Legion Field

Legion Field
"Football Capital of the South"; "Old Gray Lady"
	Aerial view in 2004
	Legion Field Location in Alabama Legion Field Location in the United States
Location	400 Graymont Avenue West; Birmingham, Alabama
Coordinates	33°30′41″N 86°50′34″W / 33.51139°N 86.84278°W
Owner	City of Birmingham
Capacity	71,594
Surface	FieldTurf (2006–present); AstroTurf (1975–1994); Poly-Turf (1970–1974); Natural grass (1927–1969, 1995–2005)
Construction
Broke ground	1926
Opened	November 19, 1927
Renovated	1961, 1965, 2005, 2015
Expanded	1934, 1948, 1961, 1965, 1977, 1991
Construction cost	$439,000
Architect	D.O. Whilldin
Tenants
	Alabama Crimson Tide (alternate site) (NCAA) (1927–2003); Birmingham–Southern Panthers (NCAA) (1927–1939); Samford Bulldogs (NCAA) (1927–1944); Auburn Tigers (alternate site) (NCAA) (1928–1991); Magic City Classic (NCAA) (1946–present); Iron Bowl (NCAA) (1948–1988, 1990–1992, 1994, 1996, 1998); Dixie Bowl (NCAA) (1948–1949); All-American Bowl (NCAA) (1977–1990); UAB Blazers (NCAA) (1991–2014, 2017–2020); SEC Championship Game (NCAA) (1992–1993); Birmingham Bowl (NCAA) (2006–2020); Birmingham Americans (WFL) (1974); Birmingham Vulcans (WFL) (1975); Alabama Vulcans (AFA) (1979); Birmingham Stallions (USFL) (1983–1985); Birmingham Fire (WLAF) (1991–1992); Birmingham Barracudas (CFL) (1995); Birmingham Thunderbolts (XFL) (2001); Birmingham Iron (AAF) (2019); USFL (2022);
Website
	birminghamal.gov/legion-field
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
Designated	June 14, 2018

Legion Field is an outdoor stadium in the southeastern United States in Birmingham, Alabama, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but occasionally used for other large outdoor events. Opened in 1927, it is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans.

The stadium served as the primary venue for Alabama Crimson Tide home games until the late 1990s and was for many years the site of the annual Iron Bowl rivalry game against Auburn. The UAB football team played at Legion Field from their inception in 1991 through the 2020 season. It has also hosted teams from various professional football leagues.

Since the removal of its east-side upper deck in 2005, Legion Field has a seating capacity of approximately 71,594. At its peak, it seated 83,091 for football and had the name "Football Capital of the South" emblazoned from the facade on the upper deck. Legion Field is colloquially called "The Old Gray Lady" and "The Gray Lady on Graymont".

^ "Legion Field". Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
^ "080207 AL MYATT ::: ACC fast-breaking to Minges [bk]".
^ "Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage Listings as of April 7, 2023" (PDF). ahc.alabama.gov. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

[1] "Legion Field". Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2011.

[2] "080207 AL MYATT ::: ACC fast-breaking to Minges [bk]".

[3] "Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage Listings as of April 7, 2023" (PDF). ahc.alabama.gov. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

[2]

[1]

[3]

Construction
"Football Capital of the South" "Old Gray Lady"
Aerial view in 2004
Legion Field Location in Alabama Show map of Alabama Legion Field Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	400 Graymont Avenue West Birmingham, Alabama
Coordinates	33°30′41″N 86°50′34″W / 33.51139°N 86.84278°W / 33.51139; -86.84278
Owner	City of Birmingham
Capacity	71,594
Surface	FieldTurf (2006–present) AstroTurf (1975–1994) Poly-Turf (1970–1974) Natural grass (1927–1969, 1995–2005)
Broke ground	1926
Opened	November 19, 1927^[2]
Renovated	1961, 1965, 2005, 2015^[1]
Expanded	1934, 1948, 1961, 1965, 1977, 1991
Construction cost	$439,000
Architect	D.O. Whilldin
Tenants
Alabama Crimson Tide (alternate site) (NCAA) (1927–2003) Birmingham–Southern Panthers (NCAA) (1927–1939) Samford Bulldogs (NCAA) (1927–1944) Auburn Tigers (alternate site) (NCAA) (1928–1991) Magic City Classic (NCAA) (1946–present) Iron Bowl (NCAA) (1948–1988, 1990–1992, 1994, 1996, 1998) Dixie Bowl (NCAA) (1948–1949) All-American Bowl (NCAA) (1977–1990) UAB Blazers (NCAA) (1991–2014, 2017–2020) SEC Championship Game (NCAA) (1992–1993) Birmingham Bowl (NCAA) (2006–2020) Birmingham Americans (WFL) (1974) Birmingham Vulcans (WFL) (1975) Alabama Vulcans (AFA) (1979) Birmingham Stallions (USFL) (1983–1985) Birmingham Fire (WLAF) (1991–1992) Birmingham Barracudas (CFL) (1995) Birmingham Thunderbolts (XFL) (2001) Birmingham Iron (AAF) (2019) USFL (2022)
Website
birminghamal.gov/legion-field

Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
Designated	June 14, 2018^[3]