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Bryant-Denny Stadium
First Opened: 1929
THE HISTORY
Bryant-Denny Stadium has been the home of Alabama football since 1929 and was first known as the George Hutchenson Denny Stadium. The state legislature renamed the stadium "Bryant-Denny Stadium" in 1975. Denny Stadium opened on September 28, 1929 and was officially dedicated the following week at Homecoming ceremonies. In 1937 the first expansion of the stadium took place as 6,000 seats were added on the east side and brought capacity to 18,000. In 1950, capacity grew to 25,000. In 1961, the grandstands reached 61 rows and capacity was 43,000. The capacity grew to 60,000 in 1966 and then to 70,123 in 1988.
The most recent expansion, completed in August of 1998, moved capacity to 83,818 by adding the east side upper deck. The new deck provided 10,000 additional bleacher seats and 81 skyboxes on two levels. The skyboxes were built in two sizes: 24-seat capacity (18) and 16-seat capacity (63). In 1999, four additional skyboxes were built to bring total skybox capacity to 85. A scoreboard with video display capabilities was erected in the south endzone, as well as new light towers for the east side of the stadium. A new new east side entrance tower a brick facade and reception areas for the Scholarship and A-Club level patrons was also added during the 1998 expansion.
Prior to Bryant-Denny Stadium being built, the Tide played on the Quad (1893-1914), Denny Field (1915-1917 and 1919-1928). Those years represent a total of 53 games for which Bama posted a 44-9 record. There were two different sites used on the Quad, the first located on the southeast corner, with the field running parallel to 6th Avenue. Around the turn of the century, the field was moved 90-degrees to the west to run parallel to University Boulevard.
In 1915, games were played on University Field, renamed Denny Field in 1920, where the Tide played for the next 14 years. Alabama posted a 43-2 record on that field and held opponents scoreless in 35 of those games. Denny Field was two blocks east of the current stadium, behind Little Hall. Mallet Hall and Parker-Adams Hall now stand on the north endzone of Denny Field. A parking lot covers the rest of what remains of Denny Field.
Bryant-Denny has long been a stadium feared by opponents. The Crimson Tide owns an impressive 185-32-3 all-time record at the stadium, and has boasted sellouts at 56 consecutive Tuscaloosa games since 1988. Bryant-Denny is the fifth-largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference.
WHAT LIES AHEAD?
Bryant-Denny Stadium North End Zone Expansion
The Crimson Tradition Fund will fund the expansion of the north end zone area of Bryant-Denny Stadium and build a new plaza area leading to this magnificent facility that would include additional sky boxes and a club level area as well as traditional upper deck seating. The expansion will add approximately 10,000 seats to Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The plaza area will create a landscape that will not only vividly enhance the appearance of Bryant-Denny but also the entire campus.
For ticket information, call the Athletic Ticket Office at (205) 348-6111.
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