "The Old Gray Lady" and "The Gray Lady on Graymont".