View source for Bryant–Denny Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Saban Field at Bryant–Denny Stadium
| image = Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa AL, North view 20160714 1.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Bryant–Denny Stadium in [[2016 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2016]]
| location = 920 [[Bear Bryant|Paul W Bryant]] Drive<br>[[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]], U.S.<!-- 35401 USA -->
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|12|30|N|87|33|1|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = December 1928
| opened = September 28, 1929
| expanded = 1937, 1946, 1961, 1966, 1988, 1998, 2006, 2010
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner  Texas A&M University = 
| surface = Grass (1929–1967)<br>[[AstroTurf]] (1968–1990)<br>Grass (1991–present)
| record_attendance = 101,821
| tenants = [[Alabama Crimson Tide]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]])<br>(1929–1986, 1988–present)<br>[[Alabama High School Athletic Association|AHSAA Super 7]]<br>(2009–2023)
| construction_cost = $196,000<ref>{{cite web|title=How Much Did Bryant-Denny Stadium Initially Cost to Build (in 2010)?|url=http://www.seathound.com/venue/bryant-denny-stadium-8150/question/13429/how-much-did-bryant-denny-stadium-initially-cost-to-build-in-1929/|website=SeatHound|access-date=September 4, 2011|archive-date=September 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918012157/https://www.seathound.com/venue/bryant-denny-stadium-8150/question/13429/how-much-did-bryant-denny-stadium-initially-cost-to-build-in-1929/|url-status=dead}}</ref><br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|196000|1929}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}<!-- dollars-->{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = Atwood and Nash, Inc., Architects and Engineers<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mellown|first1=Robert Oliver|title=The University of Alabama: A Guide to the Campus and Its Architecture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EnK9AwAAQBAJ|location=Tuscaloosa|publisher=The University of Alabama Press|date=2013|isbn=978-0-8173-8673-3|access-date=September 17, 2018}}</ref>
| fullname = Saban Field at Bryant–Denny Stadium
| former_names = Denny Stadium<br>(1929–1975)<br>
Bryant–Denny Stadium<br>(1975–2024)
| seating_capacity = 100,077<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2020/09/new-bryant-denny-stadium-capacity-revealed-after-renovation.html|title=New Bryant-Denny Stadium capacity revealed after renovation|first=Michael|last=Casagrande|work=[[The Birmingham News|AL.com]]|date=2020-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927060951/https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2020/09/new-bryant-denny-stadium-capacity-revealed-after-renovation.html|archive-date=2020-09-27}}</ref>
| website = {{url|https://rolltide.com/sports/2016/6/10/facilities-bryant-denny-html.aspx|rolltide.com/bryant-denny}}
}}

'''Saban Field at Bryant–Denny Stadium''' is an outdoor stadium in the [[Southeastern United States]], on the campus of the [[University of Alabama]] in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]. It is the home field of the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football]] team of the [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC). 

Opened 95 years ago in [[1929 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1929]], it was originally named Denny Stadium in honor of [[George H. Denny]], the school's president from 1912 to 1932. In 1975, the [[Alabama Legislature|state legislature]] added longtime head coach and alumnus [[Bear Bryant|Paul "Bear" Bryant]] to the stadium's name. Bryant led the Tide for seven more seasons, through [[1982 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1982]], and is one of the few in [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] to have coached at a venue bearing his name. In 2024, Alabama announced that the playing field will be named after long-time head coach [[Nick Saban]]. Saban led the Crimson Tide to 6 national championships between [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]] and [[2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2023]]. 

With a [[seating capacity]] of 100,077, it is the fourth-largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference, the [[List of American football stadiums by capacity|eighth-largest]] stadium in the United States, and the [[List of stadiums by capacity|tenth-largest]] stadium in the world.

