By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – The Jefferson County Commission decided Thursday to proceed with an independent study on the expansion needs of the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. The study will include focus groups to gauge public interest in the expansion and in the resulting domed stadium. The commission plans to vote in March on whether it will formally commit $10 million a year for 35 years to the project. Meanwhile, State Representative John Rogers says he'll introduce a bill to force county funding if the commission decides not to provide the money. Rogers says all bonds will be sold, and all funding will be in place in time to break ground in March on the new BJCC.