Seeking to diversify the offerings at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, the local city council pledged $352,000 in additional facility improvements, including a big electrical-system upgraded needed to attract big-time musical tours.
All in all, the city has authorized $1.5 million in ballpark upgrades since the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) moved to a new downtown ballpark.
The former Regions Park is now used for a variety of events, some related to baseball (like the upcoming SEC Baseball Tournament), many not. The current round of spending is designed to upgrade the ballpark electrical system to allow big outdoor concerts to be held at the ballpark. From al.com:
The biggest of 28 line item expenses approved tonight was $70,000 for upgrading the electrical system capacity at the Hoover Met so the facility can be used for high-powered concerts.
Hoover officials are hoping to lure some “A-list” concert acts similar to those that appear at the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham, Hoover Assistant Executive Director Tim Westhoven said.
However, in talks with concert and event promoters, the subject that always comes up is the electrical capacity at the Met, Westhoven said.
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