University of Alabama prepares for surge of fans during football season

Crimson Tide fan safety and enjoyment are behind small adjustments to scheduling, in hopes of easing flow into the campus area for home football games, then back out of Bryant-Denny Stadium, said Nick Frenz, associate director of events for the University of Alabama.

More: How the fan experience at Bryant-Denny Stadium will be improved this season

One of the most visible changes is that Saturday game-day road blocks will go up four hours before kickoff, instead of three hours prior, as in recent years. With the first two home games being evening kickoffs — Saturday's 6:30 p.m. opener against Middle Tennessee State, and then 6 p.m. Sept. 9 against Texas — that will affect re-routing outward. Streets that temporarily become one-way to clear traffic will remain that way until later each evening.

"With the game happening at 6:30 in the evening, it's going to last until 9:30 or 10 o'clock, somewhere in there," Frenz said, "and it takes about an hour to kind of get everybody out of that."

RollTide.com's Gameday sections lists then post-game re-opening window as taking up to 2.5 hours, but that's a top-end estimate. It's difficult to know how everything's going to shake down until these two home night games roll out, Frenz said.

In the Saban era, most season openers have occurred at off-campus sites, such as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Early season home-game energy might drive record crowds to Tuscaloosa, Frenz said, compounded by the import of the early bout against perennial contender Texas, a pre-season No. 11 pick, to UA's No. 4. Texas has dominated the Tide, historically, winning seven times against UA's two, though those Tide wins have been consecutive.

"I know (police) will probably be set up along the Strip before that, but they're not going to restrict traffic like they usually would at night, because there's so many people still leaving right after the game," Frenz said, noting UA and the University of Alabama Police Department has been working closely with the city of Tuscaloosa, and the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

To address issues seen as driven by the plethora of establishments selling alcohol along the Strip, and their required closing time, 2 a.m., dumping literally thousands of people onto the streets at the same moments, TPD recently announced new measures aimed at football season, including installation of temporary speed bumps along the three blocks of University Boulevard, going west from campus, known as the Strip.

Already this late summer, as students have returned to campus, TPD presence has been more highly visible, with several marked vehicles parked with flashers on, in the median and at the University Boulevard Publix, and others parked along the south side of the boulevard. A dozen or more officers can be seen patrolling. UAPD and TPD jointly opened a substation at 1209 University Blvd., next to Taco Bell.

Fans should also be aware that a new city ordinance allows for towing of vehicles absent proper parking tags or decals. Previously, property owners had to be present to authorize towing of illegally parked cars, but now tow companies have contracts that allow them to take action from clearly marked properties.

Parking spots in front of businesses on the Strip are now for ride-share pick-up and drop-off only. Police will also be enforcing a new Tuscaloosa queuing ordinance, designed to break up clumps of patrons on the sidewalks, and the Strip businesses' no-firearms policy.

Tailgating drop-offs windows remain the same. Reserved tailgating packages, with amenities including tents, tables, chairs, TVs, ice chests and more, are available for viewing at www.uagameday.com/tailgating, or by calling Gameday Done Right at 205-535-4647.

Open tailgating is available on the west side of the Quad, on a first-come, first-served basis. Tailgaters can typically drop off supplies between 6-8 p.m. Fridays, and 7-10 a.m. Saturdays, but for this week's 6:30 kickoff, that window extends until roads close, at 2:30. All tailgating paraphernalia must be removed by 10 a.m. Sundays.

In case of changing weather conditions on game days, updates can be accessed via 92.5 FM UA Info Radio, Frenz said.

The newly named Fan Fest Area, behind the Tuska statue, will feature live music. This week, Tarred and Feathered will play from 4:30-6 p.m.

"We're going to increase our activities outside the stadium, with food trucks, autograph areas, video boards outside the stadium," said Greg Byrne, director of athletics. Screens, more heavily on the north side of Bryant-Denny, will display info including directions, prohibited items and more.

The time to enter Bryant-Denny has been tightened by a half-hour, based on studies regarding flow.

"It's a little shorter window, down to two hours, but our reports show fans are mostly entering inside that two-hour span," Frenz said.

Once inside, fans will mainly note tweaks to some of last year's systems, including more grab-and-go and self-checkout systems for concessions. Earlier in August, Byrne tweeted about upcoming price reductions on concession, but details have yet to be released. Alcohol sales, new in 2022, will still follow rules that purchasers must be 21 with valid ID, with each transaction limited to two alcoholic beverages. Beer and wine sales will conclude at the end of the third quarter.

Paperless ticketing and cash-free systems worked well last year, with only minor tech upgrades, Byrne said, so flow should be even smoother for 2023.

The Authentic retail store inside the stadium, offering officially-licensed paraphernalia, jerseys, shirts, headgear, collectible cards, authentic game-used gear, autographed photos, footballs, basketballs and more, will expand its inventory and events throughout the year, Byrne said.

Fans should also take note of the new playing surface, a SubAir system with a natural grass field. Beneath lie heating, drainage and monitoring systems, to adjust aeration according to weather variations. Vacuum-assisted draining can dry the grass, and heaters can warm up a late fall or early winter freeze. Other systems will monitor the grass' year-round health.

Aside from that, UA's expecting normal operations for game day.

"Unless something shows up next week that we need to adjust," Frenz said, "we're ready. If anything changes, we'll figure that out."

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: University of Alabama prepares for surge of football fans for game day