BJCC breaks ground on NEW Birmingham Amphitheater in Druid Hills [PHOTOS]

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Big news for Birmingham! Today—June 3—the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) broke ground on the Birmingham Amphitheater, an upcoming outdoor event venue in Birmingham’s Druid Hills neighborhood.

Read on to learn more about the groundbreaking and what’s next for this highly-anticipated event space.

What we know about the Birmingham Amphitheater

First proposed in 2022, the Birmingham Amphitheater is an open-air music venue addition to the BJCC campus in Birmingham’s Uptown Entertainment District.

Able to host 9,380 attendees, the amphitheater will host around 20 shows during its summer concert season, as well as a variety of festivals, community gatherings, special events and more.

“This new facility will be a tremendous complement to the BJCC’s existing entertainment options, which already includes Protective Stadium, Legacy Arena, the BJCC Concert Hall, City Walk Bham and multiple other smaller venues.”

Michael Keel, Chairman, BJCC

In May, the BJCC awarded a $46.1 million contract to Birmingham-based Stone Building LLC to build the new amphitheater.

“This project is a prime example of what we can accomplish when we work together as a partnership. Now, we have all of the venues that are available in the entertainment industry.

If you want to hear Garth Brooks, or if you want to see children’s theater, you come to the BJCC.”

Jimmie Stephens, Commission President, Jefferson County Commission

Although the venue is owned by the BJCC, it will be managed by multinational entertainment company Live Nation.

Breaking ground on the Birmingham Amphitheater

Representatives from the BJCC, local and state officials, Live Nation and other organizations involved in the project braved the heat to ceremoniously break ground on the Birmingham Amphitheater.

“Another exciting day in the history of Birmingham!

It takes a village. The City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, the State of Alabama Department of Tourism, the BJCC, the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Live Nation and more all worked together to make this happen.

This is a game changer for our community.

Jabo Waggoner, Alabama State Senator, District 16

The event was punctuated by several key speakers, including:

• Tad Snider, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of the BJCC
• Michael Keel, Chairman of the BJCC
• Mayor Randall Woodfin
• Jimmie Stephens, Commission President, Jefferson County Commission
• Jabo Waggoner, Alabama State Senator
• Darrell O’Quinn, President, Birmingham City Council
• Jay Wilson, Promoter of Live Nation concerts in the Southeast

“Nine years ago, several of us drove around this area just hoping that one day we’d be standing here for this event.

Starting next year, we’re going to have amazing nights enjoying live music under the stars at this beautiful new venue.”

Jay Wilson, Promoter, Live Nation

“Over the past few decades, we’ve been losing too many of our young people to places like Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte and Chattanooga.

Investing in a world-class art and entertainment venue is one was Birmingham can compete with other Southern cities and retain our young people.”

Darrell O’Quinn, President, Birmingham City Council

Anchoring the Star Uptown development

When complete, the Birmingham Amphitheater will be an anchor for an exciting mixed-use development called The Star at Uptown.

“As excited as we all will be to have a new place to see concerts, I’m most excited about what this will do for all of our Northside neighborhoods. This will be an anchor that will spur other developments that will improve the quality of life for residents in the area and for the city as a whole.”

Mayor Randall Woodfin

Located on the former Carraway Hospital campus—which has been vacant since 2008—The Star at Uptown will feature:

• A mix of residential options
• Hotel components
• Retail + office space

In keeping with other recent additions to Uptown—including Protective Stadium and City Walk Bham—the Birmingham Amphitheater has been designed with walkability and connectivity in mind.

Additional parking for the BJCC

The BJCC draws in more than a million visitors each year, making parking a top priority.

To accommodate its many guests, the BJCC campus includes over 6,000 parking spots. And that’s not counting the Birmingham Parking Authority garages and street parking.

To complement the new amphitheater, the BJCC is renovating two pre-existing parking decks from the former Carraway Hospital site.

Birmingham Amphitheater will open June 2025

Per its contract with the BJCC, Stone Building LLC will have the Birmingham Amphitheater completed and ready for its first visitors by June 2025.

“Over the years, I’ve spoken with many residents in the city who have talked about having to drive to Nashville, Atlanta and New Orleans for entertainment options.

With the completion of this amphitheater, I feel that Birmingham, Alabama is now complete as it relates to entertainment options.”

Mayor Randall Woodfin

What part of the Birmingham Amphitheater are you most excited for? Follow the BJCC on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on the progress.

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