Alabama football A-Day 2023 fan guide: How to watch, kickoff, more
Alabama fans can catch a glimpse of the 2023 Crimson Tide’s progress during Saturday’s A-Day game in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
You’ll see quarterbacks Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson battle it out for QB1 with crucial reps throughout the day, as other key Tide players earn their right for playing time during the upcoming season.
While Bama finished the season with a dominant Sugar Bowl win over Kansas State, they fell short of their own expectations to compete for a national championship, watching Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs waltz into their second straight College Football Playoff win. The Tide look to rebound two seasons since their last on top of the college football world, and it all starts on Saturday.
Check out the following information to help you plan your day around the Crimson Tide’s annual spring game accordingly. Have fun, be safe, and Roll Tide!
BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM GATES OPEN: 11:30 a.m.
ALUMNI FLAG FOOTBALL GAME: 11:30 a.m. (Bryant-Denny Stadium; Gate 20 opens at 11 a.m.)
WALK OF FAME CEREMONY: Noon (at Denny Chimes)
WALK OF CHAMPIONS: 12:50 p.m.
KICKOFF: 2 p.m.
TICKETS: Free!
TV: SEC Network+
WALK OF FAME CEREMONY
The annual Walk of Fame Ceremony at Denny Chimes will take place at noon on A-Day, with Nick Saban. The 2022 captains include quarterback Bryce Young, outside linebacker Will Anderson and defensive back Jordan Battle. The captains will leave prints of their hands and cleats in the concrete as they join a long list of Crimson Tide greats.
WALK OF CHAMPIONS
The team will hold its traditional Walk of Champions, scheduled for 12:50 p.m., when it arrives at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Buses pull up at the Walk of Champions plaza where Nick Saban leads the team through the doors of the stadium, as adoring fans flank and cheer them as AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” blasts through the loudspeakers.
STADIUM INFORMATION
UA will have walk-through metal detectors at all gates of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama will also continue to enforce its clear bag policy in the interest of public safety and to significantly expedite entry into Bryant-Denny Stadium. The only non-clear plastic bag fans can bring into Bryant-Denny is a small clutch purse no larger than 4 1/2 inches-by-6 1/2 inches. If any larger, the bags must be clear and plastic. Fans can also bring in one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags, similar to Ziploc bags you buy at the grocery store. Learn more about the clear bag policy.
TICKETS
The annual spring game is once again free for fans. RTR.
WEATHER
Friday: Cloudy skies with a high near 80 and a 30 percent chance of rain between 1-4 p.m., followed by showers and thunderstorms late with an overnight low around 52.
Saturday: Sunny skies with a high near 75, followed by mostly clear skies with an overnight low around 48.
Sunday: Sunny skies with a high near 67, followed by cloudy skies and an overnight low around 50.
— The National Weather Service
PARKING / TRAFFIC
Public parking is available for free on the east side of campus. Parking lots open at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Core campus road closures will begin at 11 a.m.
Public disability parking is available in the Tutwiler Deck. Golf cart shuttle service from the Tutwiler Deck to the corner of Paul Bryant Drive and 10th Ave will begin at 11 a.m.
Due to campus construction, the Crimson Ride Shuttle will not be in service on A-Day.
A-Day RV parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Northeast RV Lot at no charge beginning Friday at 6 p.m. On campus, RV parking is prohibited prior to 6 p.m. on Friday.
Pregame traffic: Construction on I-20/59 is complete. There are now three lanes through exit 73, McFarland Blvd. Fans are encouraged to use the McFarland Blvd. route to campus.
Postgame traffic: Fans parked on the east side of campus are encouraged to use the McFarland Blvd. route. Fans parked on the west side of campus should utilize the Downtown / I-359 route.
TAILGATING
Free tailgating is located on the west side of the Quad. Open tailgate spaces on the Quad may be claimed beginning Friday morning. Quad drop-off times: Saturday from 8-10 a.m. Quad tailgate supply drop-off is located on Colonial Drive. View the tailgating map.
FREE POSTERS!
The first 5,000 fans to enter Bryant-Denny Stadium will receive 2023 Alabama football schedule posters, so arrive early.
BRYANT MUSEUM HOURS
The Paul W. Bryant Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Members and children under age 5 are admitted free. Adults: $5; Children (K-12): $3; Free admission to University of Alabama faculty, staff and students. On Saturday, fans can get an autograph from and meet Emil Ekiyor Jr. at the Paul W. Bryant Museum from 10-11 a.m. It’s $30 for autograph. Admission to the Museum is free with the autograph. Learn more.
TUSKA PLAZA
The still-new addition to the gameday experience that is a selfie-must. The University of Alabama relocated of a seven-ton, 19-foot elephant statue named Tuska to the corner of University Boulevard and Wallace Wade Avenue, where the Strip meets campus — a very short distance from Bryant-Denny Stadium. The statue depicts the elephant looking skyward with his two front feet slightly off the ground and trunk fully extended. Grab a pic!
TIDE SOFTBALL GAMES
The Alabama softball team will host Auburn at Rhoads Stadium this weekend. They play Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m., and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Learn more.
Stay up to date before, during and after the game by following AL.com’s Mike Rodak, Nick Alvarez, Joe Goodman, aldotcomTide or aldotcomSports on Twitter.
You can also follow UAGameday on Twitter for constant updates about this weekend’s festivities.
STORIES YOU’LL LOVE
What you need to know about Alabama football’s A-Day scrimmage
Nick Saban hoping for big A-Day crowd as ‘reflection of (Alabama) brand’
Alabama football loses fans, falls outside top 5 on national list of most popular teams
Nick Saban explains A-Day rosters, why not to expect starting QB hint
Nick Saban says Alabama five-star freshman is smart, mature, has ‘done great’ this spring
Why A-Day will be a ‘tell-all’ for Tide senior and Mr. Football Kristian Story
Nick Saban: Alabama has ‘opportunity to bring guys in’ after transfer portal losses
BAMMERS PODCAST
“Bammers,” the podcast from AL.com that takes you inside the minds of Alabama football fans, is available to download on all platforms.
The show focuses on fans’ obsession with the Crimson Tide and the lengths at which they’ll go with their fandom. Guests include like Paul Finebaum, Tim Brando, Laura Rutledge, Marcus Spears, Cecil Hurt, Warren St. John, Conrad Thompson, John Parker Wilson and Alabama football fans across the world.
Episodes cover Sidewalk Alumni, The Shula Years, RV Culture, Women who Love Alabama Football, How Alabama Fans Cope with Losing, Obsessive Alabama Basketball Fans and much more.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Listen to every episode!