Birmingham's new USL pro soccer franchise will have a home when it begins league play in 2019.

Birmingham Legion FC will play its home games at UAB following the completion of a stadium expansion by the university. The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees physical properties committee approved a $7.3 million expansion of UAB's current soccer stadium during its board meeting on Thursday. Legion FC will sign an eight-year lease with UAB after the completion of the venue. The full UA System Board of Trustees is expected to ratify the approved plan on Friday.

The new soccer stadium's grandstand will seat between 4,500 to 5,000 fans, according to the terms of the lease. Concessions and restrooms will be expanded, and alcohol will be served during games.

"It accomplishes a lot because it's right downtown and the location is perfect," Legion FC president Jay Heaps said. "The field itself is a big, beautiful soccer pitch, and as big as it gets, but with the renovations you're seeing the atmosphere is going to be absolutely perfect for professional soccer and all soccer in that regard."

The UAB men's and women's soccer teams will also use the facility. American collegiate and pro soccer seasons do not overlap.

Momentum is growing rapidly for Legion FC, which announced the hiring of Heaps on Feb.1. A former coach and player in Major League Soccer, Heaps has given Birmingham's new expansion franchise instant credibility. Plans for the new stadium attracted Heaps to Birmingham.

"For us, it starts to capture that pride of where we're playing, but also the passion because it's going to be right on the field, and there is going to be a lot of action, and they're going to be able to see the players up close," Heaps said.

Legion FC will pay UAB $350,000 per year for the lease. Legion FC can opt out of the lease after five years for $1,050,000. The stadium's new grandstand will be located on the southside of the field.