== Construction history ==
The replacement for [[Denny Field (Alabama)|Denny Field]], Denny Stadium opened in [[1929 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1929]], with 6,000 in attendance for a 55–0 victory over [[Mississippi College Choctaws|Mississippi College]] on September 28.<ref name="Sept 29, 1929">{{cite news |title=Alabama Gets 6 Touchdowns by Swift Play in First Half|first=Donald|last=Tubb|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=29A-AAAAIBAJ&pg=5474%2C5147177|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=September 29, 1929|access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> It was officially dedicated the following week at [[homecoming]] ceremonies against [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]], a 22–7 Crimson Tide victory.<ref name="Oct 6, 1929">{{cite news |title=12,000 See Alabama Win, 22–7|first=Donald|last=Tubb|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nIA-AAAAIBAJ&pg=5886%2C252468|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=October 6, 1929|access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> Originally, the stadium had a capacity of 12,000—the lower half of the current stadium's east grandstand. However, President Denny initially envisioned a full bowl stadium capable of seating 66,000.<ref name="1937Expansion">{{cite news |title=Denny Stadium|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ftY-AAAAIBAJ&pg=6504%2C4372156|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=October 8, 1937|access-date=April 12, 2012|page=4}}</ref>

Before the [[1937 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1937]] season, permanent seats were built along the east sideline, increasing the capacity to 24,000.<ref name="1937Expansion"/><ref name=Official>{{cite web |title=Facilities: Bryant–Denny Stadium|url=https://rolltide.com/sports/2016/6/10/facilities-bryant-denny-html.aspx|publisher=University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics|access-date=February 3, 2011}}</ref>
Further expansions in [[1946 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1946]] (bleachers in both end zones), [[Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1961]] (new seats in west grandstand), and [[1966 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1966]] (both end zones fully enclosed, new seats in east grandstand) raised capacity to 31,000, 43,000, and 60,210, respectively.<ref name=brushup>{{cite news |title=Brushing Up|first=Mike|last=Land|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vDUdAAAAIBAJ&pg=6296%2C3052438|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=July 15, 1983|access-date=February 12, 2012|page=11}}</ref><ref name=Official/> An upper deck was added to the west side in [[1988 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1988]] and raised the seating by nearly 10,000 to 70,123. During the construction, the Crimson Tide played its entire [[1987 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1987]] home schedule at [[Legion Field]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], {{convert|57|mi|-1}} northeast of Bryant–Denny.<ref>{{cite news |title=Renovation at Bryant–Denny Welcome News|first=Andrew|last=Carroll|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H4o0AAAAIBAJ&pg=6698%2C6277559|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=January 25, 1987|access-date=February 21, 2012|page=2F}}</ref>

===East upper deck (1998)===
In September 1995, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the construction of the east upper deck.<ref name="Sept 16, 1995">{{cite news |title=Stadium Deal Gets Approval |first=Richard|last=Powell|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7TsdAAAAIBAJ&pg=4889%2C5084886|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=September 16, 1995|access-date=February 5, 2011|page=1A}}</ref> Designed by the architectural firm of [[Heery International|Heery-Chambless-Adams]], the construction was financed by the university and $4.65 million from the city of Tuscaloosa, the city of [[Northport, Alabama|Northport]], and [[Tuscaloosa County, Alabama|Tuscaloosa County]].<ref name="Sept 16, 1995"/> The localities contributed to construction costs in return for the university pledging to move all Crimson Tide home games to Bryant–Denny and not play any at Legion Field.<ref name="Sept 16, 1995"/>

The new upper deck provided 10,000 additional bleacher seats and 81 [[Luxury box|skyboxes]] on two levels—63 16-seat and 18 24-seat capacity boxes.<ref name="Oct 10, 1998">{{cite news |title=Skyboxes a Popular Addition to Stadium|first=Cecil|last=Hurt|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3iEfAAAAIBAJ&dq=skybox%20news&pg=6747%2C1890841|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=October 10, 1998|access-date=February 5, 2011|page=8C}}</ref> In 1999, four additional skyboxes were built to bring the total number of skyboxes to 85. A [[JumboTron]] scoreboard with video display capabilities was erected in the south end zone and was at the time the largest in collegiate sports.<ref name="JumboTron">{{cite news |title=Jumbo View: Bama's Big-Screen Scoreboard is the Largest in College Football|first=Tommy|last=Deas|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=XUmZziu-z7kC&dat=19981010&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=October 10, 1998|access-date=September 17, 2018|page=C1}}</ref> Additionally, a new east side entrance tower, a brick façade and reception areas for the Scholarship and A-Club level patrons was also added during the 1998 expansion.

