Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
While specific details for Christmas events for kids are not provided in these reviews, the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), particularly Legacy Arena, is noted for its capacity to host large-scale events with generally efficient entry/exit processes and good internal amenities like plentiful restrooms and comfortable seating. It offers a secure environment with visible police presence. However, potential visitors should be prepared for significant parking challenges and some inconsistencies in service quality, such as restroom stocking and food wait times.
Key Highlights
- ✓Generally smooth and quick entry and exit processes for large events.
- ✓Plentiful and conveniently located restrooms that are often well-maintained and stocked (though not always consistently).
- ✓Comfortable seating without feeling crowded in Legacy Arena.
- ✓Strong security presence with police everywhere, contributing to a safe feeling.
- ✓Good overall event setup for varied events like Supercross, indicating capability to host diverse experiences.
Standout Features
- ⭐Efficient crowd management for entry and exit, facilitating quick movement.
- ⭐Numerous concession options (though wait times vary).
- ⭐Generally clean and well-stocked restrooms.
- ⭐The presence of food trucks at some events helps alleviate long food lines and adds variety.
- ⭐High visibility of police ensures a sense of safety and security.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Anticipate parking difficulties: if driving, allow ample extra time to navigate parking lots, find available spaces, and potentially deal with confusing directions or blocked entrances.
- →Verify parking payments: if paying for parking online, be prepared to re-present your confirmation or potentially re-pay if staff at the lot are not coordinated.
- →Consider food options: be prepared for potentially long waits for concessions, or look for food trucks if available, which can offer quicker service. If outside food is permitted for the specific event, bringing snacks might be wise.
- →Check specific event details: restroom and sound quality can vary; it's advisable to check recent reviews for the specific event you plan to attend if possible.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Significant and consistent parking issues, including difficulty finding spots, inaccurate Google Maps directions leading to blocked entrances, lack of staff guidance in lots, and instances of being double-charged for pre-paid parking.
- ⚠Inconsistent food service: some reviews report long waits (1 hour or more) for food options, despite some positive mentions of food quality.
- ⚠Inconsistent restroom maintenance: one review noted a lack of soap and hand towels not long after an event began.
- ⚠Variable sound system quality: one concert review reported mediocre sound with bass overwhelming vocals, suggesting potential technical or engineering issues.
Price & Value
No specific pricing information is provided for Christmas events, food, or general admission. The value is impacted negatively by the reported parking issues (e.g., being charged twice) and inconsistent service quality (e.g., missing restroom supplies), which detract from the overall experience despite good core venue features.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in these reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Concessions are available with multiple options. Some events have seen long wait times for food (1+ hour), though food trucks have been brought in to help. The quality of food is generally positive. No explicit policy on outside food is mentioned.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking is a major concern. Issues reported include: difficulty finding spaces, Google Maps directing to blocked entrances, lack of staff guidance in lots, and staff insisting on re-payment despite online pre-payment and confirmation. Preferred parking passes did not guarantee a smooth experience. Allow considerable extra time for parking.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Entry and exit for large events are generally smooth and quick, suggesting efficient internal crowd management. However, external logistics, particularly parking, can be chaotic and crowded.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Police presence is highly visible throughout the venue, making visitors feel safe.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you have low tolerance for significant parking stress, including potential double-charging or confusing lot navigation.
- • If you are attending an event where consistently perfect sound quality is paramount, as reviews indicate variability.
- • If you expect consistently pristine and fully stocked restrooms throughout an entire event, as occasional lapses have been noted.
- • If your children are sensitive to long waits for food or specific amenities, as these can be inconsistent.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Jurassic Quest
October 03 - 05
Not specified, "View Detail" for info
North America’s largest and most realistic traveling dinosaur experience, bringing prehistoric adventures to life! Get up close with true-to-size dinosaurs, including a 60-foot Spinosaurus, an 80-foot Apatosaurus, and a life-size T. rex. Train raptors, meet adorable baby dinos, and enjoy walking and stationary dinosaur rides—some of the largest in the country!
