I want to talk about the Birmingham "Dome"

[AUChamps]

For everyone that lives in Alabama, you know all about the dome debate in Birmingham. For those that are outside of the state, you can find out more at al.com: Birmingham Forum (http://www.al.com/forums/birmingham) and read these articles:

BJCC agrees on arena plans:
al.com: Everything Alabama (http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/117239517272970.xml&coll=2)

THE MODEL: Memphis revived its city center. Can it happen here?
al.com: Everything Alabama (http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/117239530872970.xml&coll=2)

And a website that essentially goes into extensive detail on the Dome debate over the past 10 years since the MAPS vote that was held:
Welcome to the Birmingham Post-Herald (http://www.postherald.com/dome.shtml)

And here's the Paul Finebaum interview with Jefferson County Commission member Larry Langford from this past Friday:
The Paul Finebaum Radio Network (http://www.finebaum.com/media/interviews/20070223Larry_Langford.wax)

My question to everyone is if Birmingham

A). Should finally build a dome/arena even if it only seats 40,000(and will potentially lead to sellouts at UAB football games and also the chance for Final Fours and other such events down the road)

B). Fight to build a 72,000 seat multi-purpose domed stadium as originally was planned.

C). Nix the dome project and funnel the tax dollars toward refurbishing Legion Field and the neighborhood around it and also create a Beale Steet or Forth Street Live! type district in Downtown B'ham near the existing arena and convention center.

[crimsonnation713]

Being in Tuscaloosa, I think Birmingham is never going to be a major sports town IMO. Not big enough to support a pro team of any kind. The Beale St. idea would be great for the fact of all the music you can find there. The crime rate as it is would scare off alot of sport outings also.

[AUChamps]

Being in Tuscaloosa, I think Birmingham is never going to be a major sports town IMO. Not big enough to support a pro team of any kind. The Beale St. idea would be great for the fact of all the music you can find there. The crime rate as it is would scare off alot of sport outings also.
But to be fair, the majority of crime in Birmingham is Black on Black, involves drugs, and is found to take place in the heavily poor and black West and North ends of Birmingham.

There aren't many drug deals, poor black ppl dealing drugs, or drive-bys as a result of drug deals gone bad in Downtown.

Point taken, it's the perception that makes B'ham less appealing to those that are on the outskirts. Most ppl see Ensley, West End and North Birmingham and take that to be the standard for the city in whole. The fact of the matter is that most crime in Birmingham is not that of Blacks killing Whites, or of those that deal drugs killing those that don't take drugs. So in short, if you're not black, you don't live in West End or North Birmingham, and you don't take drugs then your risk of being murdered in Birmingham is vastly reduced.

[BamaDude06]

I don't think Birmingham could support a NFL team in the near future, but I think an NBA team could do fairly well if they can find a niche and market to it (the Birmingham-Hoover Metro Area is slightly bigger than Salt Lake City Metro Area, home of the Jazz.). Birmingham is close to 1.1 million people now with a growth rate close to 1% from 2004-2005 which, if steady, would put them at the 1.2 million that Nashville and Jacksonville and a few other smaller market teams are at now in 10-12 yrs.

I think the expansion needs to take place ASAP. To do that if the county is only willing to support a 40,000 arena over a dome then that is what needs to be built. Brimingham has tried to play catch up ever since the idiots turned Delta away many years ago.

[AUChamps]

I don't think Birmingham could support a NFL team in the near future, but I think an NBA team could do fairly well if they can find a niche and market to it (the Birmingham-Hoover Metro Area is slightly bigger than Salt Lake City Metro Area, home of the Jazz.). Birmingham is close to 1.1 million people now with a growth rate close to 1% from 2004-2005 which, if steady, would put them at the 1.2 million that Nashville and Jacksonville and a few other smaller market teams are at now in 10-12 yrs.