The stadium's eastern upper deck was opened in [[1998 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1998]] and raised its official [[seating capacity]] to 83,818 at a final cost of $35 million for the addition.<ref name="Sept 5, 1998">{{cite news |title=So What Else Is New?|first=Robert|last=DeWitt|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4UogAAAAIBAJ&pg=5652%2C541265|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=September 5, 1998|access-date=February 5, 2011}}</ref> The newly expanded venue debuted on September 5, and Alabama defeated [[BYU Cougars football|BYU]] 38–31 as running back [[Shaun Alexander]] set a Tide single-game record with five touchdowns.<ref name="Alexander">{{cite news |title=Alexander spearheads Tide shootout |first=Cecil |last=Hurt |page=C1 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |date=September 6, 1998}}</ref>

===North end zone expansion (2006)===
[[File:Bryant-Denny Stadium by Highsmith 01.jpg|thumb|left|View of the north end zone of the stadium exterior and the Walk of Champions on gameday]]
Following the [[2004 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2004]] season, the university spent approximately $47&nbsp;million on an expansion to the north end zone, which was completed days before the 2006 opener against Hawaii. It added a new upper deck to the North end zone area, complete with three different levels of skyboxes, which collectively are known as "The Zone", which brought the number of skyboxes in the stadium to 123. Two large display screens by [[Daktronics]] were placed in each corner of the north end zone, and [[Liquid crystal display|LCD]] ribbon screens, {{convert|3.5|ft}} tall by {{convert|422|ft}} wide, were placed along the front edge of the east and west upper decks.

[[File:BDSNEExpansion.jpg|thumb|The north end zone entrance in 2007, with commemorative Alabama players statuary group on the left]]
Massive changes were made to the grounds of the north side of the stadium with the addition of a [[:Category:Walks of fame|Walk]] of Champions. Building the Walk of Champions required the demolition of the [[Delta Kappa Epsilon]] fraternity house and the [[Grading (engineering)|grading]] of the hill it sat upon. The Walk of Champions comprises a brick plaza leading from University Boulevard to the north end zone entrances. The plaza features 16 granite monuments set into the walkway commemorating the Crimson Tide's SEC and national championship teams throughout the years. Along the west side of the plaza are five roughly {{convert|2000|lb|adj=on}}, {{convert|9|ft|adj=on}} tall bronze statues, one for each Alabama football coach who has led the Crimson Tide to a national championship. Each statue has a semicircular wall behind it bearing the coach's name and the year(s) that he led the team to a national championship. The first four statues, unveiled during the opening in 2006, included [[Wallace Wade]], [[Frank Thomas (American football)|Frank Thomas]], [[Bear Bryant|Paul "Bear" Bryant]], and [[Gene Stallings]].<ref name="gadstimesjun2006">{{cite news |title=Bryant–Denny Undergoing Monumental Change|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1891&dat=20060629&id=qp1GAAAAIBAJ&pg=2100,2884194|newspaper=[[The Gadsden Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=June 29, 2006|access-date=December 25, 2012}}</ref> The fifth statue, that of [[Nick Saban]], was unveiled prior to the A-Day game on April 16, 2011. It commemorates Saban guiding Alabama to its 13th National Championship with a 37–21 win over the [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas Longhorns]].

Finally, there is a bronze statuary group of two anonymous Alabama football players at the entrance to the north end zone, with the one on the left holding a large Alabama Crimson Tide flag upright on a flagpole. This player is wearing the number 18 and a helmet, with the player on the right wearing the number 92 and pointing into the distance. The jersey numbers represent 1892, the first season of Crimson Tide football.<ref name="gadstimesjun2006"/>

The north end zone was opened for the [[2006 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2006]] season opener versus [[2006 Hawaii Warriors football team|Hawaii]], which set a new record attendance of 92,138. The Crimson Tide was victorious, 25–17.<ref>{{cite web |title=Late Defensive Stand Helps Tide Hold Off Game Hawaii|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=262450333|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104130204/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=262450333|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2018|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=September 2, 2006|access-date=October 7, 2008}}</ref>

