Big changes coming to Bryant-Denny Stadium for 2022 football season

Even the people who organize Alabama football game day operations say they eagerly anticipate the beginning of the 2022 season Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

For Nick Frenz, the University of Alabama's associate director for Event Management and Transportation Services, the first game represents a measuring stick showing how well organizers have prepared for the influx of thousands of fans and what they need to improve on.

"That first game, there's always hiccups and things you didn't foresee happening that you have to adjust for," Frenz said Tuesday during a news conference highlighting changes coming this season to Bryant-Denny Stadium, such as the sale of alcohol inside the stadium.

"Thankfully, we've got a game (on) Labor Day weekend. And then we've got a week off where ... if there's something that does come up, we got 14 days to make adjustments before the next one," Frenz said referring to UA's next home game against Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 17.

Greg Byrne, UA's athletic director, said in his "Byrne Notice" email message to Alabama supporters that he's looking forward to seeing the stadium bathed in crimson lights again.

"A night game means we will be able to fire up the lights early on this year, which we are very excited about," Byrne said referring to the LED lights that were installed before the 2019 season.

Byrne also pointed out that some tickets were available through rolltide.com, beginning at $25 for the game against Utah State, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Gates will open at 4.

Frenz said the other major changes that UA fans need to be aware of this season include improvements in security and parking, along with going to cash-free transactions for purchases made inside the stadium.

But the biggest change will be that for the first time in campus history, fans will be able to buy beer and wine inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Frenz said one potential benefit of this change is that the availability of alcohol at the game could discourage fans from overindulging before they enter the stadium, which in turn could decrease the number of alcohol-related illnesses and injuries on game days.

Alcohol sales will not be permitted after the end of the third quarter, Frenz said, and UA officials have reminded fans that they will need identification proving they are 21 or older to buy beer or wine.

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Also, for the first time, the stadium will be going cashless and all transactions will be conducted with credit or debit cards. This transition will allow for quicker transactions and shorter waiting times for fans in line, Frenz said.

Another major change will concern parking. Disability parking will be moved from the Campus Drive parking deck to the Tutwiler parking deck on the south end of the stadium. Although this change will allow fans to park closer to the stadium, spots are limited, so fans are encouraged to plan ahead, Frenz said.

"Some of that accessible parking is more limited this year ... there (is the) potential to sell out. So I advise everybody to make plans ahead of time, purchase your parking ahead of time," Frenz said. More information about purchasing parking spots can be found at uagameday.com.

Frenz said game day traffic could be improved for fans who will be traveling from out of town because the construction on the Interstate 20/59 has been completed. Fans should also be aware of ongoing construction at Jack Warner Parkway near the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater and on U.S. 82 in Northport.

In addition to parking, security measures have been upgraded to allow for more efficient screenings and better mobility for fans around the stadium. Several metal detectors on Wallace Wade Avenue were removed and spread out between the north and the south end of the stadium.

Frenz said this change will allow for fewer entry points on the west side of the stadium and provide more room for fans to maneuver around the stadium.

After a couple of seasons affected by COVID-19, Frenz said that masks will remain optional inside of the stadium this year.

Frenz said he and his team will continue to make adjustments throughout the season, as needed.

After Utah State on Saturday and Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 17, the rest of UA's home schedule looks like this: Vanderbilt on Sept. 24, Texas A&M on Oct. 8, Mississippi State on Oct. 22, Austin Peay on Nov. 19 and Auburn on Nov. 26.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Big changes coming to Bryant-Denny stadium for 2022 football season