Finances good for Alabama

By The Commercial
Appeal

Originally published 11:27 p.m., November 20, 2008
Updated 11:27 p.m., November 20, 2008

This is why Alabama paid Nick Saban $4 million a year to coach the Crimson Tide: An 11-0 record this season translates into a huge demand for Crimson Tide home game tickets. With more than 10,000 people on the waiting list for Tide season tickets, Alabama is planning a Bryant-Denny Stadium expansion that will take the capacity to more than 101,000. The cost is $80.6 million.

According to calculations, the new portion of the stadium will bring in $9.25 million annually. The expansion will include an 8,500-seat upper deck, an upper concourse with concessions stands and rest rooms, 34 sky boxes, two expanded sky boxes, a 1,700-seat capacity South Zone club, a 1,500-seat capacity Stadium club, two corner video boards and other amenities. No state funds will be used.

Alabama System Board of Trustee president pro tem Finis St. John said one of the main reasons for expansion is to increase student seating. He also said there is no definite timetable for expansion, particularly with the shape of the national economy.

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