===South end zone expansion (2010)===
[[File:Bryant-Denny south 2010-09-04 Altered.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Exterior of the newly expanded south end zone in 2010]]
The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved a study for further expansion of Bryant–Denny on September 19, 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=UA Trustees Approve Unitial Study for Bryant-Denny stadium Expansion|first=Kyle|last=Fondren|url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080919/WVUA01/809190297|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=September 19, 2008|access-date=September 17, 2018}}</ref> The Physical Properties Committee of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees heard a presentation from the UA athletic department on November 13, 2008 regarding the proposed $80.6 million expansion of the south end zone upper deck and suite level of Bryant–Denny Stadium.  The proposed expansion would bring the stadium's capacity to approximately 101,600, therefore making it the second largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the fifth largest stadium in college football.<ref>{{cite web |title=Offeseason Pigskinpalooza: College Football's Megastadiums|first=D. J.|last=Gallo|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/100715_nfl_college_football_offseason|work=[[ESPN]]|date=July 15, 2010|access-date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> The committee unanimously approved the project to move into the third of four stages, the fourth being final approval to begin construction.<ref>{{cite news |title=$80.6M Budget Approved for Stadium Expansion|first=Brett|last=Bralley|url=http://www.cw.ua.edu/80.6m_budget_approved_for_stadium_expansion|newspaper=[[The Crimson White]]|location=University of Alabama|date=November 14, 2008|access-date=November 18, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

On February 6, 2009, the university's board of trustees voted unanimously and without discussion to give the final approval for construction to commence on the south end zone expansion. With the approval of the board of trustees, construction began in the spring of 2009 and continued throughout the 2009 football season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rapoport |first=Ian |author-link=Ian Rapoport |date=February 6, 2009 |title=It's Official |url=http://blog.al.com/rapsheet/2009/02/its_official_bryantdenny_will.html |access-date=February 6, 2009 |work=[[The Birmingham News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Board of Trustees Officially Approves Bryant–Denny Stadium South End Zone Expansion Project|url=http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020609aaa.html|publisher=University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics|date=February 6, 2009|access-date=February 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414004253/http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020609aaa.html|archive-date=April 14, 2009}}</ref> The expansion was finished in time for the first game of the team's [[2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2010 season]].
[[File:Aerial view of the University of Alabama football stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama LCCN2011646781.tif|thumb|Aerial view of Bryant-Denny stadium in 2010.]]
''The Tuscaloosa News'' reported on April 17, 2009 that due to the economic climate and resultant lowered construction costs, the stadium expansion cost $15 million less than expected, coming in around $65.6 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=UA Stadium Expansion Cheaper Than Expected|first=Adam|last=Jones|url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090417/NEWS/904169969|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=April 17, 2009|access-date=April 19, 2009}}</ref>

The expanded south end zone now includes a two level South Zone club with a total of 1,700 seats and 36 skyboxes to bring the total number of skyboxes in Bryant–Denny Stadium to 159, as well as an 8,500 seat upper deck. The entire stadium's audio/visual system was upgraded to include two new video boards in both corners of the south end zone.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Mal Moore Announces Request For Approval Of South End Zone Project|url=http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020309aaa.html|publisher=University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics|date=February 6, 2009|access-date=February 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909034948/http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020309aaa.html|archive-date=September 9, 2012}}</ref>

Prior to the [[2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2009]] season, the large south scoreboard was disassembled to make way for the construction of the new stadium expansion. During this process, some welding equipment started a fire that burned the inside of the scoreboard.<ref>{{cite news |title=Small Fire Strikes Bryant–Denny Stadium Scoreboad|first=Gentry|last=Estes|url=http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2009/02/small_fire_strikes_bryantdenny.html|newspaper=[[Press-Register]]|location=Mobile|date=February 19, 2009|access-date=November 22, 2009}}</ref> Also, during this time, four new play clocks and down/distance indicators were installed (one behind each corner of the end zones) and a new LED game clock was placed behind the south goalpost.

The expansion was completed in mid-summer [[2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2010]] and held an official capacity of 101,821 making it the fifth largest college football stadium in the country. The new seats were all sold out quickly for the entire 2010 football season. Subsequent expansions included stores and other extra amenities on the bottom of the end zone.

