A proposal from Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford would put a domed stadium on hold at least until 2010 and shift funding for the dome to a massive revitalization project at Fair Park in west Birmingham. The city would also use school bond money for the project according to a memo shared with the city council Friday morning.

Langford presented his Fair Park plan to the city council in a breakfast meeting at the Summit Club. The mayor proposed building an “Olympic village” style complex including track and field, a competition swimming pool and equestrian facilities. Langford claimed that several retailers have shown interest in the Five PointsWest area because of the proposal.
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At times beating his fists on the Harbert Center podium, Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford today delivered his first State of the City address, promising to put 50 more police on Birmingham streets and to build a domed stadium. Still recovering from hip surgery, the mayor attended the meeting on crutches.

Before a room packed with Birmingham Kiwanis Club members, Langford commended the council for its cooperation and blasted his critics for their negativity. In particular, Langford was loud and defensive about his efforts to build a domed stadium near the Birmingham Race Course, rather than at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. According to Langford, the BJCC site does not have enough parking to accommodate a larger facility.

The mayor asked the civic group to be patient while an independent analyst studies the proposed sites to decide which one is best.

“You’ve waited two years,” he said. “Isn’t it worth 60 to 90 days to evaluate the site?”

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