When Alabama plays host to Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 3, it will do so at a newly-renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium. The 100,077-seat arena received a facelift this offseason that included an updated locker room and team entrance, an expanded recruiting space and more.
“One of the things you want from a locker room standpoint, and you see with the tunnel, is when recruits come in and fans come in on tours, you want it to pop,” said director of athletics Greg Byrne on Thursday morning. “I think everybody would agree that this pops, and it shows you the excitement of Alabama football and Alabama athletics and it shows you a lot of the history.”
The list of stadium renovations include:
— New team tunnel that flows directly from the Walk of Champions into the locker room
— Fully updated game day locker room
— Renovated recruiting space that doubled in size from 6,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet
— Four corner videoboards replaced with 60 percent larger screens
— Addition of several new premium areas including loge boxes, Champions Club, Terrace Club, new skyboxes and Founders Suites
— Student social area added at ground-level on the south side with upgraded concessions and charging stations
— Press box relocated to the east side
— Addition of elevators and stairs on the west side
— Addition of east side ADA seating
— Expanded concourse on the west upper deck
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban after Wednesday’s practice. “I think all the improvements made in the stadium — the boxes, the locker room, the tunnel, the entrance — I really do think it’s absolutely first-class and as nice a facility and stadium to play in as anybody’s in the country.
“And we’re glad to have that. We’re glad to have an administration who is supportive of trying to provide those kinds of facilities, and I know our players certainly appreciate having the opportunity to compete in that kind of arena. It’s first-class in every way, and we’re happy for the people who have been very, very supportive of the university and the athletic program to have some of the finest boxes and facilities in the country, as well.”
Below are several photos from Thursday’s media tour of the stadium enhancements. And check out a tour of the renovated locker room in the embedded video at the top of the page.