===Renovations (2019–2024)===
As part of a larger, 10-year $600 million plan to upgrade campus athletic facilities, the university is planning $92.5 million in upgrades to the stadium, including new social spaces, improved circulation, additional premium seating and upgraded spaces for athletes and recruits. The Walk of Champions will be extended into a new game day locker room via a new tunnel clad with video boards. The project will be funded with $48.4 million in bonds and $35 million from the Crimson Tide Foundation, the fundraising arm of UA athletics. Construction began shortly after the [[2019 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2019 season]].<ref>{{cite news|work=Tuscaloosa News|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20180921/bryant-denny-stadium-to-undergo-75-million-renovation|title=Bryant-Denny Stadium to undergo $75 million renovation|date=21 September 2018|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=AL.com|url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2019/06/big-changes-made-to-bryant-denny-stadium-renovation-plan.html|title=Big changes made to Bryant-Denny Stadium renovation plan|date=4 June 2019|access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref>

New LED lights for the stadium were unveiled on the night of August 12, 2019, including a crimson-hued light display by the new installations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hurt |first=Cecil |date=13 August 2019 |title=Bryant-Denny Stadium has new look |url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190813/bryant-denny-stadium-has-new-look |access-date=14 August 2019 |work=Tuscaloosa News}}</ref>

In 2024 The University of Alabama added a sign to the east and west upper deck that says '''Saban Field at Bryant–Denny Stadium,''' to honor legendary head coach [[Nick Saban]] who served as the head coach from 2007–2023.

===Expansion timeline===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Alabama Crimson Tide|Year|Summary|Capacity}}
|-
|1929||Stadium opened as grandstand on west sideline||12,000
|-
|1937||Permanent grandstand added to east sideline||24,000
|-
|1946||Bleachers added to both end zones||31,000
|-
|1961||Seats added to west grandstand||43,000
|-
|1966||Both end zones fully enclosed||60,210
|-
|1988||West side upper deck||70,123
|-
|1998||East side upper deck||83,818
|-
|2006||North end zone expansion and upper deck||92,138
|-
|2010||South end zone expansion and upper deck||101,821
|-
|2020||Expanded premium and accessible seating||100,077
|}
==Football lore==
[[File:WalkofChampions 2010-11-26.jpg|thumb|left|The Walk of Champions prior to the [[2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2010]] [[Iron Bowl]]]]
Since its opening in [[1929 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1929]] through [[2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2023]], the Crimson Tide owns a {{Winning percentage|249|51|3|record=y}} record at Bryant–Denny Stadium.<ref name="BDS_all-time">{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/history-awards.pdf |title=Bryant–Denny Stadium Year-By-Year Record |work=2010 Alabama Football Media Guide |publisher=University of Alabama Athletic Department |page=138 |access-date=February 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523102902/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/history-awards.pdf |archive-date=May 23, 2011 }}</ref> [[Nick Saban]] is the leader in wins at the stadium, with an all-time record of {{Winning percentage|88|7|0|record=y}} since 2007, as 3 home game wins were vacated by the NCAA that year.<ref name="BDS_all-time"/>

Despite its success at Bryant–Denny, most of Alabama's "home" football history from the 1920s through the 1980s occurred at Birmingham's Legion Field.<ref name="Legion_all-time">{{cite web |title=2010 Alabama Football Media Guide|trans-title=Alabama Football at Legion Field|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/history-awards.pdf|publisher=University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics|access-date=February 3, 2011|pages=141–142|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523102902/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/history-awards.pdf|archive-date=May 23, 2011}}</ref> Well into the 1980s, Legion Field seated almost 20,000 more people than Bryant-Denny. As such, until the late 1990s, Legion Field hosted most of Alabama's important home games. The most notable of these games was the [[Iron Bowl]] with rival [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]]. Legion Field was considered a neutral site from 1948 through 1987. When the Iron Bowl became a home-and-home series in 1988, Alabama continued to host its home games in the series at Legion Field in even-numbered years through 1998. The Crimson Tide hosted Tennessee in odd-numbered years in Birmingham until 1999, and LSU in even-numbered years from 1964 through 1986, except for 1980. Usually, Bryant–Denny hosted three or four games per season, mostly non-conference games, although the Tide always played Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa, save for 1987, due to the close distance between Tuscaloosa and [[Starkville, Mississippi|Starkville]]. However, in 1998, when Bryant–Denny was expanded to a capacity exceeding Legion Field, the more important home games started to move to Bryant–Denny, culminating with the move of the Tennessee series to Tuscaloosa in 1999 and the Iron Bowl a year later.<ref name="March 6, 1999">{{cite news |title=Vols Due in Fall, AU in 2000|first=Cecil|last=Hurt|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6ckdAAAAIBAJ&pg=6026%2C631746|newspaper=[[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=March 6, 1999|access-date=February 3, 2011|page=1}}</ref> From 1998 to 2003, Alabama continued to play two or three minor games in Birmingham. Finally, in 2003, Alabama played its final game at Legion Field against the [[South Florida Bulls]], and now Bryant–Denny is the sole home of Alabama football.<ref name="Legion_all-time"/>

