Rendering courtesy of the BJCC.
Legacy Arena
A rendering of Legacy Arena at the BJCC, set to reopen in 2022 after extensive renovations. The arena will host a portion of the NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament in 2023.
The NCAA is planning to bring some big-time sports events to the Magic City the next few years.
The body announced Oct. 14 that Birmingham will host the first and second round of the NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament in 2023 and the Division 1 women’s basketball Southern Regional in 2025 at Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
The men’s tournament will be back in Birmingham for the first time since 2008, and it will be the first time ever for the women’s tournament to come to the city.
The BJCC’s Legacy Arena closed in April for a $123 million renovation and expansion. It is expected to reopen in 2022.
But that’s not all. The city of Birmingham announced Oct. 15 that the Birmingham CrossPlex has been awarded four other NCAA Championships..
The city and Birmingham-Southern College will host the Division III Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships in both 2023 and 2026, according to a city news release.
NCAA championships are not new to the Crossplex.
The venue hosted its first NCAA National Championship in 2013 with the Division II Winter Festival.
By 2022, the facility will have hosted a total of 29 NCAA championships, including the Division I, II and III Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field National Championships.
