My Favorite Stadium

My favorite stadium is a stadium that I call my “happy place”. You know that place they tell you to put yourself in when something bad is about to happen to you and you don't want to think about it. (Like being in a dentist office)

Let your mind go there, to your happy place. Most people think of babbling brooks, fields of wildflowers, snow-capped mountains or waves crashing on a beach. Me, I think of a stadium with over 101,000 fans yelling to the tops of their lungs for an American College Football game. This, of course, is Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.

I have no remembrance of not being an avid NCAA Football fan. As long as I can remember, and I am 60 years old so that’s a long time, I have been a fan of the Crimson Tide.

When I first fell in love with the Tide their games weren’t all played in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Games that were expected to draw more than 60,00 were played at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL, 57 miles north of Tuscaloosa. It wasn’t until the late 1980’s that UA began to play all their home games in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Bryant-Denny has witnessed many renovations and additions since it was built in 1929 with a seating capacity of only 12,000. Today it has a seating capacity of 101,821. It is the 5th largest stadium in the nation and the 8th largest in the world.

I was an adult before I got to attend my first Bama game. My dad was “old school” and didn’t allow me to go with him and my brother to the games they attended. My dad was and is a very wonderful man, but they went with other men and my dad didn’t think it appropriate for me to be with them. Daddy knew how much I loved Alabama football and how heartbroken I was when I didn’t get to go to the games growing up. He couldn’t forget, I wouldn’t let him! I hounded him every football season with “you took my brother, but because I’m a girl, I didn’t get to go”. He finally had enough of my harassment and bought tickets for the entire family! By this time, Pete and my son was already a young teenager. But, we had so much fun! The entire family together in Bryant-Denny Stadium cheering on our Crimson Tide.

Since the first time attending a game, I have been to Bryant-Denny several times. Our son, Daniel, was great at taking his mom to games and championship celebrations until he got married and had someone much better to take with him. In all honesty, our son and daughter-n-law have also taken us with them to games. It’s a family outing most of us enjoy.

Pete would rather watch the games from the comfort of his recliner, on his wide-screen TV, in the air-conditioning (in Alabama we use A/C until November). Me, I want to be in that glorious stadium! I love the smell of popcorn, hot-dogs, nacho’s and the feeling of excitement when our team takes the field. The smiles on faces and squeals of delight coming from avid fans ranging from very young infants to very old folks in wheelchairs. I love singing Rammer Jammer, Yea Alabama and Dixie Land Delight with over 101,000 of my best friends.

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"Picture this…four video scoreboards and a roaring crowd of nearly 101,821 fans chanting “Rooooolllll Tide, Roll.” Where are you? That’s right; you’re at Bryant-Denny Stadium, home of the Alabama Crimson Tide since 1929 and the winners of 16 national championships. The recording of former coach Bear Bryant’s voice is broadcast throughout the stadium. The University of Alabama’s “Million Dollar Band” of around 400 truly sounds like a million dollars, as they lead the crowd into the Alabama fight song, “Yea Alabama,” the fans can’t help but show their team spirit. In the final minute of a football game when there is no question that Alabama has whipped its opponent the Million Dollar Band leads the crowd into the ‘Rammer Jammer Cheer.’"

Source Of Quote

Disclaimer

I am disqualifying myself from the Scorum Bounty rewards contest. I have not linked this to social media or linked to anyone or anything on this platform. I just haven't written anything since NCAA football season ended in January and this gave me something to write about.