[[File:BDSfromDennyChimes.JPG|thumb|View of the northern side of the stadium (background) and [[Tailgate party|tailgaters]] as seen from the [[Denny Chimes]] vicinity of [[University of Alabama Quad|The Quad]] in 2008]]
However, despite the majority of past big games being played at Legion Field, Bryant–Denny Stadium has hosted many memorable games, such as the 1994 shootout between Alabama's [[Jay Barker]] and Georgia's [[Eric Zeier]], Marvin Constant's goal-line stop against [[1999 LSU Tigers football team|LSU]] quarterback Josh Booty as time expired in 1999, [[Tyrone Prothro]]'s reception over the back of Southern Miss defensive back Jasper Faulk in 2005, a 31–3 victory over No. 5 Florida in 2005, the [[Roman Harper]]-forced fumble against [[2005 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]] in 2005 that helped the Crimson Tide to victory, Alabama's 36–0 shutout victory against Auburn in 2008 thus breaking the six-game losing streak and first ever [[Iron Bowl]] victory in Bryant–Denny Stadium, and [[Terrence Cody]]'s field goal block against [[2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]] as time expired in 2009. Bryant-Denny has also been home to many notable and exciting losses, such as the 2010 Iron Bowl (commonly known as the “Camback”). In recent years, Bryant–Denny Stadium has become a feared place to play again.{{Citation Needed|reason=By whom?|date=May 2025}}  Also Bryant–Denny has been put on many lists ranking it one of the best places to watch football. [[NCAA Football 11]] ranked Alabama's Bryant–Denny as the fourth toughest place to play in the nation and third in the SEC behind [[Ben Hill Griffin Stadium|Florida]] and [[Tiger Stadium (LSU)|LSU]]. ''Sporting News'' ranks it first while Bleacher Report has it ranked as the 5th toughest and the 2nd best stadium in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=College Football Rankings: 25 Best College Football Game Day Experiences|first=Wes|last=O'Donnell|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/592904-25-best-college-football-game-day-experiences/page/25|work=[[Bleacher Report]]|date=February 1, 2011|access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref>

==Field design==
{{Panorama
 |image      = Bryant-Denny Stadium panoramic 2010-10-02.jpg 
 |fullwidth  =  
 |fullheight =  
 |caption    = The interior of Bryant–Denny Stadium (south end zone, left) in 2010
 |height     = 300
}}
Until the turn of the millennium, the field at Bryant–Denny Stadium had only the necessary markings required for play. As more and more stadiums began to add other designs to the field, such as logos, Alabama chose to remain traditional with the field design. In fact, even into the 2002 season, Bryant–Denny still had no logo at midfield and no logos at the 25-yard lines, which are now commonplace in many stadiums. The end zone design simply consisted of "ALABAMA" in a white, block-style font. During the 1992 season, however, a special logo was used at midfield to commemorate the centennial season of Alabama football.

During the 2002 season, however, a large white script “A” was added to midfield. The field design underwent full-scale changes beginning with the 2004 season. At midfield, the large white script “A” was replaced with the crimson script “A” logo, encircled by a crimson ring which has "Alabama Crimson Tide" written around it. In addition, the end zone designs were changed to a crimson block-style font outlined in white.

For the 2006 season, two identical logos commemorating the 175th anniversary of the university were also added to the field on the 25-yard lines. One was added on the south end of the stadium, on the west side of the playing field, while the other was on the north end of the stadium, on the east side of the playing field.

