I have seen several threads with questions, and since I live and work in Birmingham, I thought I would put out some real info (from my perspective) about Birmingham, the Compass Bowl, and all things related...so here goes:
Legion field is located basically directly west of downtown. Probably about 20 or 25 blocks from the center of the city. Downtown is bordered on the north by I-20 and on the West by 1-65 and on the East by Highway 31/280, which runs southeast, out of town. The stadium is not walking distance for folks staying downtown. You need either to plan on shuttling, or taking a cab, or driving over to the stadium, if you are staying down there. Cabs are unreliable and highly scarce in Birmingham, particularly when you seem to need one....unless you are at the airport.
Parking is not bad, as I have attended the last couple of Compass Bowls. Usually, you can plan on paying around $10 to $15 bucks to park, within a couple or three blocks of the stadium (in private lots). Most parking is run by fundraiser types, like churches and such, and they will have people that hang out and watch their lots, to help deter any bad stuff. I have never had a problem, parking or walking to the stadium, particularly on the east side, within about 2-3 blocks.
The stadium is located in an old and fairly run down part of town...and its probably not the place where you wanna hang out on a normal day...having said that, they do try to put alot of security around on the game day, and I have not seen or experienced any issues around the stadium on game day. If you do plan to setup a tent, plan to pay for extra parking, or pay for the space that you use....probably around $10 bucks extra for each otherwise occupiable parking space your stuff takes up. I've seen grilling and all types of setups, so, I dont think there are rules against open flames or barbecues or anything like that.
Here is the policy on parking and tailgating in "official lots":
Game day parking is available starting at 9 a.m. The cost is $8 per vehicle. Fans taking up another space or erecting a tent will be charged an additional fee of $10. Those wanting to park earlier than 9 a.m. should enter Lot M. RVs are also accommodated in the parking area. These vehicles may park in Lot M. This lot opens up at 8 a.m. the day prior to the game. The cost is $20 per day with an additional charge of $8 is towing a vehicle. For those with disabilities, parking is available in Lot F.
Tailgating:
Although tailgating is allowed, there is an additional charge of $8 for fans taking up an additional space. Because space is at a premium and parking attendants must help accommodate as many fans as possible in the parking areas, workers are told to park vehicles as close as possible and in a safe and orderly manner. Also, parking attendants must keep an adequate fire lane open between parking rows.
The following tailgating policies are in effect for the BBVA Compass Bowl:
Tailgating is permitted outside your vehicle. Fans using additional parking space or setting up a tent will pay $10 per additional space.Those tailgating in a lot other than the one their vehicle is parked in will pay $10 for each additional space that they occupy.Prior to entering the parking lot, you must notify the cashier at the entrance to the lot that you wish to purchase tailgating space. The cashier will provide you with the number of parking tickets that correspond to the amount of space you'll be utilizing.When parking your vehicle, you must show the attendant your additional tickets in order to assure you're allotted the proper amount of space.As a security precaution, fans may not tailgate on the tarmac surrounding Legion Field.If you have special accommodations, please contact Kevin Moore in the Legion Field office at least 10 days before the game. Any additional questions regarding tailgating may also be directed to that office.The stadium itself is old and rundown. They likely will only have the sidelines and one endzone open, though its a full bowled in stadium....both endzones were blocked off last year. Concessions are not cheap, and they do sell beers inside...mainly Coors products, if I remember correctly, and they are about $6 bucks for a 16 oz can. No need trying to slip in a cooler or anything like that, though, I have made it through easily with a plastic flask in the boot. They will check purses and bags and such, pretty typical.
If you come without tickets, they will be easy, and cheap. I have never paid for tickets, as they are usually given to me by co-workers or friends...but, I will say that we bought 5 tickets for tag along friends last year, walk up, from a scalper in the parking lot, sideline, about 30 rows up, 20 yardline or so, right behind the SMU band...$100 bucks, for all 5. Pitt has been here the last two years running, and neither year would I say they had more than 5,000 people at the game. Their side, the west side, will be very spotty with their fans, and locals, to the extent locals choose to attend the game. In fact, a co-worker today passed along 6 tickets to me for a total of $70 on that side of the stadium...yes, less than 12 bucks each (not trying to dissuade anyone from buying through Ole Miss, so dont read it wrong; but it is what it is)
Premium seating areas are in Sections 9, 10, 11, and 12 on the West side of the stadium and sections 35 and 36 on the East.
As to activities (these are the official events):
The day before the BBVA Compass Bowl there is a free public Street Festival and Pep Rally from in Birmingham at Historic Five Points South. The festival runs from 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and the pep rally is held from 5:00 p.m. ? 6 p.m. The day is sponsored by Five Points South Merchant Group.