I think the expansion needs to take place ASAP. To do that if the county is only willing to support a 40,000 arena over a dome then that is what needs to be built. Brimingham has tried to play catch up ever since the idiots turned Delta away many years ago.
Not only did B'ham turn away Delta, BUT:

B'ham almost had the New England Patriots relocate to Legion Field BUT B'ham didn't fight hard enough and Bear said that an NFL team in B'ham would kill 'Bama and Auburn's dominance in the city. So in 1971 the Patriots decided to stay put and built in Foxboro.

B'ham almost had a Kroger distribution center but because George Wallace purposely made it so I-65, I-20, and I-59 were unbuilt between downtown and the outskirts of the city until the mid 80s, Kroger left for Atlanta and that is why Kroger has no presence in Alabama besides Huntsville/Decatur(Nashville division) and Auburn/Opelika(Atlanta division).

Alabama almost had Disney World. No joke. Walt was heavily considering the area in Mobile near where I-10 and I-65 met down in Tillman's Corner for the park but Alabama couldn't come through and apparently neither could St. Louis(the other proposed location for Disney World), so Walt went to Orlando(a relatively small town at the time) instead.

Alabama almost had a lot of things, but politics and racism did ourselves in. Nowadays, it's fear of change and the lack of faith in politicians(look at ALDOT for example, they are nowhere near as efficient and timely in roadbuilding as GDOT, FDOT, MDOT of Mississippi or TNDOT) and business CEOs alike(cough*Richard Scrushy*cough) that keep substantial progress from happening.

[BamaDude06]

Politicians in Alabama baffel me about 99% of the time.

[AUChamps]

Politicians in Alabama baffel me about 99% of the time.
That's funny, because some of Alabama's most powerful and prominent politicians have come through Tuscaloosa via "The Machine".

Seems to me that there's a little bit of digging to do there.

[bigsexxxy]

Not only did B'ham turn away Delta, BUT:

B'ham almost had the New England Patriots relocate to Legion Field BUT B'ham didn't fight hard enough and Bear said that an NFL team in B'ham would kill 'Bama and Auburn's dominance in the city. So in 1971 the Patriots decided to stay put and built in Foxboro.

B'ham almost had a Kroger distribution center but because George Wallace purposely made it so I-65, I-20, and I-59 were unbuilt between downtown and the outskirts of the city until the mid 80s, Kroger left for Atlanta and that is why Kroger has no presence in Alabama besides Huntsville/Decatur(Nashville division) and Auburn/Opelika(Atlanta division).

Alabama almost had Disney World. No joke. Walt was heavily considering the area in Mobile near where I-10 and I-65 met down in Tillman's Corner for the park but Alabama couldn't come through and apparently neither could St. Louis(the other proposed location for Disney World), so Walt went to Orlando(a relatively small town at the time) instead.

Alabama almost had a lot of things, but politics and racism did ourselves in. Nowadays, it's fear of change and the lack of faith in politicians(look at ALDOT for example, they are nowhere near as efficient and timely in roadbuilding as GDOT, FDOT, MDOT of Mississippi or TNDOT) and business CEOs alike(cough*Richard Scrushy*cough) that keep substantial progress from happening.

Don't know how true this is, but a history professor I had in college told me this: When Henry Ford was looking for a place to build his first factory, his decision came down to two spots, Detroit and *drumroll* Livingston, AL. As we all know, Livingston did NOT get the plant.

[AUChamps]

Don't know how true this is, but a history professor I had in college told me this: When Henry Ford was looking for a place to build his first factory, his decision came down to two spots, Detroit and *drumroll* Livingston, AL. As we all know, Livingston did NOT get the plant.
Alabama Almost had a Lottery. Don't forget that.

The only place I can think of with more missed opportunities then Alabama is Quebec:

Voting for the PQ = a vote for economic terrorism. - RedFlagDeals.com Forums (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=411541)

[timNem]

That's funny, because some of Alabama's most powerful and prominent politicians have come through Tuscaloosa via "The Machine".

