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Birmingham Legion FC kicks off the 2020 USL Championship season on Wednesday vs. regional rival Memphis 901 FC at 7pm. BBVA Field will be open at limited capacity, and in order to adhere to social distancing protocols in place at the stadium, a new section has been added for fans looking to purchase single game tickets.

The Berm, the grassy area on the west side of the stadium, beneath the videoboard, will now accommodate fans that would like to sit in the grass, or at a field table, with their family or friends, in a group of four. Fans who purchase tickets in this section will be permitted to bring blankets for sitting on the grass. 

Tickets for this new section can be purchased HERE, and anyone with questions regarding ticketing or the club's return to play can either call 205-791-7145 or email tickets@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion. All of Legion FC's Health and Safety protocols can be found on the Return to Play page. 

Birmingham Legion FC kicks off the 2020 USL Championship season on Wednesday vs. regional rival Memphis 901 FC at 7pm. BBVA Field will be open at limited capacity, and in order to adhere to social distancing protocols in place at the stadium, a new section has been added for fans looking to purchase single game tickets.

The Berm, the grassy area on the west side of the stadium, beneath the videoboard, will now accommodate fans that would like to sit in the grass, or at a field table, with their family or friends, in a group of four. Fans who purchase tickets in this section will be permitted to bring blankets for sitting on the grass. 

Tickets for this new section can be purchased HERE, and anyone with questions regarding ticketing or the club’s return to play can either call 205-791-7145 or email tickets@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion. All of Legion FC’s Health and Safety protocols can be found on the Return to Play page. 

BIRMINGHAM, AL (July 10, 2020) – Birmingham Legion FC announced today that defender Johannes Bergmann has retired.

“We want to thank Johannes for his time with the club,” said Legion FC President/GM Jay Heaps. “This was a difficult personal decision for Johannes, but we support him fully and wish him nothing but the best.”

Bergmann signed with Legion FC on February 14 after enjoying a standout collegiate career at Maryland, where he was a vital member of the 2018 National Championship team.

BIRMINGHAM, AL (July 10, 2020) – Birmingham Legion FC announced today that defender Johannes Bergmann has retired.

“We want to thank Johannes for his time with the club,” said Legion FC President/GM Jay Heaps. “This was a difficult personal decision for Johannes, but we support him fully and wish him nothing but the best.”

Bergmann signed with Legion FC on February 14 after enjoying a standout collegiate career at Maryland, where he was a vital member of the 2018 National Championship team.

BIRMINGHAM, AL (July 10, 2020) – Birmingham Legion FC’s now nine-month wait to kickoff the 2020 USL Championship season is, finally, about to come to an end, as the club is set to face regional rival Memphis 901 FC at home next Wednesday night, July 15, on ESPN2.

All Legion FC season ticket holders will have access to home matches at BBVA Field this season, and a small number of single game tickets will be available for each contest. Months of preparation have gone into the stadium’s reopening in order to adhere to federal, state and local safety guidelines. Fans will need to wear a mask and seating will be socially distant. Please find all Health and Safety Protocols HERE.

“The health and safety of our fans is our top priority as we return to play this season,” said Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps. “Taking all necessary precautions in order to mitigate as much risk as possible to play at BBVA Field in our local community, in front of our fans, was vital, and we look forward to safely playing again for Birmingham.”

“Everything started at the federal level and the CDC, who provided some great resources in order to allow facility operators to try and figure out how to do this, what worked and what didn’t work as far as hand sanitizers vs surface sanitizers, things like that,” said Legion FC VP of Stadium Operations Jason Coleman. “From there it was working with the state health officer to comply with the state orders, and to the county health officer to maintain what they felt was the safest possible environment.

“We then worked a lot with the city, who also wanted to make sure that we were doing things like complying with the mask ordinance that the city of Birmingham has been out in front of. Everyone along the way has been very supportive of the club and the desire to allow us to get to return to play, as long as we were willing to do the things necessary to maintain a safer stadium and keep our fans as safe as we could.

“The important part now is the buy in from the fans. Fans need to realize we’re doing everything we can to help stop the spread in the stadium. We need them to be responsible and mindful of social distancing and to wear masks, so that we can continue to have fans in attendance and to keep our players and fans safe while giving everyone a chance to enjoy the game.”

Health and Safety Protocols:
–  Stadium capacity will be limited but able to accommodate all Legion FC season ticket holders.
–  Legion FC has developed a socially distant seating plan for the 2020 season that provides for a minimum of six feet of distance between groups of fans attending matches together (i.e. families), including areas previously designated as General Admission.
–  Sanitizer stations will be positioned throughout the stadium to provide CDC-approved alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
–  Prior to, and during the match, restrooms and other high traffic areas and fan contact areas like concessions counters and grandstand railings will be regularly sprayed and wiped with CDC-approved alcohol-based sanitizer. 
–  Fans will be required to wear face masks upon entering the stadium, and Legion FC branded face masks are available HERE. Fans will be instructed to wear masks at all times when not seated in their assigned seat.
–  All staff will be required to wear masks, adhere to social distancing, and must pass a temperature check and health screening before entering the stadium on matchday.
–  BBVA Field will be a “cashless” environment for the 2020 season.

