What to know about traffic in Montgomery as Camellia Bowl nears
The 2022 Camellia Bowl is almost here. Both the Georgia Southern Eagles and the Buffalo Bulls will be rolling into Montgomery on Friday, and bringing many of their fans with them ahead of Tuesday’s big 11 a.m. game between returning champions.
Georgia Southern won Camellia Bowl in 2018, and Buffalo won in 2020. Tuesday will be the 9th Camellia Bowl since it began in 2014.
"It's the earliest kickoff that we've had so far," said Clay Norrell, assistant executive director for Camellia Bowl. "We're excited about it. Once you move after Christmas, you start moving with the big boys."
Along with the spotlight a televised college football bowl game brings the city — plus the benefits of visitors for hotels, restaurants, bars and shopping — there are some challenges for the hometown crowd.
"This is the first year we’ve played during the week and during a work day," said Barry Allen, media director for Camellia Bowl.
Here’s what you'll need to know:
There will be road closures around Cramton Bowl on Monday and Tuesday. Detours will be in place. But if you don’t have to go that way, please don’t.
On Monday, the Union Station Train Shed, 210 Water St., will be transformed into a pep rally station for both teams. Georgia Southern’s begins at 6 p.m., and Buffalo’s is at 6:45 p.m. This is your chance to see the teams and visit with fans up close.
Tickets to Tuesday’s game are available online through camelliabowl.com. They're $30 for reserved tickets. North End Zone hospitality field suite tickets are $100, with tailgate food, drinks limited field access and premium parking. ESPN Zone tickets are $150, with premium food, drinks, limited field access, a reserved ticket, and premium parking.
If you really want to treat yourself and 49 others to the works, you can get an ESPN Zone private suite for only $7,500. Norrell said they've had several groups take them up on the indoor suites, away from the chilly outdoors.
Gates to Cramton Bowl will open at 9 a.m.
There is no free public parking at the designated Camellia Bowl lots this year. Unless you have a parking pass from one of the ticket packages, it costs $20 to park in available lots: the lot directly across from the stadium (Lot J), Patterson Field (Lot K), and Lots E and F to the right of Cramton Bowl. Enter Lots J and K through Upper Wetumpka Road.
Pop up tailgating is only available in Lot E. Spaces are $20. Call EATSouth at 334-422-9331.
For those with RVs, Montgomery has a designated RV lot (Lot C) behind Lot E. It's $50 with power, $40 without. 334-409-1323.
Paterson Field's parking lot is going to be mixed use. According to Norrell, along with parking it is being used for Fan Fest activities, with alumni tailgating and a DJ.
Norrell said Montgomery has worked with Alabama agencies to provide parking elsewhere for state employees who usually park in the lots Camellia Bowl is using.
The kickoff is 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cramton Bowl, putting the game in the middle of lunch time for many. If you work near Cramton Bowl, it might be a good idea to bring your lunch that day, rather than getting out into traffic or ordering food that requires a delivery person to make their way through it. Or you could walk over, get a ticket, and enjoy an hour or so munching on concessions at the stadium.
For those who aren’t going to the game in person, it will be shown live on ESPN.
Road closures around the Camellia Bowl
Things are going to get a little complicated in Montgomery on Monday and Tuesday. With Christmas over, many will be going back to work.
"We're hoping that a lot of people are still going to be out of work still, and that they and their kids can come out," Norrell said.
But if your usual route or parking spaces are anywhere around Cramton Bowl, you’re going to have to make some big adjustments.
According to the Montgomery Police Department, Madison Avenue will be closed from Hilliard Street to Hall Street, starting Monday at 6 a.m. It’ll remain closed until all the game activities are over Tuesday, somewhere around 6 p.m.
To get around the closure, to or from downtown, use Highland Avenue or I-85 and do a wide loop around Cramton Bowl. But if you’ve just got to make it through and past that section of Madison Avenue on Monday, MPD recommends:
Westbound traffic should turn south onto Hall Street, or north through the Cramton Bowl parking lot to get to Upper Wetumpka Road
Eastbound traffic can use Hilliard Street
Tuesday brings additional road closures starting at 6 a.m. and lasting until 6 p.m.
Madison Avenue’s closure will expand from Jackson Street to S. Capitol Parkway
Hall Street will be closed from Adams Avenue to Madison Avenue
To get around Tuesday’s expanded closures:
Westbound traffic should use S. Capitol Parkway
Eastbound traffic should use Ripley Street
Again, unless you’re going to the game or have a situation that requires you to go through this area, taking the long way around on Highland Avenue or I-85 — either to or from downtown — will likely save you some time and aggravation.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What to know about traffic in Montgomery as Camellia Bowl nears