Seems to me that there's a little bit of digging to do there.:laugh:

The guy who has controlled the power in Montgomery over the past umpteen years (Senate Pro Tem Lowell Barron) and is probably the most corrupt politician in the history of the state is also on the AU Board. But in all seriousness, we will never get anything unless it pads the pockets of our beloved politicians. The lottery has potential to be good, but it has more potential for more corrupt govt, I'm sorry but the less money these guys have to play with the better off we will be.
As far as a Birmingham Dome, I think it would be good for Birmingham. Nashville is now one of the fastest growing cities since they added the Titans. Just think about the fan bases of Auburn and Alabama all coming together for an in-state Pro team. If I was a team owner, I would look very closely at this market because the demographics are bountiful.:thumpsup:

[azamugg]

:laugh:

The guy who has controlled the power in Montgomery over the past umpteen years (Senate Pro Tem Lowell Barron) and is probably the most corrupt politician in the history of the state is also on the AU Board. But in all seriousness, we will never get anything unless it pads the pockets of our beloved politicians. The lottery has potential to be good, but it has more potential for more corrupt govt, I'm sorry but the less money these guys have to play with the better off we will be.
As far as a Birmingham Dome, I think it would be good for Birmingham. Nashville is now one of the fastest growing cities since they added the Titans. Just think about the fan bases of Auburn and Alabama all coming together for an in-state Pro team. If I was a team owner, I would look very closely at this market because the demographics are bountiful.:thumpsup:

thank you for your sensible opinion on the lottery, its too bad most folk don't understand politics enough to know that a lottery is the worst thing

[bigsexxxy]

thank you for your sensible opinion on the lottery, its too bad most folk don't understand politics enough to know that a lottery is the worst thing

I may not understand politics as much as you seem to think you do, but I do understand simple math. As in 6 billion dollars, the amount of money estimated to have been spent by Alabamian's in our neighboring states. :ohmy:

So please enlighten us on what you know about the lottery that *I* don't. I'm all ears.

[timNem]

I may not understand politics as much as you seem to think you do, but I do understand simple math. As in 6 billion dollars, the amount of money estimated to have been spent by Alabamian's in our neighboring states. :ohmy:

So please enlighten us on what you know about the lottery that *I* don't. I'm all ears.I'm not azzamugg, but the ideal of a lottery is fine and good but there is no way that you could keep corrupt politicians and other dishonest people from robbing it blind. We can't even keep that from happening to our tax dollars. If someone says that they want a lottery just to have a lottery then I cannot argue against that but when they say we need a lottery to fund education or roads then I have a problem with that because thats what our tax dollars are supposed to be covering. There is plenty enough revenue to cover all these things if the corrupt politicians would stop using it for pork-barrell projects that are used to get them re-elected. When Siegelman pushed for the lottery before and it was voted down, he took offense to that and put our schools under pro-ration to try and convince us how much we needed the lottery to fund our schools. And we all know how honest Don Siegelman is :laugh: . I don't care very much for our current Governor but even after his ludicrous suggestion of raising taxes was shot down he proved that a cleaner govt doesn't require increased taxes or a lottery because we now have a huge surplus.

[sheluvsbama]

I don't think Birmingham could support a NFL team in the near future, but I think an NBA team could do fairly well if they can find a niche and market to it (the Birmingham-Hoover Metro Area is slightly bigger than Salt Lake City Metro Area, home of the Jazz.). Birmingham is close to 1.1 million people now with a growth rate close to 1% from 2004-2005 which, if steady, would put them at the 1.2 million that Nashville and Jacksonville and a few other smaller market teams are at now in 10-12 yrs.

I think the expansion needs to take place ASAP. To do that if the county is only willing to support a 40,000 arena over a dome then that is what needs to be built. Brimingham has tried to play catch up ever since the idiots turned Delta away many years ago.I don't think B'ham WOULD support an NFL team,but I do think that the NBA would fare better. B'ham is more interested in college sports,I think. I dig the idea of the NBA being in B"ham!

[autiger1126]

I think they should build the 72,000 seater. It would give them the ability to hold large events and always leave at least the option of having an NFL team. You certainly aren't going to get one if you don't have a facility for them.

[BamaDude06]

I think they should build the 72,000 seater. It would give them the ability to hold large events and always leave at least the option of having an NFL team. You certainly aren't going to get one if you don't have a facility for them.

