Insider:

Hallman rejects dome delay:

Gene Hallman, head of the Bruno Event Team, said delaying a domed stadium could cause Birmingham to fall further behind rivals in competing for events.

Hallman, whose firm promotes the Magic City Classic and other sporting events, said Friday he was surprised that dome backer Rep. John Rogers is calling on the city to postpone the $530 million project until the economy improves.

"We market Birmingham every day and in many ways we are handcuffed compared to other cities in the Southeast because of our outdated facilities," Hallman said.

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, during a break in his federal bribery trial in Tuscaloosa, said Friday the attitude now exhibited by Rogers "is why we're building the dome 16 years too late."

Roy L. Williams --