In two years, the biggest names in music could be performing at the new Star Amphitheater in Birmingham’s Uptown entertainment district, just north of Protective Stadium, with a view of the city skyline.

The Birmingham City Council voted today to finalize its support for a proposed 9,000-seat amphitheater in the Druid Hills neighborhood in the North Birmingham area.

The council had already approved $5 million in city funding for the $50 million project earlier this year, but on Tuesday the council signed off on a funding agreement with the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority to pay a portion of the principal and interest on the authority’s revenue bonds, Series 2023A, to be issued by the authority to finance the construction of the open-air amphitheater on 25th Street North adjacent to The Star development on the 50-acre former campus of the now demolished Carraway Hospital.

The amphitheater, expected to be completed in 2025, will be owned by the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex and will be managed by Live Nation, which currently operates Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham. Once the Birmingham amphitheater is built, Live Nation plans to shutter Oak Mountain Amphitheatre and book its regional concerts for the downtown Birmingham venue.

“We have really put Birmingham on the map (for major concerts),” Council member Crystal Smitherman said. “I think the seats will be better than the Pelham amphitheater.”

The Uptown amphitheater is expected to host a minimum of 17 to 19 concerts a year, beginning as soon as 2025.

The amphitheater will complement the Uptown entertainment district that already features the new Protective Stadium, a refurbished BJCC Legacy Arena, TopGolf, the Westin and Sheraton hotels and a variety of restaurants.

Corporate Realty plans to turn the former hospital campus into a $300 million-plus multi-use development with office, retail, entertainment, hotel and residential space in north Birmingham.

Birmingham, Jefferson County, the BJCC and Live Nation will all make $5 million upfront financial contributions to lower the amount the BJCC must finance for the amphitheater’s construction from $50 million to $30 million.

“The amphitheater will bring a new asset to the city and will allow us to attract new entertainment opportunities for our residents to enjoy,” said Tad Snider, the CEO of the BJCC. “We appreciate the City Council’s support, and we look forward to working with the city and all the other partners as we complete the remaining steps to allow this project to move forward.”

The amphitheater will be a component of the Star Uptown redevelopment of the former Carraway campus.

Snider said the next step is finalizing the financing and the agreement with Live Nation. The bonds will be repaid by the BJCC over 30 years, using proceeds from the amphitheater’s operation as well as a portion of lodging taxes generated by the BJCC’s hotels. The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, which had previously received those lodging taxes, agreed to allow the BJCC to keep those funds to support the amphitheater project.

In addition to its $5 million upfront contribution to the project, the BJCC has committed to cover any construction cost overruns and to rehabilitate parking decks on the Carraway property. If proceeds in any year are insufficient to cover the amphitheater debt, the BJCC also has committed to cover those shortfalls.

“This deal is structured to make sure the city and county have no ongoing financial obligations for the amphitheater,” Snider said. “We’re talking about one upfront payment only, and ultimately, we will pay the city approximately $1.3 million for building permits and other fees, bringing the city’s net contribution below $4 million.”

Council member Darrell O’Quinn emphasized the importance of the four parking decks that have sat unused on the Carraway campus for years.

When redeveloped, those four parking decks will provide 3,000 parking spaces for amphitheater concerts and other events at Uptown, he said. “Getting those parking facilities up and running is a vitally important part of getting this up and running,” O’Quinn said.

Council member Valerie Abbott, who was the only vote against the project, said residents in Druid Hills and Norwood will bear the brunt of overflow parking. “A lot of people don’t want to park in a deck,” she said. “They would love to park in front of your house.”

Snider told AL.com after the meeting that the parking decks have been studied for structural integrity and will be renovated to meet the parking needs of the amphitheater, in addition to other BJCC parking in the area.

“They’re part of the parking plan,” Snider said. “They have to be.”

See also: Birmingham approves funding for Uptown amphitheater

Jefferson County approves $5 million towards building Uptown amphitheater

Carraway Star development includes building new houses north of planned amphitheater

First building goes down as demolition at Carraway progresses

State tourism to give CVB $3 million to support $50 million amphitheater at Carraway

Birmingham approves $3.7 million to complete Carraway demolition