Only problem is it is not needed at this time. There is only one game played in Bham every year that draws a crowd larger than 40,000 (Magic City Classic) and it only brings 60,000-65,000. The county won't give money for the dome but they will give money to the 40,000 seat arena, and the state won't give money until the county does.

I could only see an NFL team in Bham no earlier than 10-15 yrs down the road. Yes you would need a dome then, but you could get money from the franchise, money from the NFL, and I think you would stand a better chance to get taxpayers to be willing to support the idea because there would be a use for it. Right now the general feeling seems to be "We don't NEED it, so why build it." Actually that seems to be the way everything in Alabama is. Build for now, not for the future (ALDOT I'm looking at you).

[crimsonnation713]

:laugh:

The guy who has controlled the power in Montgomery over the past umpteen years (Senate Pro Tem Lowell Barron) and is probably the most corrupt politician in the history of the state is also on the AU Board. But in all seriousness, we will never get anything unless it pads the pockets of our beloved politicians. The lottery has potential to be good, but it has more potential for more corrupt govt, I'm sorry but the less money these guys have to play with the better off we will be.
As far as a Birmingham Dome, I think it would be good for Birmingham. Nashville is now one of the fastest growing cities since they added the Titans. Just think about the fan bases of Auburn and Alabama all coming together for an in-state Pro team. If I was a team owner, I would look very closely at this market because the demographics are bountiful.:thumpsup:




Lets dont even go via the "barn" vs " bammer" route. "The Machine" is for real and and is alive and well. They control the SGA and to some extent run and have a say so in the day-to-day runnings of the school. Alot of politicians go via the machine and we have one right now in D.C. that was part of them. There has been small businesses here that have gone under because they started the talk of the machine in the paper.

[WayzUp]

If you build it, they will come. You can't even start to think about big things until you have the facilities to market for the cause. The city just needs to be wary of deals like the one the Seligs pulled on Milwaukee and President Bush & Co. pulled on the folks of Arlington.

The area I live in is an in-between for metro areas like Chicago, Detroit & Indy but they're all 2-3 hours drive away. I understand local businesses are what really support projects like this and Birmingham might not be home to many (i have no clue, to be honest) but in terms of a fanbase for pro teams or attendance concerns, I'm sure there are plenty of rabid sports fans in a 150 mile radius that would make the trip a few times a year. We do.

[AUChamps]

Lets dont even go via the "barn" vs " bammer" route. "The Machine" is for real and and is alive and well. They control the SGA and to some extent run and have a say so in the day-to-day runnings of the school. Alot of politicians go via the machine and we have one right now in D.C. that was part of them. There has been small businesses here that have gone under because they started the talk of the machine in the paper.
Are you talking about Richard Shelby? Machine or not, he's done good things for Alabama.

[crimsonnation713]

I'm not saying he was bad. I'm just saying the machine is a powerful backing tool for politicians and is powerful within itself.

[nooneLT]

number 1 rule about the machine: don't talk about the machine :p

[AUChamps]

number 1 rule about the machine: don't talk about the machine :p
See, I like to think that The Machine represents 'Bama better then the "fans" that call into Finebaum and the like. Fair assessment?

[azamugg]

I don't think B'ham WOULD support an NFL team,but I do think that the NBA would fare better. B'ham is more interested in college sports,I think. I dig the idea of the NBA being in B"ham!

there goes your intelligence again..........you want NBA so you suppose the NBA would do better than NFL, even w/the passion we have for college football? the blazers can't fill a gym yet you believe the NBA would fare better? there are 41 home games in the NBA, and only 8 in the NFL......boy you are getting smarter by the day

[azamugg]

Are you talking about Richard Shelby? Machine or not, he's done good things for Alabama.

Richard Shelby steered bankruptcy reform through the legislation like greased lightning when he should have fought it................credit card issuers lobbied for bankruptcy reform to clean up their own mistakes, they make their bed, they should lie in it...........until they get off college campus's, giving 18 yr olds w/out a job and a lick of sense, credit cards then why make us pay for their mistakes?

