Where to see the game: Final Four watch parties for Alabama basketball in Tuscaloosa

Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News
·4 min read

The Crimson Tide is in the Final Four for the first time ever and fans will be gathering throughout Tuscaloosa this weekend to watch a little bit of University of Alabama basketball history being made.

Saturday night, the No. 4 seeded Alabama men's basketball team meets the No. 1 seeded Connecticut Huskies in Glendale, Arizona's State Farm Stadium, tipping off on TBS, TNT and TruTV at 7:49 Central; the game will also be streaming on March Madness Live.

Where to watch the Final Four on UA's campus

Alabama's home-game venue, Coleman Coliseum, will open its doors at 7 p.m. for UA's official Final Four Watch Party. It's free and open to the public.

Parking will be available in the Coleman lots, and Capstone Deck. The north and east entrances will be open, with the clear-bag policy in effect.

Patrons will have to pass through metal detectors, and can bring in no outside food or beverages. Concession stands will be open, as will merchandise stands, in the concourse. There'll be a DJ, giveaways and more throughout the evening.

More: Who is in the Final Four? Teams, odds, more for 2024 March Madness semifinals, championship

Where to watch the Final Four at Tuscaloosa bars, restaurants

Should fans wish to gather in other crowds of the like-minded, local clubs and restaurants, especially those heavily sports-themed, are a safe bet to turn on banks of screens showing coach Nate Oats and company.

Baumhower's Victory Grille, at 500 Harper Lee Drive, home to the "Hey Coach" broadcasts, has been offering a Slam Dunk Madness menu during the NCAA basketball tournament, with platters of wings and other dipping favorites at special rates. Baumhower's, founded by former Crimson Tide and Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Bob Baumhower, also has a second Tuscaloosa location, at 4251 Courtney Drive. All 10 of the franchise's locations throughout the south boast "wall to wall TVs." For more, see www.baumhowers.com.

Jan 24, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama forward Nick Pringle (23) celebrates with fans at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama upset 8th ranked Auburn 79-75. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama forward Nick Pringle (23) celebrates with fans at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama upset 8th ranked Auburn 79-75. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Long before most local sports-theme joints were even hoop dreams, the deep spacious room at 2201 Fourth St. in downtown Tuscaloosa featured the longest wooden bar in town. Originally called Lee's Tomb, and home to live music, pool tables and more, it became more of a sports bar with transformation to Wilhagan's. Now known as Grandstand, it continues to offer a pub-food and drinks menu, with live music, and nine large-screen TVs.

For Saturday's Final Four, Grandstand will open at 4 p.m., with the full menu available, drink specials on offer, and live music before and after the game. www.facebook.com/GrandstandTuscaloosa.

The Venue Tuscaloosa, 6052 Watermelon Road in Northport, will have live music by Jackson Chase from noon-3 p.m., then again pre-game, 5:30-7:30. The game will be projected on a blown-up screen on stage, and all the Venue's TVs. Free to attend; The Venue has several food and drink vendors on site. venuetuscaloosa.com.

April 2, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Fans greet the Alabama basketball team and staff as they arrive at Tuscaloosa National Airport Tuesday for the trip to Phoenix to play in the Final Four.
April 2, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Fans greet the Alabama basketball team and staff as they arrive at Tuscaloosa National Airport Tuesday for the trip to Phoenix to play in the Final Four.

More: What channel is UConn vs Alabama basketball on? Time, TV schedule for March Madness game

Druid City Brewing isn't known or advertised as a sports bar, but the city's first brewpub, expanded into more spacious quarters in 2023, bows to no one in its reverence for all things Druid City. With counters and oak topped-pieces salvaged and repurposed from Leland Lanes bowling alley, Tuscaloosa Drug Co. and other defunct places, DCBC also sports a crescent-moon-faced logo, reminiscent of Alberta's beloved and now-gone Moon Winx sign. Posters and flyer art from other legendary concert halls and watering holes paper the walls. On the rotating chalkboard/posterboard art over its bar, sports figures from Nick Saban to athletic director Greg Byrne to softball slugger Bailey Hemphill, and many more, have been feted.

Ell's Kitchen, an addition the 700 14th St., Parkview Plaza expansion made possible, will be offering specials on its gameday dogs, both sauerkraut and chili dogs, during Saturday's Final Four celebration. There'll also be live music from Nicole Boggs and The Reel. druidcitybrewing.com.

Mar 22, 2024; Spokane, WA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats during the first half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Charleston Cougars at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2024; Spokane, WA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats during the first half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Charleston Cougars at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Some other safe bets to watch the game from:

  • Twelve25 Sports Bar, 1225 University Blvd. on the Strip.

  • The Houndstooth, 1300 University Blvd. on the Strip.

  • The Wheelhouse Sports Pub, 2326 Fourth St., downtown Tuscaloosa.

  • Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux, 675 Skyland Blvd., Tuscaloosa.

  • Buffalo Wild Wings, 2710 McFarland Blvd. E. Tuscaloosa.

  • Billy's Sports Grill, 430 Main Ave., Northport.

Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at mark.cobb@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Where to see the game: Final Four watch parties for Alabama basketball