Then morning of the game, Fan Zone, a celebratory gathering, takes place outside of Legion Field. This is another free even that open to the public. After the game, Lakeview presents the Post Game Party in the Lakeview Entertainment District located at 29th South Street. It is the third free event associated with the BBVA Compass Bowl.
As to where to stay:
Anything in Hoover is fine, but thats about a 15 minute drive up I-65 to downtown or the stadium. Its a fairly upscale, suburban area, south of downtown, with lots of chain food joints. The galleria mall is out there (and the hotel at the galleria, is where SEC media days are held). If you are booked out there, its fine on accomodations, and safety, but you arent going to be walking anywhere...plan to have a car. Think Bonefish or Hooters or Buffalo Wild Wings, or maybe some a little more upscale out that way. Also, if you are in early, on January 1 though 4, the Rebels are practicing at Hoover High facilities, and you will be close to that, if you desire to take in practices.
Most places out Highway 31 or 280 are fine, like the Hilton Perimeter Park. If you are staying along either of those routes, you are south of downtown or southeast. Plan on about 20 minutes plus to get into downtown or to the stadium. Out that 280 way, you are near the Summit, and there you will find The Tavern (up and down), Chuys mexican, Flemings, and lots of shopping, etc. Along 280, you will find a Superior Grill (yes, same as the one in Baton Rouge and Shreveport), and the Fox and Hound is a good sports bar, in the Colonnade, directly in front of the Hilton Perimeter Park. Theres also the Tilted Kilt (think Irish Hooters) and several other joints along the route south of the Summit. If you are completely late night bored, and wanna hang out for some decent music at a complete dive joint, go to Hogans, just off 280. Its Alabama at its Lynard Skynard finest...haha.
Dont stay out east or north of town. Thats Irondale and Centerpoint, and they are not good (think rundown areas around the airport).
If you can get anything that is in Mountain Brook or Homewood, you are in good shape. Both of those areas are fairly upscale. In Homewood, on the old mainstreet there, there are numerous good joints to eat and drink, and you can walk and take in local shops if you like that kinda thing. Theres a great old Pizza joint (Daves) and a cool Mexican joint (Little Donkey). Theres also a Michaels Steakhouse, a Jacksons, and those joints are good food and fairly nice.
In Mountain Brook, you have three small town type villages (set in between two old Country Clubs, Birmingham CC and Mountain Brook CC). In Mountain Brook Village, there is Dram/Avo (great food and whiskey bar)...in Crestline Village there is Mafiaoza's Italian, Oteys, LaPaz Mexican and Dyrons Low Country, which are all great joints to hang out in and eat and watch sports and get music....In English Village, there are three or four joints, with music and sports settings, the best of which is Billy's Bar and Grille.
As to downtown...the Tutwiler Hotel is right across the street from my office. Its safe, but have a car if you wanna go anywhere. Its at about 6th avenue north, and to give perspective, Five points is at about 11th avenue South...so 15 plus blocks, southward, to get to Five Points. On the north streets, about the only place worth going at night is the Rogue Tavern, and a couple surrounding joints (the Wine Bar), which have good music and food and drink. Those are at 2nd avenue north, between 21st and 22nd streets. If you stay at any other downtown hotels, you are probably ok, but have a car, and dont plan on doing much walking around, particularly late hours. The old Redmont is pretty cool, and its on about 4th avenue North, but again, have a car if you wanna go anywhere other than a couple blocks.
Five Points South puts you in position for the best local food in town...Ocean, 26, Highland Bar and Grille, Botega are all in that area. Lots of other joints down there too. The UAB crowd comes out at night down there, and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays nites are fairly busy down there. Some people claim its unsafe, but i'd put it as safer than Beale Street, for comparison, and yet, not a place where you wanna be wandering the streets after midnight.
The old Sloss Furnace is interesting if you are into that sorta thing. You are moving east of downtown when you head over that way, over to around 29th street and 2nd avenue north. There is a good party area over on 29th, between 7th and 6th avenues, south The Furnace is the only local Gentleman's Club that is worth attending. Over that way, find a joint called "Five" and I can assure you will dig the bar and the food. There is also a sports bar across the street and I cant recall the name right now, but its cool too. Pepper Place is also pretty cool, the old Dr Pepper factory converted into lots of shops and restaurants and bars. Decent to hang out at.
I hope that helps you all out. Purely opinion in most instances, but fairly informed on all I have mentioned.
I am happy to provide specifics on any other areas or places you might wanna know about...if I know them...all the ones I mention above, I have been to, and or, am very familiar with the areas.
As we get closer to the game, I will post where I am hearing the best parties and joints to be at are for Rebel Fans...I will get some perspective on that from the local Alumni Club and see what they set up.
Personally, I will hit the Five Points Compass sponsored party on Friday with the Family, and later that evening, the wife and I will probably make it to Highland Bar and Grille or Botega for eats and drinking, followed by The WIne Bar and or the Rogue Tavern for music and a nightcap. Hope to see some Rebels around during the week.