Shelby whored himself out on that one, Im very disappointed in him

[GeauxTo]

I don't care which way you geaux in Birmingham; I only hope that Mobile doesn't get the German steel mill. I hope that ends up in Louisiana, on the river just south of Baton Rouge. Should be decided soon.

[azamugg]

I may not understand politics as much as you seem to think you do, but I do understand simple math. As in 6 billion dollars, the amount of money estimated to have been spent by Alabamian's in our neighboring states. :ohmy:

So please enlighten us on what you know about the lottery that *I* don't. I'm all ears.

where in the hell did you get a 6 billion dollar figure first of all, from an idiot drinking a coke and smoking a cigarette on the corner talking politics? and also when is it bad to do business in a neighboring state? do you vacation only in Alabama? do you only buy products made and sold in Alabama? if not then drop the silly logic

you perpetuate govt malfeasance when you throw more money at them, they replace the old earmarked money for education and replace it w/lottery money..........then when they piss all of that money away, they either raise taxes through income, gasoline, sales, license fees, etc or hell they could have a bungee jump for a dollar?

last year florida spent 46% of lottery revenue on ADVERTISING....why, because they have pissed away the promised earmark percentage and lottery revenue is falling..........when the GD govt is having to BEG THE PUBLIC TO F*&KING GAMBLE TO SUPPORT EDUCATION THEN SH&T HAS HIT THE FAN

Its not a religious issue to know that a lottery is not the way to go


look it this way.........if your best friend, who made a very good living but lived high on the hog, came to you one day broke and asked you for financial advise, you wouldnt say " why don't you start gambling "....you would say, "start living w/in your means, stop buying hookers, stop throwing money away on unnecesary things, etc"

[azamugg]

I don't care which way you geaux in Birmingham; I only hope that Mobile doesn't get the German steel mill. I hope that ends up in Louisiana, on the river just south of Baton Rouge. Should be decided soon.


Gov. Riley has just made sure that won't happen

[BamaDude06]

where in the hell did you get a 6 billion dollar figure first of all, from an idiot drinking a coke and smoking a cigarette on the corner talking politics? and also when is it bad to do business in a neighboring state? do you vacation only in Alabama? do you only buy products made and sold in Alabama? if not then drop the silly logic

you perpetuate govt malfeasance when you throw more money at them, they replace the old earmarked money for education and replace it w/lottery money..........then when they piss all of that money away, they either raise taxes through income, gasoline, sales, license fees, etc or hell they could have a bungee jump for a dollar?

last year florida spent 46% of lottery revenue on ADVERTISING....why, because they have pissed away the promised earmark percentage and lottery revenue is falling..........when the GD govt is having to BEG THE PUBLIC TO F*&KING GAMBLE TO SUPPORT EDUCATION THEN SH&T HAS HIT THE FAN

Its not a religious issue to know that a lottery is not the way to go


look it this way.........if your best friend, who made a very good living but lived high on the hog, came to you one day broke and asked you for financial advise, you wouldnt say " why don't you start gambling "....you would say, "start living w/in your means, stop buying hookers, stop throwing money away on unnecesary things, etc"

I read that North Carolina (IIRC) recently took their "education lottery" profits from something like 30-35% going to schools down to about 20-25%

[Bburton86]

Not only did B'ham turn away Delta, BUT:

B'ham almost had the New England Patriots relocate to Legion Field BUT B'ham didn't fight hard enough and Bear said that an NFL team in B'ham would kill 'Bama and Auburn's dominance in the city. So in 1971 the Patriots decided to stay put and built in Foxboro.

B'ham almost had a Kroger distribution center but because George Wallace purposely made it so I-65, I-20, and I-59 were unbuilt between downtown and the outskirts of the city until the mid 80s, Kroger left for Atlanta and that is why Kroger has no presence in Alabama besides Huntsville/Decatur(Nashville division) and Auburn/Opelika(Atlanta division).

