Alabama football fan guide to Tideâs 2023 opener vs. MTSU

Alabama football is so back, y’all.

The 2023 has finally arrived. The offseason just feels longer and longer, doesn’t it? But we’re now nearly just 24 hours away from the Crimson Tide kicking off the season, as they face the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders in the home opener.

There are a few Bryant-Denny Stadium change you should know about for 2023, including the field upgrade, shaker bins, concession updates, locker room tours and more.

Here’s what you need to know about gameday at the Capstone this season. For even more information, visit the helpful UA Gameday website.

READ: Alabama football bucket list: 25 things every Crimson Tide fan should do once

WALK OF CHAMPIONS: 4:15 p.m.

GATES OPEN: 4:30 p.m.

ELEPHANT STOMP: 5:30 p.m.

PREGAME FLYOVER/KICKOFF: 6:30 p.m.

TV: SEC Network

WEATHER

Friday: Mostly cloudy skies with a high near 85 and a 50 percent chance of rain, followed by cloudy skies and an overnight low around 69.

Saturday: Sunny skies with a high near 84 and a 40 percent chance of rain, followed by cloudy skies with an overnight low around 68 and a 40 percent chance of rain.

Sunday: Mostly sunny skies with a high near 88, followed by cloudy skies and an overnight low around 68.

— The National Weather Service

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) signals a play against Texas A&M at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL on Saturday, Oct 8, 2022.
Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

THE GAME! | PREDICTION

Who’s the quarterback? Or, who are the quarterbacks — plural? Nick Saban hasn’t minced words: The QB battle is fluid. Jalen Milroe has the most experience, and his explosive ability may give him a leg up in the competition. But even if he starts/plays well on Saturday, that’ll open the door for Ty Simpson, Tyler Buchner and maybe every other quarterback on the roster. We shall see. Maybe the Blue Raiders scoff at the mere thought of using this game as glorified QB practice and force Saban to stick with one guy (similar to when Blake Sims stuck it out in a slightly-too-competitive game against West Virginia in 2014).

Bama has played and beaten MTSU three times, the last being a 37-10 home win on their way to a national championship. They previously played in 2005 (26-7) and 2002 (39-34). MTSU finished 8-5 in 2022, upsetting a ranked Miami squad on the road and beating San Diego State in the the Hawai’i Bowl.

We’ll finally see how the offensive line, wide receivers, secondary and every other unit have come together for some actual game action Saturday evening, ending another frightfully long offseason. Many might see this as a tune-up for Texas next week, but we know Saban doesn’t like to look ahead. Every rep will matter Saturday, as they determine quarterback and the other positions with questions. Either way, Bama rolls tomorrow.

Prediction: Alabama 41 – MTSU 13

READ: 8 ways Alabama football home games will change for fans in 2023

CHAMPIONS LANE

An extension of Crimson Tide Sports Marketing’s pregame entertainment, “Champions Lane” is a new free feature that will be located to the northwest of Bryant-Denny Stadium on the lawn behind the Tuska statue and will include food trucks, a sound stage with live music, lounge with casual seating, LED videoboards for fans to watch other college football games in action, Crimson Tide student-athlete autograph tent and more. See the map below.

LOCKER ROOM TOURS / SOUVENIR TICKETS

Fans can now purchase behind-the-scenes locker room tours on Fridays before home games for $25 per person. Alabama ticketing went fully paperless during COVID in 2020, and now UA says fans can buy a souvenir printed game ticket ($15 each). They say you can inquire about both via the Crimson Tide Access program.

SHAKER BINS

Fans will find shaker bins throughout the concourses of Bryant-Denny Stadium, allowing them to pick up a complimentary shaker upon entry to use for the game and return on the way out.

HONORARY CAPTAIN AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS

For home games, honorary captains will sign autographs at the Bryant Museum starting five hours before kickoff. They will then move to The Authentic (Alabama’s player-merchandise store), located at Gate 34 on the south end of Bryant-Denny, for another autograph session 3.5 hours prior to kickoff, which will last an hour.

CASH-FREE

All points of sale at Alabama athletics events for concessions and retail went cashless. Fans with cash can exchange for a Fancard in $20 increments in the stadium’s Fan Card Gift Card Machines.

Each location will have a team member to assist guests who require this service. UA said Fancards are a preloaded Mastercard with no activation fees. These can not only be used at stadium concessions but also anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

CONCESSIONS

Concession stands are located throughout the concourses of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Reminder: All concession transactions are cashless.

Alabama announced that five of Bryant-Denny’s highest-volume concession stands were converted to grab and go markets where fans can grab items and proceed to check out faster. Automated self-checkout kiosks will be available at several concession stands throughout the stadium, allowing fans the ability to choose the method they prefer. The site also says multiple beverage and popcorn vending options have also been added “for ease and quickness.”

Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne also tweeted in August he would soon share price reductions on concession food and drink soon, but these are not listed online yet.

