Alabama will open the home portion of its 2020 schedule on Saturday, Oct. 3, when Texas A&M travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala. And it will do so in a newly-renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“We’re very excited about having a game at home and playing in Bryant-Denny Stadium,” said head coach Nick Saban during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “Even though the circumstances and the spirit may not be the same, it’s always great to play at home.”
Initially announced in August of 2018, the Crimson Tide football stadium received a $106 million facelift that was completed in time for the upcoming 10-game, conference-only season. Among the arena renovations are an updated team entrance (a tunnel at the end of the Walk of Champions) and locker room, a renovated recruiting space, the addition of premium seating, relocation of the press box, enhanced video boards and the addition of a student plaza.
The construction resulted in a drop in capacity from 101,821 to 100,077, according to athletics director Greg Byrne. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryant-Denny Stadium will hold “a hair under” 20,000 fans for its home opener against the Aggies this weekend.
On Wednesday, Alabama shared first looks at the new locker room and tunnel via Twitter.
Here is the team tunnel:
The light at the end IS the TUNNEL!#BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/pipdX7DY24
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 30, 2020
And here is the locker room:
NEW Alabama Gameday Locker Room ??????
But wait, THERE’S MORE…#BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/gNUAeADFVi
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 30, 2020
In addition to the quick video clips, the Tide provided player reactions to the enhancements at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which was recorded earlier in the preseason on team picture day.
Our players got the first look at the NEW BDS Locker Room! ??????
More to come… #BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/NmbTGfQQTc
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 30, 2020
BamaOnLine will be on hand for a media tour of the stadium on Thursday, which will include the team tunnel, locker room, recruiting room, north end zone media room and press box. Then, we will have a more in-depth look, including photos, at the renovations at Bryant-Denny.
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