Alabama almost had Disney World. No joke. Walt was heavily considering the area in Mobile near where I-10 and I-65 met down in Tillman's Corner for the park but Alabama couldn't come through and apparently neither could St. Louis(the other proposed location for Disney World), so Walt went to Orlando(a relatively small town at the time) instead.

Alabama almost had a lot of things, but politics and racism did ourselves in. Nowadays, it's fear of change and the lack of faith in politicians(look at ALDOT for example, they are nowhere near as efficient and timely in roadbuilding as GDOT, FDOT, MDOT of Mississippi or TNDOT) and business CEOs alike(cough*Richard Scrushy*cough) that keep substantial progress from happening.


Two things.

1. Seems like AL did a nice job of pissing away opportunities.
2. TDOT DOES NOT GET THINGS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER!:brick:

[CrimsonTide12xs]

Professional sports just don't fair well in B'ham. Never have. B'ham needs to clean up their city for one. A couple of years ago B'ham was ranked as one of the top 10 worst places to live in the USA, If I'm not mistaken it was near the the top (I can't remember the magazine). I loved growing up around B'ham. I just think it needs some major work. As does Memphis. One of the other posters talked of Memphis as if it is great. Memphis sucks. I lived there for twelve years. When I moved away it was the best thing I could have ever done. If my parents did not still live there I would never go back. And if you think B'ham has corrupt politics just go to Memphis. It is run by the biggest group of duma$$es on the earth.

[AUChamps]

Two things.

1. Seems like AL did a nice job of pissing away opportunities.
2. TDOT DOES NOT GET THINGS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER!:brick:
That's a lie about TDOT. Everytime I go through Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, an Interstate is under construction or being built. I'm sure it's been the same way if not moreso in Memphis.

Yes the roads in Tennessee are in a state of perpetual construction and it may take years to get an entire stretch of road upgraded(Example: I-24 from 40/440 south to Murfreesboro, they started on the bulk of that in 1997 or so and 10 years later they're still 8-laning 24 down past Murfreesboro).

But hey, I'd rather see construction that takes forever then proposals that take 25 years even before the 1st shovel is turned. TDOT and GDOT understand that, sadly ALDOT does not.

[AUChamps]

Professional sports just don't fair well in B'ham. Never have. B'ham needs to clean up their city for one. A couple of years ago B'ham was ranked as one of the top 10 worst places to live in the USA, If I'm not mistaken it was near the the top (I can't remember the magazine). I loved growing up around B'ham. I just think it needs some major work. As does Memphis. One of the other posters talked of Memphis as if it is great. Memphis sucks. I lived there for twelve years. When I moved away it was the best thing I could have ever done. If my parents did not still live there I would never go back. And if you think B'ham has corrupt politics just go to Memphis. It is run by the biggest group of duma$$es on the earth.
Wasn't Silence of the Lambs filmed in Memphis? For some reason, I always think of that movie and Hustle & Flow when I hear the words Memphis. (Or Memphrica).

[Bburton86]

That's a lie about TDOT. Everytime I go through Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville, an Interstate is under construction or being built. I'm sure it's been the same way if not moreso in Memphis.

Yes the roads in Tennessee are in a state of perpetual construction and it may take years to get an entire stretch of road upgraded(Example: I-24 from 40/440 south to Murfreesboro, they started on the bulk of that in 1997 or so and 10 years later they're still 8-laning 24 down past Murfreesboro).

But hey, I'd rather see construction that takes forever then proposals that take 25 years even before the 1st shovel is turned. TDOT and GDOT understand that, sadly ALDOT does not.

I will concede the fact that TN has a much better interstate system than AL. Whose effing idea was it to build Memorial Parkway in Hville? I hate driving on that thing. And no 65 through Hvill? That was stupid too.

[BamaDude06]

I will concede the fact that TN has a much better interstate system than AL. Whose effing idea was it to build Memorial Parkway in Hville? I hate driving on that thing. And no 65 through Hvill? That was stupid too.

The interstate system in Alabama is in large part thanks to dirty work of politicians.....again.