Alabama Symphony Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ in Concert
October 10 - 12
Not specified, "View Detail" for info
Experience the magic of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ like never before as the Alabama Symphony Orchestra performs the score live while the full film plays on a giant screen. Watch Harry and his friends face dark forces and form Dumbledore’s Army in this unforgettable cinematic concert experience. Perfect for fans of…
MasterChef All-Stars Live!
October 15, 7:30 pm
Not specified, "View Detail" for info
Get ready for the ultimate live cooking showdown! Fan-favorite MasterChef contestants go head-to-head in high-energy, timed challenges filled with intense competition, audience participation, and jaw-dropping creations—LIVE on stage! Expect surprise twists, special guests, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world’s most famous cooking competition. Plus, YOU could join the action—tasting dishes, helping decide the winner, or…
🍎Food Policy
- • Guests can indulge in a variety of delicious food and beverage options on campus before or after an event.
- • Menu selection for Arena Club varies based on event, including light hors d’oeuvres or a full meal spread. Select experiences also include one or two complimentary alcoholic beverages.
- • Food in the Arena Club is available until the headliner takes the stage. Last call for alcohol in Arena Club is 30 minutes prior to the scheduled end of show.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Bag Policy: Venues (Legacy Arena, BJCC Concert Hall/Theatre, general campus) have a bag policy; details not specified but mentioned to ensure hassle-free entry.
- • Prohibited Items: Mentioned in conjunction with Bag Policy; details not specified.
- • Security: Requirements vary based upon projected attendance, presence of alcohol. Event Manager confirms exact security requirements.
📅Booking Policy
- • For venue rentals, all prospective clients must complete and submit a booking application before dates can be held or booked.
- • A sales representative assists in selecting a space and provides a quote.
- • Rental process is complete once contract is signed and deposit is paid.
- • BJCC requires a 100% rental deposit to confirm event space and date for venue rentals.
- • When box office receipts are not anticipated to cover expenses, full payment of expenses prior to the event is required.
- • Ticketmaster is the exclusive ticketing company for the BJCC; no other third-party ticketing can be used.
- • All ticket sales are subject to service fees, convenience fees, and/or facility fees.
- • A 10% fee in lieu of sales tax is collected at settlement by the BJCC on all ticket sales and merchandise sales.
🚗Parking Information
- • Detailed directions and information on parking options are available for venues (Legacy Arena, BJCC Concert Hall/Theatre) and general visits. Specific costs or types of parking are not detailed.
What People Say
What's Great
- Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Barbara Praytor
2 weeks agoLegacy Arena is my favorite venue for large concerts. Entry and exit goes smoothly and quickly. There are plenty of concession options. Restrooms are plentiful, well maintained, and conveniently located. The seats are comfortable, without feeling crowded. The lighting and sound systems provide an excellent experience.
Toby Ledbetter
3 weeks agoGreat setup for pits, track and vendors. Would be nice to have a few more options to eat, most places there have 1hr or better wait. Great food tho, a few food trucks did help out this year. Awesome event, my son loves it and so do I. Hope they come back, we lived the Supercross!
Keundra Taylor
3 weeks agoFor March Madness, I really enjoyed the venue! The only downside was the parking situation, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I paid for parking online, but the staff at the lot insisted I hadn’t and made me pay again, even after I showed them my confirmation. I didn’t have time to argue with them, so I just paid the extra fee. Other than that, it was a great experience—there was police everywhere, so I felt safe. I’d definitely go again!
Tonya Novalis
2 weeks agoEvery concert I have been to here has been awesome. Easy to access, plenty of places for snacks without too long of a wait, plenty of restrooms, cleaned and stocked.
Gary R
2 weeks agoRoom for improvement here folks. Parking was a mess, even with a preferred parking pass. The address of the lot (Google Maps) coincided with a blocked entrance so after waiting in traffic to get there, we had to make another lap and thankfully we picked the correct side to try. The lot could use some leadership to guide vehicles in to available spaces...cars just driving around trying to find a space. Smoking is not allowed and apparently neither is soap and hand towels in the restrooms. This was not long after the event began. No excuses here. The sound system for the concert was mediocre and this may have as much to do with the sound engineer as the equipment itself. The bass overwhelmed the vocals, very frustrating.
Contact Information
2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203, USA
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