[[File:2011 houndstooth ribbon on the field at Bryant–Denny Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|alt=American football field with a houndstooth awareness ribbon painted on it.|Detail of the [[houndstooth]] [[awareness ribbon]] painted on-field in remembrance of the victims and damage of the April 2011 tornado]]
For the 2007 season, two identical logos commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) were added to home field of every SEC team. These were in the same places as the 175th logos were during the 2006 season.

For the 2008 season, two identical SEC logos were added to the home field of every SEC team. Alabama's crimson was used as the primary color for the logos at Bryant–Denny. These logos were located in the same places as the previous logos and remain there today.

For the 2009 A-day game, the end zones were changed back to the original white block-style font that was used prior to the 2004 season, except that the background was shaded crimson. The north end zone displayed "ALABAMA", while the south end zone displayed "CRIMSON TIDE".  This design layout has remained in use since the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Photo of Bryant-Denny Stadium Design for the 2009 A-day Game|url=http://i40.tinypic.com/dnp09e.jpg|publisher=Tiny Pic}}</ref>

For the 2011 season, two identical [[houndstooth]] [[awareness ribbon]]s recognizing the ongoing relief efforts following the [[2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado|April 27, 2011 tornado]] were added to the field on the 25 yard lines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bryant–Denny Unveils Tornado Ribbons|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=rivals-1259179|work=[[Rivals.com|Rivals]]|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=September 4, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Awareness">{{cite news |title=Alabama's Opener Against Kent State Could Help Healing in Tuscaloosa|first=Izzy|last=Gould|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/09/alabamas_opener_against_kent_s.html|newspaper=[[Press-Register]]|location=Mobile|date=September 2, 2011|access-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref>

==Locker rooms==
In 2008, the visitors' locker room was officially named "The Fail Room" after alumnus and donor [[James M. Fail]]. He commented, "Earlier this year, when I saw the visitors' locker room as a potential naming right, I figured it was the most appropriate opportunity I would ever have to use my name."<ref>{{cite press release |title=Bryant–Denny Stadium Visitors Locker Room Named for James M. Fail|url=http://www.rolltide.com/genrel/121508aab.html|publisher=University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics|date=December 15, 2008|access-date=December 15, 2008}}</ref>

==High school championships==
Beginning in 2009, Bryant–Denny Stadium and [[Auburn University]]'s [[Jordan-Hare Stadium|Jordan–Hare Stadium]] became the homes of the [[Alabama High School Athletic Association]] state football championship games, known as the Super 7 (named for the number of AHSAA enrollment classes in football). The newly opened [[Protective Stadium]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] was added to the Super 7 rotation in 2021. Under the current cycle, which ends in 2032, Birmingham hosts the event every third year from 2021 to 2030, with Bryant–Denny and Jordan–Hare alternating hosting duties in other years.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.ahsaa.com/Media/AHSAANOW/News-Articles/ahsaa-announces-2021-2032-sites-for-super-7 |title=AHSAA announces 2021-2032 sites for Super 7 |publisher=Alabama High School Athletic Association |date=November 13, 2019 |accessdate=October 3, 2021}}</ref> Previously, the Super 6, reflecting the former AHSAA football classification structure, was held at [[Legion Field]] in Birmingham.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" widths="300">
File:BDS Night (Iron Bowl 2006).jpg|[[Iron Bowl]] [[2006 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2006]]
File:Bryant-Denny scoreboard.jpg|The south end zone scoreboard in 2007. Installed in 1998, the JumboTron was removed during 2009-2010 renovations.
File:Bryant Denny Stadium Walk of Champions.jpg|The Walk of Champions in 2008.
File:University of Alabama Bryant-Denny Stadium Panorama.jpg|Panoramic view in 2009
File:BDS West 2010-11-26.jpg|Looking west in [[2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|2010]]
File:Statues of Coaches at Bryant-Danny-Stadium.jpg|The "Coaches Walk" alongside the Walk of Champions in 2012. It features statues to prominent [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Crimson Tide football]] head coaches.
File:BryantDennyStadiumApril2013Tuscaloosa.png|Bryant–Denny Stadium in April 2013
File:Bryant Denny Stadium.jpg|Interior at night during off-season, 2015
File:Alabama Crimson Tide Game.jpg|2010 Alabama vs San Jose State
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons cat}}
* {{official website}}

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