By Joshua Huff, sports editor
UAB football’s future home, Protective Stadium, took a major step forward as the design review committee approved external materials and landscaping on Wednesday.
The lead architect, Populous, will put the finishing touches on the final designs, which will be presented to the public by the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on Sept. 18. The design review committees approval allows the BJCC to start preparing a construction package to be put forward for public bid later this year.
The external materials are being chosen so the stadium blends in with surrounding structures. The exterior of the park will be designed to resemble the feel of a park on non-game days. The stadium will be lined with trees and landscaping.
The $174 million open air stadium will sit between Top Golf and the Birmingham Sheraton hotel and is slated to be complete by 2021. The stadium will seat about 45,000 people.