Hotty Toddy!
MBR
Legion field is located basically directly west of downtown. Probably about 20 or 25 blocks from the center of the city. Downtown is bordered on the north by I-20 and on the West by 1-65 and on the East by Highway 31/280, which runs southeast, out of town. The stadium is not walking distance for folks staying downtown. You need either to plan on shuttling, or taking a cab, or driving over to the stadium, if you are staying down there. Cabs are unreliable and highly scarce in Birmingham, particularly when you seem to need one....unless you are at the airport.
Parking is not bad, as I have attended the last couple of Compass Bowls. Usually, you can plan on paying around $10 to $15 bucks to park, within a couple or three blocks of the stadium (in private lots). Most parking is run by fundraiser types, like churches and such, and they will have people that hang out and watch their lots, to help deter any bad stuff. I have never had a problem, parking or walking to the stadium, particularly on the east side, within about 2-3 blocks.
The stadium is located in an old and fairly run down part of town...and its probably not the place where you wanna hang out on a normal day...having said that, they do try to put alot of security around on the game day, and I have not seen or experienced any issues around the stadium on game day. If you do plan to setup a tent, plan to pay for extra parking, or pay for the space that you use....probably around $10 bucks extra for each otherwise occupiable parking space your stuff takes up. I've seen grilling and all types of setups, so, I dont think there are rules against open flames or barbecues or anything like that.
Here is the policy on parking and tailgating in "official lots":
Game day parking is available starting at 9 a.m. The cost is $8 per vehicle. Fans taking up another space or erecting a tent will be charged an additional fee of $10. Those wanting to park earlier than 9 a.m. should enter Lot M. RVs are also accommodated in the parking area. These vehicles may park in Lot M. This lot opens up at 8 a.m. the day prior to the game. The cost is $20 per day with an additional charge of $8 is towing a vehicle. For those with disabilities, parking is available in Lot F.
Tailgating:
Although tailgating is allowed, there is an additional charge of $8 for fans taking up an additional space. Because space is at a premium and parking attendants must help accommodate as many fans as possible in the parking areas, workers are told to park vehicles as close as possible and in a safe and orderly manner. Also, parking attendants must keep an adequate fire lane open between parking rows.
The following tailgating policies are in effect for the BBVA Compass Bowl:
Tailgating is permitted outside your vehicle. Fans using additional parking space or setting up a tent will pay $10 per additional space.Those tailgating in a lot other than the one their vehicle is parked in will pay $10 for each additional space that they occupy.Prior to entering the parking lot, you must notify the cashier at the entrance to the lot that you wish to purchase tailgating space. The cashier will provide you with the number of parking tickets that correspond to the amount of space you'll be utilizing.When parking your vehicle, you must show the attendant your additional tickets in order to assure you're allotted the proper amount of space.As a security precaution, fans may not tailgate on the tarmac surrounding Legion Field.If you have special accommodations, please contact Kevin Moore in the Legion Field office at least 10 days before the game. Any additional questions regarding tailgating may also be directed to that office.The stadium itself is old and rundown. They likely will only have the sidelines and one endzone open, though its a full bowled in stadium....both endzones were blocked off last year. Concessions are not cheap, and they do sell beers inside...mainly Coors products, if I remember correctly, and they are about $6 bucks for a 16 oz can. No need trying to slip in a cooler or anything like that, though, I have made it through easily with a plastic flask in the boot. They will check purses and bags and such, pretty typical.
If you come without tickets, they will be easy, and cheap. I have never paid for tickets, as they are usually given to me by co-workers or friends...but, I will say that we bought 5 tickets for tag along friends last year, walk up, from a scalper in the parking lot, sideline, about 30 rows up, 20 yardline or so, right behind the SMU band...$100 bucks, for all 5. Pitt has been here the last two years running, and neither year would I say they had more than 5,000 people at the game. Their side, the west side, will be very spotty with their fans, and locals, to the extent locals choose to attend the game. In fact, a co-worker today passed along 6 tickets to me for a total of $70 on that side of the stadium...yes, less than 12 bucks each (not trying to dissuade anyone from buying through Ole Miss, so dont read it wrong; but it is what it is)
Premium seating areas are in Sections 9, 10, 11, and 12 on the West side of the stadium and sections 35 and 36 on the East.
As to activities (these are the official events):
The day before the BBVA Compass Bowl there is a free public Street Festival and Pep Rally from in Birmingham at Historic Five Points South. The festival runs from 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and the pep rally is held from 5:00 p.m. ? 6 p.m. The day is sponsored by Five Points South Merchant Group.
Then morning of the game, Fan Zone, a celebratory gathering, takes place outside of Legion Field. This is another free even that open to the public. After the game, Lakeview presents the Post Game Party in the Lakeview Entertainment District located at 29th South Street. It is the third free event associated with the BBVA Compass Bowl.