A select number of single game tickets for the match have been made available. Get yours today! If you have any questions regarding our return to play, please email tickets@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion or info@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion. Hammer Down!

BIRMINGHAM, AL (July 10, 2020) – Birmingham Legion FC’s now nine-month wait to kickoff the 2020 USL Championship season is, finally, about to come to an end, as the club is set to face regional rival Memphis 901 FC at home next Wednesday night, July 15, on ESPN2.

All Legion FC season ticket holders will have access to home matches at BBVA Field this season, and a small number of single game tickets will be available for each contest. Months of preparation have gone into the stadium’s reopening in order to adhere to federal, state and local safety guidelines. Fans will need to wear a mask and seating will be socially distant. Please find all Health and Safety Protocols HERE.

“The health and safety of our fans is our top priority as we return to play this season,” said Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps. “Taking all necessary precautions in order to mitigate as much risk as possible to play at BBVA Field in our local community, in front of our fans, was vital, and we look forward to safely playing again for Birmingham.”

“Everything started at the federal level and the CDC, who provided some great resources in order to allow facility operators to try and figure out how to do this, what worked and what didn’t work as far as hand sanitizers vs surface sanitizers, things like that,” said Legion FC VP of Stadium Operations Jason Coleman. “From there it was working with the state health officer to comply with the state orders, and to the county health officer to maintain what they felt was the safest possible environment.

“We then worked a lot with the city, who also wanted to make sure that we were doing things like complying with the mask ordinance that the city of Birmingham has been out in front of. Everyone along the way has been very supportive of the club and the desire to allow us to get to return to play, as long as we were willing to do the things necessary to maintain a safer stadium and keep our fans as safe as we could.

“The important part now is the buy in from the fans. Fans need to realize we’re doing everything we can to help stop the spread in the stadium. We need them to be responsible and mindful of social distancing and to wear masks, so that we can continue to have fans in attendance and to keep our players and fans safe while giving everyone a chance to enjoy the game.”

Health and Safety Protocols:
–  Stadium capacity will be limited but able to accommodate all Legion FC season ticket holders.
–  Legion FC has developed a socially distant seating plan for the 2020 season that provides for a minimum of six feet of distance between groups of fans attending matches together (i.e. families), including areas previously designated as General Admission.
–  Sanitizer stations will be positioned throughout the stadium to provide CDC-approved alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
–  Prior to, and during the match, restrooms and other high traffic areas and fan contact areas like concessions counters and grandstand railings will be regularly sprayed and wiped with CDC-approved alcohol-based sanitizer. 
–  Fans will be required to wear face masks upon entering the stadium, and Legion FC branded face masks are available HERE. Fans will be instructed to wear masks at all times when not seated in their assigned seat.
–  All staff will be required to wear masks, adhere to social distancing, and must pass a temperature check and health screening before entering the stadium on matchday.
–  BBVA Field will be a “cashless” environment for the 2020 season.

A select number of single game tickets for the match have been made available. Get yours today! If you have any questions regarding our return to play, please email tickets@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion or info@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/bhmlegion. Hammer Down!

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Since they arrived together seven years ago as freshmen at the University of Maryland, the friendship between current U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Zack Steffen and Birmingham Legion FC center back Alex Crognale has been a close one.

“We were both one of six or seven in our freshman class,” said Crognale recently, “and with our positions so close to each other, we had similar interests, similar personalities, so we just kind of meshed from the beginning and our relationship has just grown since Maryland.”

In what may be the most important endeavor of their friendship to date, the pair launched last Tuesday a new platform called Voyce where people and athletes can talk about their experiences with systemic racism both domestic and abroad. The pair hope that the platform will not only move the conversation forward but also facilitate the lasting change that both Steffen and Crognale believe has been needed for some time.

“It’s a movement that Zack and I decided to embark upon because, myself, I’ve grown up as a white American with the privilege that I don’t have fear when I leave my house,” said Crognale of the idea behind the new initiative. “To think my best friend who I’ve known for seven years now – we went to school together, we played professional together, we’ve always been in touch – to think that he could leave his house doing the exact same things that I’m doing but he might not make it home, that fact scares me.

“That’s my brother, so I’m going to do everything I can to fight with him.”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Since they arrived together seven years ago as freshmen at the University of Maryland, the friendship between current U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Zack Steffen and Birmingham Legion FC center back Alex Crognale has been a close one.

“We were both one of six or seven in our freshman class,” said Crognale recently, “and with our positions so close to each other, we had similar interests, similar personalities, so we just kind of meshed from the beginning and our relationship has just grown since Maryland.”

In what may be the most important endeavor of their friendship to date, the pair launched last Tuesday a new platform called Voyce where people and athletes can talk about their experiences with systemic racism both domestic and abroad. The pair hope that the platform will not only move the conversation forward but also facilitate the lasting change that both Steffen and Crognale believe has been needed for some time.

