On Thursday, Tad Snider, Executive Director and CEO of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, announced that financial commitments are secured to advance the USFL hub city plan in Birmingham, Alabama. It looks like the United States Football League will be playing its inaugural 2.0 season in the spring of 2022. With games televised on FOX, FS1, NBC, USA, and NBC’s Peacock streaming service.
Full announcement for the BJCC;
“The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County have identified and secured financial commitments in order to advance the opportunity to host the 2022 inaugural season of the USFL in Birmingham.
“Many stakeholders are working diligently toward realizing this tremendous opportunity for our community. It’s involved a significant collaboration among Mayor Randall Woodfin, the Birmingham City Council, the Jefferson County Commission and Commission President Jimmie Stephens, the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau and the BJCC.
“Efforts now shift to finalizing agreements for the use of Protective Stadium as the primary venue for hosting USFL games and activities. Protective Stadium was built with the goal of positioning Birmingham to attract this type of world-class sports and entertainment opportunity.
“This step is an exciting development and we anticipate a formal announcement soon.”
The original USFL played three seasons from 1982 to 1985 with 18 teams. The league ultimately went under in 1986. Fox said it committed $150 million over three years to bring back the league, starting with a hub season in Birmingham. USFL games will be played at Protective Stadium and Legion Field between April and July 2022.
The BJCC stated it needed almost $3.6 million to cover the cost of hosting the 43-game USFL season. Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, City of Birmingham, and Jefferson County Commission raised $3 million, and the BJCC chipped in the rest. Now the funding is complete. It is on to the legal paperwork side of things.
Now we wait for a formal announcement from Fox/USFL and the City of Birmingham. The league is set to kick off on Friday, April 15th.
