PLANNED. LAST WEEK, WE UPDATED THE PROGRESS OF THE UPCOMING $50 MILLION COCA-COLA AMPHITHEATER. OUR FACEBOOK POST PROMPTED MORE THAN 700 COMMENTS. MANY PEOPLE, LIKE JOHN LEDDY WANTED TO KNOW IS THERE PARKING? AND THAT WAS MY QUESTION. WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PARK? THERE WAS NO LOTS. THERE WAS NO PARKING DECKS. AND I JUST KIND OF FIGURED WE WERE GOING TO PARK OVER THE BJCC. ULTIMATELY, THERE WILL BE FOUR NEARBY PARKING DECKS, TWO OWNED BY THE BJCC AND TWO BY THE DEVELOPER OF THE NEIGHBORING STAR UPTOWN PROJECT. BUT LAST WEEK, THAT DEVELOPER CAME TO CITY COUNCIL SEEKING APPROVAL FOR MORE GRAVEL SURFACE LOTS SINCE ITS PARKING DECKS STILL NEED WORK. OBVIOUSLY, WITH WITH MARKET CONDITIONS HAVEN鈥橳 BEEN FAVORABLE TO US, AND WE鈥橰E A LITTLE BIT BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO REPAIRING THE PARKING DECKS THAT ARE OUT THERE. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN SEE THE TOP LEVEL OF THAT DECK IS DAMAGED AND THE STAR UPTOWN DEVELOPER SAYS THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT. AND THE OTHER DECK IN TIME FOR THE FIRST SHOW IN JUNE. SO INSTEAD OF THE PROMISED 3500 PARKING DECK SPACES FOR THE AMPHITHEATER鈥橲 FIRST SEASON, THERE WILL BE LESS THAN HALF AS MANY. UNDER THE NEW PLAN, THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO REZONE TEN OF THEIR EMPTY PARCELS IN MAROON ON THIS MAP FOR TEMPORARY GRAVEL LOTS. EVENTUALLY, THE SITE SURFACE TEMPORARY PARKING WILL NOT BE NECESSARY, BUT WE WILL NEED IT FOR THE FIRST SEASON AT LEAST. LEDDY HOPES THE BJCC ALSO OFFERS A SHUTTLE SERVICE LIKE THE VA DOES FROM ITS DOWNTOWN PARKING DECK. AND IF THEY DID THE SAME THING, IF THE THE AMPHITHEATER, THEN I鈥橠 BE I鈥橠 BE HAPPY WITH THAT. I DON鈥橳 CARE HOW FAR AWAY THE PARKING DECK IS. AN OPTION. THE BJCC ALREADY ANNOUNCED IT WAS WORKING ON BACK IN JANUARY
Fewer parking deck spaces ready for Coca-Cola Amphitheater's first season
Updated: 6:27 PM CDT Apr 1, 2025
Last week, we updated the progress on the upcoming $50 million Coca-Cola Amphitheater.Our Facebook post prompted more than 700 comments.Many people, like John Leddy, wanted to know, is there parking?鈥淭hat was my question. There was no lots. There was no parking decks. And I just kind of figured we were going to park over the BJCC,鈥� Leddy said.Ultimately, there will be four nearby parking decks. Two are owned by the BJCC and two by the developer of the neighboring Star Uptown project.However, last week, that developer came to Birmingham City Council seeking approval for more gravel surface lots since its two parking decks still need work.鈥淥bviously, market conditions haven't been favorable to us. And, we're a little behind when it comes to preparing the parking decks that are out there,鈥� Matthew Smith said.For example, the top level of one of the decks is damaged, and the developer says they will not be able to fix it and the other deck in time for the first show in June.So, instead of the promised 3,500 parking deck spaces for the amphitheater's first season, there will be less than half as many.Under the new plan, the developer wants to rezone ten of their empty parcels for temporary gravel lots. 鈥淓ventually the site surface temporary parking will not be necessary, but we will need it for the first season at least,鈥� Smith said.Leddy hopes the BJCC also offers a shuttle service, like the VA does from its downtown parking deck.鈥淚f they did the same thing at the amphitheater, then I'd be happy with that. I don't care how far away the parking deck is,鈥� Leddy said.In January, the BJCC鈥檚 Tad Snider announced they are working on a shuttle system from the Uptown Entertainment District to the amphitheater four blocks north. A public meeting over rezoning the proposed gravel parking lots will be held on May 6. The Coca-Cola Amphitheater is set to host its first show on June 22.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Last week, we updated the progress on the upcoming $50 million Coca-Cola Amphitheater.
Our Facebook post prompted more than 700 comments.
Many people, like John Leddy, wanted to know, is there parking?
鈥淭hat was my question. There was no lots. There was no parking decks. And I just kind of figured we were going to park over the BJCC,鈥� Leddy said.
Ultimately, there will be four nearby parking decks.
Two are owned by the BJCC and two by the developer of the neighboring Star Uptown project.
However, last week, that developer came to Birmingham City Council seeking approval for more gravel surface lots since its two parking decks still need work.
鈥淥bviously, market conditions haven't been favorable to us. And, we're a little behind when it comes to preparing the parking decks that are out there,鈥� Matthew Smith said.
For example, the top level of one of the decks is damaged, and the developer says they will not be able to fix it and the other deck in time for the first show in June.
So, instead of the promised 3,500 parking deck spaces for the amphitheater's first season, there will be less than half as many.
Under the new plan, the developer wants to rezone ten of their empty parcels for temporary gravel lots.
鈥淓ventually the site surface temporary parking will not be necessary, but we will need it for the first season at least,鈥� Smith said.
Leddy hopes the BJCC also offers a shuttle service, like the VA does from its downtown parking deck.
鈥淚f they did the same thing at the amphitheater, then I'd be happy with that. I don't care how far away the parking deck is,鈥� Leddy said.
In January, the BJCC鈥檚 Tad Snider announced they are working on a shuttle system from the Uptown Entertainment District to the amphitheater four blocks north.
A public meeting over rezoning the proposed gravel parking lots will be held on May 6.
The Coca-Cola Amphitheater is set to host its first show on June 22.