“It’s a movement that Zack and I decided to embark upon because, myself, I’ve grown up as a white American with the privilege that I don’t have fear when I leave my house,” said Crognale of the idea behind the new initiative. “To think my best friend who I’ve known for seven years now – we went to school together, we played professional together, we’ve always been in touch – to think that he could leave his house doing the exact same things that I’m doing but he might not make it home, that fact scares me.

“That’s my brother, so I’m going to do everything I can to fight with him.”

Among all of the connections that have brought these voices together, though, one the biggest threads is the tie back to the University of Maryland’s Men’s Soccer program. In addition to Steffen and Crognale, other former Terrapins were among the first to jump on board, with current Toronto FC center back Omar Gonzalez and Minnesota United FC goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair being joined by current Championship players Sebastian Elney of the New York Red Bulls II and Andrew Samuels of RGVFC.

For Elney, the atmosphere he found at Maryland – where Steffen was the host for his official recruiting visit – was the reason he decided to become a Terrapin for his college career.

“The best way to sum it up is it’s a brotherhood that just goes on from generation to generation,” said Elney. “When I went to Maryland and stepped inside the locker room, I’d say it’s what made me want to commit and become a Terp. Just seeing the love and the culture the guys had for each other and the individuals and the characters were just spoke a lot to me.”

Among all of the connections that have brought these voices together, though, one the biggest threads is the tie back to the University of Maryland’s Men’s Soccer program. In addition to Steffen and Crognale, other former Terrapins were among the first to jump on board, with current Toronto FC center back Omar Gonzalez and Minnesota United FC goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair being joined by current Championship players Sebastian Elney of the New York Red Bulls II and Andrew Samuels of RGVFC.

For Elney, the atmosphere he found at Maryland – where Steffen was the host for his official recruiting visit – was the reason he decided to become a Terrapin for his college career.

“The best way to sum it up is it’s a brotherhood that just goes on from generation to generation,” said Elney. “When I went to Maryland and stepped inside the locker room, I’d say it’s what made me want to commit and become a Terp. Just seeing the love and the culture the guys had for each other and the individuals and the characters were just spoke a lot to me.”

The current climate of civil protest is also seeing current teammates of both Crognale and Elney throw their support behind the initiative. For Elney in particular, seeing Red Bulls II teammates Preston Kilwien and Wallis Lapsley add their support as allies was notable.

“I’d say it’s bigger than soccer, in a way, and it goes for who those guys are, it goes to their character, their personalities and who they are,” said Elney. “You’re only on the field for so long, so who you are off the field means a lot.”

For Voyce to succeed, however, ongoing support is going to be essential. The more support it receives, the more chance of achieving its ultimate goal of helping guide a better path to the future. Its initial move last week was to establish a GoFundMe fundraiser to aid small business that were affected by recent civil protests around the country, which has currently raised more than $40,000. A website is also being planned, where people can tell their stories beyond the group’s social media platform.

For Crognale and Elney, though, while the conversation around the issues of systemic racism and police brutality has felt very different to the previous instances at which the topics were raised in America, there is still a very long way to go for everyone.

“I think this is still an uphill battle and it’s one that I hope people can see a change needs to occur,” said Crognale. “So, the more support we get, the more participation, the better. I’m going to continue to speak on it and continue to voice my opinions on the matter because I think it’s really important it’s not just African-Americans speaking about what they’ve experienced. I don’t have the same experiences from my background, but I want to be a part of the change. I want to be on their side of this going forward.”

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READ MORE: "Get to know Legion FC's new #21, Alex Crognale"

The current climate of civil protest is also seeing current teammates of both Crognale and Elney throw their support behind the initiative. For Elney in particular, seeing Red Bulls II teammates Preston Kilwien and Wallis Lapsley add their support as allies was notable.

“I’d say it’s bigger than soccer, in a way, and it goes for who those guys are, it goes to their character, their personalities and who they are,” said Elney. “You’re only on the field for so long, so who you are off the field means a lot.”

For Voyce to succeed, however, ongoing support is going to be essential. The more support it receives, the more chance of achieving its ultimate goal of helping guide a better path to the future. Its initial move last week was to establish a GoFundMe fundraiser to aid small business that were affected by recent civil protests around the country, which has currently raised more than $40,000. A website is also being planned, where people can tell their stories beyond the group’s social media platform.

For Crognale and Elney, though, while the conversation around the issues of systemic racism and police brutality has felt very different to the previous instances at which the topics were raised in America, there is still a very long way to go for everyone.

“I think this is still an uphill battle and it’s one that I hope people can see a change needs to occur,” said Crognale. “So, the more support we get, the more participation, the better. I’m going to continue to speak on it and continue to voice my opinions on the matter because I think it’s really important it’s not just African-Americans speaking about what they’ve experienced. I don’t have the same experiences from my background, but I want to be a part of the change. I want to be on their side of this going forward.”

—

READ MORE: “Get to know Legion FC’s new #21, Alex Crognale”