CVB approves lodging tax agreement with BJCC, first step in plans for $50 million amphitheater
Cue the musicians. Well, almost.
After more than a week of negotiations, arm-twisting, and frustration, the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Board of Directors, approved an agreement with the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC) that jumpstarts plans to build a $50 million, 9,000-seat amphitheater to anchor The Star at Uptown, the $300 mixed-use development on the former Carraway Hospital campus in North Birmingham.
A resolution on the agreement, with contingencies, was approved unanimously, with two abstentions.
The CVB will relinquish lodging taxes from the Sheraton and Westin provided to it by the BJCC under an earmark agreement conceived after state lawmakers passed legislation in 2003 allowing the BJCC to capture payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) from the Sheraton to fund capital investments that support entertainment tourism. (The Westin did not exist then.)
Related: $50 million amphitheater at Carraway will replace Oak Mountain; what it may look like
The earmark represents one percent of taxes now received from the Sheraton and Westin and would partially fund the projected $2 million annual debt service; the remaining amount would be covered by amphitheater revenues, based on Live Nation’s estimates.
The agreement has three contingencies:
* Approval of $3 million from the state to ”bridge the loss of PILOTS”, said CVB President/CEO John Oros. (According to board member state Sen. Jabo Waggoner, state tourism director Lee Sentell will meet with Gov. Kay Ivey’s chief of staff Tuesday to recommend payment of $1 million per year for three years to the CVB
* Forgiveness of $800,000 owed to the BJCC for the remaining eight years of a 10-year agreement to purchase a suite at Projective Stadium.
* Payment of $450,000 annually to the CVB by the BJCC starting in 2031, with a credit applied if lodging taxes received from hotels built within 1.5 miles of the amphitheater exceed that amount.
“Lodging tax dollars paid by visitors that go into infrastructure is a good investment for the community,” Oros said. “This project will attract a lot of out-of-town v to our hotel rooms These kinds of dollars are good investments not just for visitors but our residents. [Our contribution] is a great piece but not the final piece to make us the best destination, but it’s a start.”
“The oven is preheating,” said City Councilor and Board member Hunter Williams. “It’s not in the oven yet.”
Now, the plan must go before the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County Commission for construction funding. At a pre-meeting last week, Commission president Jimmie Stephens said the JCC, Birmingham, the BJCC, and Live Nation would each make a one-time $5 million contribution for a $20 million paydown. The BJCC would borrow $30 million over 30 years to fund the remaining construction costs.
The JCC could consider its commitment as soon as next week. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, who favors the project, must present the proposal to the city council before it will consider funding.
“It’s got to pass both,” Williams said.
Related: Proposed $50-million amphitheater tests regional cooperation
According to projections provided to the commissioners last week, the hotel at Carraway could produce “an additional $240,000-$270,000 per year in lodging tax revenues to the VB based on an average 70% occupancy and $189.00 [average daily rate].
The venue would be owned by the BJCC and managed by Live Nation, the global entertainment giant that owns Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham. According to a document presented to the JCC last week, the Carraway amphitheater would replace Oak Mountain. Live Nation will book performances for the venue next year, it stated last week after details for the Birmingham venue were revealed but wouldn’t commit beyond 2023.
Although the document noted the company would sell Oak Mountain, Live Nation said last week it is “still evaluating the future of the venue”.
“Live Nation enjoys bringing shows to music fans in the greater Birmingham area. Birmingham is a vibrant live entertainment destination and that is why we are exploring additional opportunities in the region,” the company said in the statement. “We are appreciative of the great partnership we have with the City of Pelham.”
Greg Garrison contributed to this report.