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Since 1929, the Alabama Crimson Tide have played their home games at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Originally named Denny Stadium after former university President George H. Denny, its current name came about in 1975 as a result of a measure passed by the Alabama State Legislature in honor of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Bryant coached the Crimson Tide until 1982. Thus, for seven years, the iconic coach led his team in a stadium named after him.
The stadium name will remain unchanged. However, the University of Alabama has announced that, effective September 7, 2024, the field within the stadium will be dedicated to and named after Nick Saban. The university's board of trustees is scheduled to meet on July 19 to formally approve a measure to name the field after Saban.
About Bryant-Denny Stadium
The historic stadium has a seating capacity of 100,077. It is the eighth-largest stadium in the United States of America and the 10th-largest stadium in the world.
For the first four decades of the stadium's existence, the field surface was natural grass. Then, from 1968 to 1990, the surface was AstroTurf. In 1991, the grass surface was restored and remains to the present.
Over the course of its history, Bryant-Denny Stadium has been expanded 8 times.
Outside of the stadium, a statue of Saban stands. The statue was erected on the "Walk of Champions." Saban's statue stands alongside four other Alabama national championship coaches—Wallace Wade, Frank Thomas, Bryant and Gene Stallings.
Nick Saban: Living Legend
After coaching the LSU Tigers for 5 years and leading the team to a national championship in 2003, Saban had a brief stint in the NFL, coaching the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006. He then coached the Crimson Tide for 17 seasons, leading the team to 6 national titles.
Saban's home record in Bryant-Denny was a staggering 108-9. In his last 8 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the Tide only lost 1 home game. That loss came at the hands of an undefeated LSU team that went on to win the national championship.
Saban is currently working as a college football analyst for ESPN.
The dedication of the field in honor of Saban is slated to take place in conjunction with the Tide's second game of the season against South Florida.
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Thank you for clarifying the distinction between the field and the stadium. I'm glad Alabama is retaining the name of the stadium, while honoring Saban by naming the field after him.