TAILGATING

Free Quad tailgating is located on the west side of the Quad. Reservations are not required. Quad tailgate supply drop-off is located on Colonial Dr. and is open during the following times: Friday at 6-8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 a.m. until noon. View the Quad drop-off map. The UA Gameday Info tent is located at the corner of 9th Avenue and University Boulevard. Fans are permitted 15 minutes to unload equipment and exit Colonial Dr.

Quad tailgate supply drop-off is located on Colonial Dr. and is open during the following times:

Friday 6-8 p.m.
Gameday 7 a.m. until noon
Gameday 6-8:30 a.m. (11 a.m. kickoff only)

MOBILE TICKETING

In 2020, ticketing and parking went mobile-only, providing a safe fan experience with quick and convenient entry on gameday during the pandemic. UA said mobile ticketing reduces the risk of lost, stolen or counterfeit tickets while providing the ability to easily manage, transfer or sell your tickets anytime from your smartphone, so the system will remain in effect.

You can manage their tickets on their smartphone via the Alabama Crimson Tide mobile app or online at RollTide.com/MyAccount. UA encourages fans to download their tickets before gameday. Prior to reaching the Bryant-Denny gates, fans can open their digital wallet on their smartphone, select their game tickets or parking passes, and hold their smartphone near the scanner for entry.

Alabama announced an enhancement to mobile ticketing this year called ALL-IN-1, a smart ticket that simplifies the digital wallet experience. They provided these instructions:

All season tickets, season meal passes, and season parking passes are eligible for ALL-IN-1.
Add each ALL-IN-1 ticket once per seat to your digital wallet.
After the game, ALL-IN-1 pass automatically updates to the next event in the season.
The ALL-IN-1 pass will update if tickets are transferred, and you can still transfer and manage eligible tickets from My Account.

Visit the Alabama mobile ticketing page to learn more.

TICKET TRANSFER/DONATION

UA says season ticketholders may transfer their tickets to another customer by logging into their account and selecting the specific events to transfer under the My Account page. Ticket transfers are now free. You may transfer your tickets up until kickoff.

You can also electronically donate your season tickets back to Alabama Athletics. The tickets will then be donated to those fans who don’t normally receive an opportunity to attend an Alabama athletics event. Ticket donation is free. You may donate your tickets up until 48 hours prior to any event.

STADIUM ENTRY / CLEAR BAG POLICY

Bryant-Denny Stadium has a 360-degree security perimeter. UA encourages fans to queue at the first public security checkpoints located around the stadium. Once inside the security perimeter, navigate to the gate indicated on your ticket. There are six public security checkpoints located around the stadium, which allow guests to navigate to any ticketed gate after clearing security.

UA has walk-through metal detectors at all gates of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Fans do not need to remove shoes or belts to walk through the metal detectors.

Alabama also enforces a clear bag policy in the interest of public safety and to 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.

COOLING STATIONS

It’s hot in Alabama this time of year — really hot. So UA wants to help you stay cool on gamedays. Cooling stations will include water monsters, fans, shaded seating, sunscreen and first aid staff are located at the locations featured on this map.

Water Monsters featuring 150-gallon tanks of cold filtered water are located throughout Bryant-Denny Stadium to assist fans in staying cool and hydrated. Fans are permitted to bring empty, non-glass, bottles/cups inside to fill up at the various water stations. Small cups will also be provided next to the canister.

TRAFFIC

UA has provided four clearly defined routes designed to provide fans with the most time-efficient ways to and from campus. Read their pregame and postgame traffic maps.

The Cottondale and 216 routes are best for fans traveling from Birmingham and parking on the east side of campus.

The I-359 route is best for fans traveling from Birmingham or west of Tuscaloosa and parking downtown or on the west side of campus.

The McFarland route is best for fans traveling from Birmingham and parking on the east side of campus.

Construction on I-20/59 is complete. There are now three lanes through exit 73, McFarland Blvd.

Construction on Lurleen B. Wallace Blvd. north and south is complete. There are now three lanes through downtown for fans utilizing the I-359/Downtown Tuscaloosa route.

Core campus roadblocks are established 4 hours prior to kickoff
Core campus roadblocks will be enforced at 2:30 p.m.
Campus roadblocks do not affect public parking areas
Fans are encouraged to use the McFarland Route to campus
Rideshare pickup/drop-off is available at two locations on campus

PARKING

UA parking lots open at 7 a.m. Crimson Ride shuttles are free from the east campus parking areas. Begins at 7 a.m., concludes 90 minutes post-game. For more parking information, visit the UA Gameday website.

Public parking is $35 per game.
Accessible parking spaces are available in public parking lots.
Lots open at 7 a.m. on gameday.
Free shuttle service from public parking is provided to & from the Quad. All shuttles are accessible.
Shuttle service begins at 7 a.m. on Gameday and concludes 90 minutes postgame.