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Foster Auditorium - Alabama Crimson Tide
Women’s volleyball has been a varsity sport at the University of Alabama since 1974.
www.stadiumjourney.com
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Foster Auditorium
801 6th Ave.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Alabama Crimson Tide website
Foster Auditorium website
Year Opened: 1939
Capacity: 3,800
Can't Spike On The Tide
Women’s volleyball has been a varsity sport at the University of Alabama since 1974. Despite being overshadowed by the Crimson Tide’s other sports programs the volleyball team has made five NCAA Tournament appearances as of the writing of this article. The volleyball program called Foster Auditorium home until 1995 when it moved to Coleman Coliseum. After playing at the basketball arena for a few years and in the Coleman Auxiliary Volleyball Extension for a decade Foster Auditorium received a renovation. It became home to the volleyball program once again in 2011.Food & Beverage 2
There is one concession stand on the lower level of the venue that sells stadium basics such as hot dogs ($6), pretzels ($7), chips ($3.50), popcorn ($7), candy ($4), peanuts ($6), & cracker jacks ($4). Rita’s Italian Ice ($8.50), milkshakes ($9), frozen drinks ($9), and custard cookie sandwiches ($7) are also offered. Bottled beverages on sale include water ($6), Coca-Cola branded sodas ($6), and Powerade ($6). While alcohol is allowed to be sold at Crimson Tide athletic events, Foster Auditorium does not sell any beer.Atmosphere 3
The main entrance to Foster Auditorium is located by the Malone-Hood Plaza which is the rear entrance. This is the entrance where the infamous “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” incident took place in 1963. Within the plaza is the Autherine Lucy Clock Tower, which is named after the first black student to attend the University of Alabama.Upon walking inside the auditorium the lobby has a table with goodies and a merchandise stand. A hallway has a mirage of Alabama Women’s volleyball and basketball players (the women’s basketball team played at Foster Auditorium from 2011-2016 and still practices there as of the writing of this article).
The seating is split into two levels with four rows of high school-style bleachers on the floor of the gym along the length and one end while the main seating area is on the upper level with seven rows of old-style bleachers in a horseshoe shape. The student section is a massive wall of retractable bleachers at the end of the venue. The team benches are located opposite the bleachers on the floor.
The floor is a volleyball court with gray basketball lines painted on (presumably for basketball practice use). The floor had been a basketball court with volleyball lines painted on until a couple of years ago. There are banners commemorating the postseason successes of both the volleyball and women’s basketball teams. LED scoreboards are located behind each set of floor bleachers and the team benches while a video board is behind the student section.
During the starting lineups, each volleyball player will throw a T-shirt into the crowd. The cheerleaders do their part to get the fans and students' energy behind the Tide.
Neighborhood 5
Foster Auditorium is located in the heart of the University of Alabama campus. It is a short walk from Bryant-Denny Stadium, Coleman Coliseum, and Sewell-Thomas Stadium. For families, the Alabama Museum of Natural History is a short walk from Foster Auditorium on the corner of the quad. The venue is not too far from “The Strip” which is Tuscaloosa’s entertainment district. “There are a plethora of restaurants and bars on “The Strip” and even more options downtown. Local favorites include Jim-N’-Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Taco Mama, and Mugshots Grill and Bar. For lodging Hotel Capstone is on campus while downtown has several hotel chains including Comfort Inn, Homewood Suites, and Embassy Suites.Fans 3
A typical crowd will have the families and friends of the volleyball players. The student section will have a decent amount of students with “Tide Loyalty” points on offer for priority access to Alabama football tickets. Alabama has various promotions to increase volleyball turnout including photo ops with “Big Al”, kids days, and a Greek night for the fraternities and sororities.Access 3
From I-20/59 turn off exit 73 onto McFarland Boulevard North and drive until you reach the University Boulevard exit. Turn off at that ramp and make a right towards the University of Alabama. Drive until you hit Hackberry Lane and make a left. Foster Auditorium will be on your right.The venue is not the easiest to navigate as the main seating area on the upper level requires a walk up a flight of stairs. The walkways into the seating bowl are also tricky to navigate as the rails are on the end of the aisles, not in the middle. This makes moving around Foster Auditorium trickier than in other venues.
Return on Investment 3
General admission tickets in the upper-level seats are $8 for non-conference matchups and $10 for games against SEC opponents. There is a $3 discount for people under the age of 18 and group tickets are available for $5/person. Season tickets start at $50 for an upper-level seat and $75 for a seat on the floor. A “Four-Pack” of season tickets goes for $160 ($40/person) on the upper level or $240 ($60/person) on the floor. Alabama has twelve home dates in 2024 so a season ticket can be a great value!Extras 3
Foster Auditorium has a very important place in the history of the civil rights movement in Alabama. The auditorium was where students registered for classes in the 1960s. In 1963 George Wallace attempted to prevent James Hood and Vivian Malone from registering for classes in what is known as “The Stand in the Schoolhouse Door”. The stand took place at the rear door, which is now the main entrance to the auditorium.
As mentioned earlier the venue is where the Alabama women’s basketball team practices and where women’s games were played in the early 2010s. A new practice facility is being built for the men’s basketball team which will see the women’s team move their practices to Coleman Coliseum.
The most points scored by an individual player in an SEC game happened at Foster Auditorium. LSU’s Pete Maravich dropped 69 points against Alabama on February 7, 1970. That was the Division 1 record for over two decades until Kevin Bradshaw broke it in 1991.