As to where to stay:
Anything in Hoover is fine, but thats about a 15 minute drive up I-65 to downtown or the stadium. Its a fairly upscale, suburban area, south of downtown, with lots of chain food joints. The galleria mall is out there (and the hotel at the galleria, is where SEC media days are held). If you are booked out there, its fine on accomodations, and safety, but you arent going to be walking anywhere...plan to have a car. Think Bonefish or Hooters or Buffalo Wild Wings, or maybe some a little more upscale out that way. Also, if you are in early, on January 1 though 4, the Rebels are practicing at Hoover High facilities, and you will be close to that, if you desire to take in practices.
Most places out Highway 31 or 280 are fine, like the Hilton Perimeter Park. If you are staying along either of those routes, you are south of downtown or southeast. Plan on about 20 minutes plus to get into downtown or to the stadium. Out that 280 way, you are near the Summit, and there you will find The Tavern (up and down), Chuys mexican, Flemings, and lots of shopping, etc. Along 280, you will find a Superior Grill (yes, same as the one in Baton Rouge and Shreveport), and the Fox and Hound is a good sports bar, in the Colonnade, directly in front of the Hilton Perimeter Park. Theres also the Tilted Kilt (think Irish Hooters) and several other joints along the route south of the Summit. If you are completely late night bored, and wanna hang out for some decent music at a complete dive joint, go to Hogans, just off 280. Its Alabama at its Lynard Skynard finest...haha.
Dont stay out east or north of town. Thats Irondale and Centerpoint, and they are not good (think rundown areas around the airport).
If you can get anything that is in Mountain Brook or Homewood, you are in good shape. Both of those areas are fairly upscale. In Homewood, on the old mainstreet there, there are numerous good joints to eat and drink, and you can walk and take in local shops if you like that kinda thing. Theres a great old Pizza joint (Daves) and a cool Mexican joint (Little Donkey). Theres also a Michaels Steakhouse, a Jacksons, and those joints are good food and fairly nice.
In Mountain Brook, you have three small town type villages (set in between two old Country Clubs, Birmingham CC and Mountain Brook CC). In Mountain Brook Village, there is Dram/Avo (great food and whiskey bar)...in Crestline Village there is Mafiaoza's Italian, Oteys, LaPaz Mexican and Dyrons Low Country, which are all great joints to hang out in and eat and watch sports and get music....In English Village, there are three or four joints, with music and sports settings, the best of which is Billy's Bar and Grille.
As to downtown...the Tutwiler Hotel is right across the street from my office. Its safe, but have a car if you wanna go anywhere. Its at about 6th avenue north, and to give perspective, Five points is at about 11th avenue South...so 15 plus blocks, southward, to get to Five Points. On the north streets, about the only place worth going at night is the Rogue Tavern, and a couple surrounding joints (the Wine Bar), which have good music and food and drink. Those are at 2nd avenue north, between 21st and 22nd streets. If you stay at any other downtown hotels, you are probably ok, but have a car, and dont plan on doing much walking around, particularly late hours. The old Redmont is pretty cool, and its on about 4th avenue North, but again, have a car if you wanna go anywhere other than a couple blocks.
Five Points South puts you in position for the best local food in town...Ocean, 26, Highland Bar and Grille, Botega are all in that area. Lots of other joints down there too. The UAB crowd comes out at night down there, and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays nites are fairly busy down there. Some people claim its unsafe, but i'd put it as safer than Beale Street, for comparison, and yet, not a place where you wanna be wandering the streets after midnight.
The old Sloss Furnace is interesting if you are into that sorta thing. You are moving east of downtown when you head over that way, over to around 29th street and 2nd avenue north. There is a good party area over on 29th, between 7th and 6th avenues, south The Furnace is the only local Gentleman's Club that is worth attending. Over that way, find a joint called "Five" and I can assure you will dig the bar and the food. There is also a sports bar across the street and I cant recall the name right now, but its cool too. Pepper Place is also pretty cool, the old Dr Pepper factory converted into lots of shops and restaurants and bars. Decent to hang out at.
I hope that helps you all out. Purely opinion in most instances, but fairly informed on all I have mentioned.
I am happy to provide specifics on any other areas or places you might wanna know about...if I know them...all the ones I mention above, I have been to, and or, am very familiar with the areas.
As we get closer to the game, I will post where I am hearing the best parties and joints to be at are for Rebel Fans...I will get some perspective on that from the local Alumni Club and see what they set up.
Personally, I will hit the Five Points Compass sponsored party on Friday with the Family, and later that evening, the wife and I will probably make it to Highland Bar and Grille or Botega for eats and drinking, followed by The WIne Bar and or the Rogue Tavern for music and a nightcap. Hope to see some Rebels around during the week.
Hotty Toddy!
MBR