[AUChamps]

I will concede the fact that TN has a much better interstate system than AL. Whose effing idea was it to build Memorial Parkway in Hville? I hate driving on that thing. And no 65 through Hvill? That was stupid too.
Understand that the Parkway was built in the '50s as a reliever route to Whiteburg Drive and Meridian Street(the existing Highway 231 at the time) and in fact, the Parkway was built in something like 8 months time in 1955(Remember this was when Von Braun and the Rockets came to town and turned Huntsville into what it is today). The overpasses came later(late 60s/early 70s) and the "useless overpass" was in fact rumored to be the so-called test bridge. Then came the Drake Ave, Bob Wallace, and Clinton Ave. overpasses. It was by the 80s that the Governors Drive and University Drive overpasses were built and most recently were the Oakwood Ave, Airport Road, and Golf Road overpasses(completed in 1993). Currently the service roads have been built for the Max Luther and Sparkman Drive overpasses(to be built by 2011) and the Whitesburg/Weatherly Road overpasses(to be built by 2011 too but have been promised since I was 8 years old back in '93).

I-65 was routed the way it was in the original 1956 Interstate Highway plan crafted by Al Gore, Sr.(Yes, Al Gore's dad invented the Interstates in addition to Ike) because at the time, Huntsville was not seen to be the boomtown that it would ultimately become. Washington figured it'd taper off and be about like Oak Ridge and at the time Decatur seemed to be the big city of North Alabama. This is why I-565 would come into fruition...................being built between 1987 and October 1991.

Now, we're waiting on the Southern Bypass or Patriot Parkway to be built as a part of the Memphis-Atlanta Superhighway. They've been promising it since I was a kid, and I'll be surprised if it's built by the time I'm an old man.

[Bburton86]

Understand that the Parkway was built in the '50s as a reliever route to Whiteburg Drive and Meridian Street(the existing Highway 231 at the time) and in fact, the Parkway was built in something like 8 months time in 1955(Remember this was when Von Braun and the Rockets came to town and turned Huntsville into what it is today). The overpasses came later(late 60s/early 70s) and the "useless overpass" was in fact rumored to be the so-called test bridge. Then came the Drake Ave, Bob Wallace, and Clinton Ave. overpasses. It was by the 80s that the Governors Drive and University Drive overpasses were built and most recently were the Oakwood Ave, Airport Road, and Golf Road overpasses(completed in 1993). Currently the service roads have been built for the Max Luther and Sparkman Drive overpasses(to be built by 2011) and the Whitesburg/Weatherly Road overpasses(to be built by 2011 too but have been promised since I was 8 years old back in '93).

I-65 was routed the way it was in the original 1956 Interstate Highway plan crafted by Al Gore, Sr.(Yes, Al Gore's dad invented the Interstates in addition to Ike) because at the time, Huntsville was not seen to be the boomtown that it would ultimately become. Washington figured it'd taper off and be about like Oak Ridge and at the time Decatur seemed to be the big city of North Alabama. This is why I-565 would come into fruition...................being built between 1987 and October 1991.

Now, we're waiting on the Southern Bypass or Patriot Parkway to be built as a part of the Memphis-Atlanta Superhighway. They've been promising it since I was a kid, and I'll be surprised if it's built by the time I'm an old man.

Yeah, my grandparents used to live in Huntsville. I chilled there often. I know all the stories of why it was built but I still hate it.

[CrimsonTide12xs]

Wasn't Silence of the Lambs filmed in Memphis? For some reason, I always think of that movie and Hustle & Flow when I hear the words Memphis. (Or Memphrica).
You're right on the money with that one (Memphrica). The rudest most obnoxious people in the south live there. I know MLK was shot there but it does not mean every whitey living, or not, had something to do with it. Not trying to offend anyone, that's just the way it is there.

[sheluvsbama]

there goes your intelligence again..........you want NBA so you suppose the NBA would do better than NFL, even w/the passion we have for college football? the blazers can't fill a gym yet you believe the NBA would fare better? there are 41 home games in the NBA, and only 8 in the NFL......boy you are getting smarter by the day And you are getting naughtier!