UA Releases Changes To Saturday Home Football Experience

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Home football game Saturdays at the University of Alabama and Bryant-Denny Stadium are sure to look different beginning this week, as the university has implemented a sweeping set of changes to both allow for in-person attendance while combating the spread of COVID-19.

According to UA, the safeguards will comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state of Alabama, NCAA and SEC.

Nick Frenz, UA associate director of event management, told local media on Tuesday perhaps the biggest change will be the ban on tailgating on the UA campus and around the stadium.

"It's not so much a tailgating ban as it is mask enforcement and social distancing — the same thing they do on the weekends," he said. "Their policy isn’t really going to change. If they see a large gathering they will probably try to break it up."

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Frenz said the university will have security in the normal tailgating areas to ensure compliance, with citations being a last resort for failure to abide by the set restrictions.

"As long as we’re not seeing what we deem as tailgating activities, once we see a tent pop up or a grill or TV or anything along those lines, we will ask them to cease and put all those things away," he said.

While visitors will not be prohibited from going on campus, those not attending the game are asked to avoid campus. Events such as the Elephant Stomp and Walk of Champions will also not take place, Frenz said.

"The Bryant Museum will be open if fans wanted to go there on Saturday, they could take tour," he said. "I know the Supe Store will be open as well. Those things will be accessible but most things we normally do won’t be happening this year."

Frenz reiterated that all spectators in the stadium will be required to wear a face covering, with event staff and security following similar enforcement protocols of asking first before further action is taken. Stadium capacity, as previously reported, has been reduced to about 20% to allow social distancing among fans.

"I think they would be asked to put the mask on," Frenz said of a first offense for mask requirements in the stadium. "They’ll be offered the masks if they come in through the gate and didn’t think to bring one. If they took it off to eat and didn’t put it back on and if it was more of a repeat offender, then I think UAPD would be involved and ejection would be possible."

To cut down on the passing of items, such as tickets, all of the tickets for the game will be mobile-only, which Frenz said would also likely cut down on scalpers and ticket brokers selling tickets outside the stadium on the day of the game.

Prior to entering the stadium, those with tickets will be required to complete a brief COVID-19 health assessment and those with COVID-19 symptoms, exposed to someone who is COVID-positive or been directed by a healthcare professional to be in quarantine or isolation for a period of time that includes game day, will also not be allowed entry.

Frenz also pointed out that bottleneck points in and around the stadium, such as metal detectors, will see visitors in the stadium asked to stay six feet apart, in addition to cashless concession stands with Plexiglas barriers separating customers and those working.

Concession stands, according to an announcement from UA, will have a limited menu of prepackaged food available for ticket-holders.

Attendees can also expect a different experience with respect to the Million Dollar Band, who will be allowed to perform in the stadium, but not on the field before the game or at halftime.

Another change worth noting is that Crimson Ride shuttles will not be in operation and ride sharing will not have designated pick-up and drop-off locations.

Frenz then said the only transportation running to the UA campus will be from the University Mall.

"The most important thing is the game happening and if there’s a chance of an outbreak, it puts all of that in jeopardy," he said.

In terms of expanded stadium capacity for future games during the 2020 season, Frenz was optimistic if the pandemic continues to trend in a positive direction.

"The last I heard was that they would like to add more people to the stadium as the season went along if COVID restrictions lessen in the state," he said. "It’s always possible something like that happens for later games."

Alabama will kick off at 2:30 p.m. local time against the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday.