Now you may be wondering what the hell Stadium Architecture actually is…Right? Since there’s no definition in Merriam-Webster we’ll just have to fly by the seat of our pants and go by my very own definition. So a few things I look for off the top of my head are traditions/chants, surrounding areas for game day experience and, of course, any unique features a stadium may have. Think Green Monster, Touchdown Jesus, houses behind the end zone at Nissan stadium, Howard’s Rock, the hill at Minute Maid (RIP). All that jazz is what gets me up in the morning. I live for that shit, dog!

Ya know there’s not many things I love in life. I like burgers, I like beer, I like betting the over on AAC football games, I like Emily Ratajkowski. I’m a simple man! Yet one thing that’s always revved my engine is stadium architecture. Don’t know why, but it draws me in like shitty (and awesome) action movie scripts draw in Liam Neeson. Like a moth to a flame.

My preferred destinations when talking Stadium Architecture are, in tune with the name, stadiums. You’d be hard pressed to find me getting giddy over some simpleton basketball/hockey arenas. Of course there’s a few exceptions like Madison Square Garden, TD Garden, Bell Centre, Staples Center, and College Basketball Arenas, but my bread is buttered on the premo stuff like MLB, NFL, and NCAAF stadiums. Go big or go home.

This past weekend YP & I had the opportunity to go to the Texas A&M/Alabama game at Bryant-Denny Stadium since we were in town for our friends at Bud Light. The game was everything I’d imagined my first LEGIT college football game would be like. The only other college football games I’ve been to were Hofstra games growing up (just realized I probably went to games Willie played in!) and Texas at WVU last season on the rainy Saturday before Thanksgiving. And if those conditions didn’t make for a dead enough game, Will Grier breaking his thumb in the first quarter put the nail in the coffin. So Bama/A&M…This was different. It was a gorgeous day on Parent’s Weekend in Tuscaloosa with the reigning National Champs welcoming the Jimbo & the Aggies to town for a good old fashioned beatdown. The 7th largest football stadium in America was packed to the tee. Let’s get into it.

We’ll begin with the surrounding game day experience. I’ll just come out and say it- It’s heaven. I will take that to the grave. I am in love with the strip at Tuscaloosa and I don’t care who knows it!

For reference I was in Clemson last year to shoot a quick video with Caleb & I was infatuated with how close the Bars were to Memorial Stadium. That 0.8 mile walk to the game from Tiger Town Tavern had my head spinning. I was so young, so naive. Little did I know of the greener pastures waiting for me in Tuscaloosa.

As you can see Gallettes (Yellow Hammers are scrumptious) is a stone’s throw away from Bryant-Denny. And that’s being generous. I have the arm of a middle-aged father angrily pitching tee ball to his son’s team yet I can confidently say I’d have a legit shot to hit the stadium while standing outside the bar. It’s that close.

And to accompany all the nearby bars there’s a heap of places to get some quick grub & combat that alcohol intake including Moe’s, Zaxby’s, and Firehouse Subs. Here’s a little painting from me & YP’s post-game Firehouse Subs trip that caught my eye. Looking wholesome as half the battle at a joint like Firehouse Subs and then screams success. I’d say that painting needs to go in the MoMa if I wasn’t an Auburn guy. War Eagle.

As if all that didn’t make for the perfect game day atmosphere already, check out this video I took below of the Fraternity Row’s proximity to the stadium. If that doesn’t scream SEC…I don’t know what does.

Time to get inside the stadium. I’ll be frank about this part- at it’s core Bryant-Denny is just a big ole piece of concrete and that showed on the walk inside. The walk to the seats was practically instant as the field concourse is legit field level, unlike the Garden or the Big House, so we were tucked in tight to our bleachers no less than 30 seconds after having our tickets checked. Yet with bad always comes good. They had a Chick-Fil-A right outside our section. Now that was pimp.

First off, shoutout to our buddies over at Seatgeek for the best seats I’ve ever had at a football game. Bar none. No debate. Seeing Saban’s jog in & out of the locker room that close might as well have been like seeing a Sasquatch for me. Just something I never thought I’d get to see.

Now one of my favorite features about Bryant-Denny is some walkway thing that was right below our seats. Whoever wanted to was welcome to stand all but on the field with just a railing separating you and A&M’s sideline.and So naturally YP and I too ‘em up on the offer for a bit after halftime. Peep Lil Jimbo’s outfit. A&M’s starting QB in 2027 oozes swagger.

I mean we were RIGHT UP in Jimbo’s grill. Granted this sounds idiotic, but it’s a wild experience to be that close and actually hear coaches coaching. Shit like that never crosses your mind when watching from home. That made for by far my favorite part of the day when we got to hear a coach roar at the O-Line to get to 23 which would make it a 22 point game. A&M was getting 26.5…Coincidence? I think not.

I’ll leave the stadium talk with this. Massive.

Finally as I’m sure you know with Alabama comes…celebrating winning. I may have seen the 17 National Championships logo as many times as I heard Sweet Home Alabama this weekend. That’s saying something.

Well right outside the stadium is the ‘Walk of Champions’ which is simply a 5 legendary Alabama coach statues- Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings, and Nick Saban. The Crème de la crème. I made a vow to get there. I was more determined to hit these landmarks than Joey Chestnut on the 4th of July. It was my due diligence as a college football fan. So naturally I went solo after leaving Gallettes late Saturday night. I needed some alone time with Bear. It probably was the alcohol, although I’ve never been more convinced a statue was gonna come alive & spit facts at me more than I was while staring at Bear Bryant for a half hour. Sadly nothing wound up happening. I blame Night at the Museum.

And that’s where my stadium architecture experience in Tuscaloosa came to an end as I had to be up for the flight home at 4:45am. Waking up for the ride home sure wasn’t easy, but seeing the Walk of Champions sure was worth it.

Thanks for the great time Alabama!