Legion Field
Photo: USGS · Public domain · source
- Capacity
- 71,594
- Year opened
- 1927
- Club
- —
- Country
- United States
- Sport
- American football
Overview
About the stadium
Legion Field is an outdoor American football stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, in the United States, opened in 1927 with a current capacity of approximately 71,594 seats. It is named in honour of the American Legion, a U.S. organisation of military veterans.
Location and surroundings
Legion Field stands in Birmingham, in the southeastern United States, in the state of Alabama. It is an open-air stadium used primarily for American football but occasionally hosting other large outdoor events. Owing to its grey façade and long history, it is colloquially known as "The Old Gray Lady" and "The Gray Lady on Graymont".
Main uses
With a capacity of roughly 71,594 seats, the stadium was designed primarily as a venue for American football. For many years it served as the principal home of the Alabama Crimson Tide and hosted the annual Iron Bowl rivalry game against Auburn. From 1991 to 2020, the UAB football team also played here, and the stadium has hosted teams from various professional football leagues.
History
Journey through time
Legion Field in Birmingham is one of the oldest American football stadiums in the southern United States. Since opening in 1927, it has seen changes in capacity and in the roster of teams that have called it home.
Construction and opening
The stadium opened in 1927 and was named in honour of the American Legion, a U.S. organisation of military veterans. From the outset it was conceived as an open-air arena for American football and soon became one of the region's leading venues.
Major renovations
At its peak, Legion Field seated 83,091 for football and carried the proud name "Football Capital of the South" emblazoned across its upper deck. In 2005, the east-side upper deck was removed, reducing capacity to its present figure of approximately 71,594 seats.
Notable moments
For many years the stadium was the site of the Iron Bowl rivalry game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn. The Crimson Tide played home games here until the late 1990s, and the UAB team played at the venue from its inception in 1991 through the 2020 season. It has also hosted teams from various professional football leagues.
Atmosphere
Matchday
The atmosphere of Legion Field in Birmingham was shaped for decades by major American football games before packed stands. Colloquially called "The Old Gray Lady", the stadium became a symbol of football tradition in the southern United States.
Fan culture
For many years the stadium was home to the supporters of the Alabama Crimson Tide, and its nickname "Football Capital of the South", once emblazoned on the upper deck, captured its standing in the region. It also drew its own following through the UAB team, which played here from its inception in 1991 through the 2020 season. Its grey façade gave rise to the nicknames "The Old Gray Lady" and "The Gray Lady on Graymont".
Big matches
The stadium's greatest occasion was, for many years, the Iron Bowl rivalry game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn, one of the most-watched derbies in American college football. Alongside it, Legion Field hosted Crimson Tide home games and numerous fixtures from professional football leagues.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Legion Field is an outdoor American football stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, with a capacity of approximately 71,594 seats. Named after the American Legion, it is one of the traditional sporting venues of the southern United States.
How to get there
The stadium is located in Birmingham, in the southeastern United States, in the Graymont area that gives it one of its nicknames. As a city stadium it is reachable via Birmingham's transport network, with exact services depending on the events being held.
Tickets and tours
Tickets are tied to specific American football games and to the other large outdoor events the stadium occasionally hosts. Availability therefore varies according to the programme and the organiser of each event.
Visitor tips
- When to come: during the American football season, when the stadium comes alive with games.
- What to expect: an open-air stadium with a capacity of about 71,594 seats and a grey façade.
- Of note: the stadium is nicknamed "The Old Gray Lady" and once carried the slogan "Football Capital of the South".
Map
Where to find the stadium
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Plan your visit
Birmingham, United States
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