The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Hey, everyone. I'm a Mississippi State and Chattanooga grad who has been living in Birmingham for about five years now. I've decided it's past time to throw my support behind the hometown team. (As long as they aren't playing my alma maters.)

To that end, I've bought season tickets to UAB football, and am about to do the same for men's basketball.

But before I do, is there anything I should know about Bartow Arena, or UAB basketball in general, before I buy my tickets?

Welcome! Bartow doesnt really have any bad seats and even with covid bounceback and AK excitement driving up demand, you will still be able to get a pretty good seat without too much of a scholarship donation. It's an older arena though with very meh concessions. You can park for free in the deck on university and take the skybridge to get to the arena. and sit in the upper ends for a extremely reasonable season ticket price with no added donation required. Sitting in the yellow zone unlocks better seats and the donation you are giving for them unlocks closer parking.

Welcome I barely know about it but here it go.

Bartow Arena is named after the first basketball coach and "father of UAB athletics" Gene Bartow.

UAB basketball has reached the sweet sixteen and the elite eight , idk how many times tho.

A former player for Bartow is now the head coach of the team. We're doing good, from what I heard.

When we get a good crowd at Bartow, the games are so much fun.
I am looking forward to after COVID attendance.
Will be exciting.

Years ago I had season tickets in sec 209 and also occasionally got to use my brother's midcourtside (row 2) tickets and can attest that the courtside is the way to go, especially if you are a real basketball fan (and can afford them). I found the 200 level seats were more like watching the game on TV while courtside brings the game to you live with the live sounds of the game - shoes squeak, players grunt, you can also yell at the officials more effectively. Distance from the court filters out much of the live sounds of the game..

Unless things have changed for concessions, they are manned by unpaid volunteers raising money for some campus cause or a church. They are not concerned with repeat business over time - just take in money for their cause tonight. It is similar to the concession stands at metro league ball parks with parents taking turns in the stand.

Thanks, everyone! I'm going to shoot for seats in 102/119 and see how that works for a year. I always liked corner seats when I was in college. Looking forward to my first UAB game!

(02-20-2021 10:38 PM)MSU Dog UC Moc Wrote:  Hey, everyone. I'm a Mississippi State and Chattanooga grad who has been living in Birmingham for about five years now. I've decided it's past time to throw my support behind the hometown team. (As long as they aren't playing my alma maters.)

To that end, I've bought season tickets to UAB football, and am about to do the same for men's basketball.

But before I do, is there anything I should know about Bartow Arena, or UAB basketball in general, before I buy my tickets?

Off topic but brought it brought up some memories. I always try to support local schools. When I lived in Beaumont, Texas I use to routinely go to Lamar basketball games. I remember going to one game when Pat Knight was their coach and they were awful (still pretty much are). I bet there were only 15 people at the game. The sound of the lights humming almost drowned out the game. There was so much apathy that it was hard to be a Lamar fan. They had a huge basketball facility (over 10,000 seats) that was built after their magical years in the 1980’s.

(02-21-2021 11:16 PM)MSU Dog UC Moc Wrote:  Thanks, everyone! I'm going to shoot for seats in 102/119 and see how that works for a year. I always liked corner seats when I was in college. Looking forward to my first UAB game!

I sat in one of the corners for probably 10 years, and loved it. Easy access in/out, quick trips to the concessions and restrooms, and obviously much better trash talk distance to opposing players and officials. Several years back, I had a police officer come up to my seat during halftime (which scared me to death, because I had been a little extra that game), and commended me on my trash talk. LOL. I thought sure I was about to be escorted out. BTW, it was the LaTech game that ended with both teams and coaching staffs being ejected, and I think we finished the game 5 vs 4 something like that.
Saying that, I have sat in the upper sections as well. Still great seats.
What I've always loved about UAB sports is the access you get over other programs. Before COVID, it was a common occurrence for my kids to meet players after games, get photos, high-five, and hugs. My kids have been raised at Bartow and Legion Field. They are now 18 and 16, and would rather attend a UAB sporting event over most any other activity.
Welcome!

(02-22-2021 08:43 AM)Ramblin Wreck Wrote:  

(02-20-2021 10:38 PM)MSU Dog UC Moc Wrote:  Hey, everyone. I'm a Mississippi State and Chattanooga grad who has been living in Birmingham for about five years now. I've decided it's past time to throw my support behind the hometown team. (As long as they aren't playing my alma maters.)

To that end, I've bought season tickets to UAB football, and am about to do the same for men's basketball.

But before I do, is there anything I should know about Bartow Arena, or UAB basketball in general, before I buy my tickets?

Off topic but brought it brought up some memories. I always try to support local schools. When I lived in Beaumont, Texas I use to routinely go to Lamar basketball games. I remember going to one game when Pat Knight was their coach and they were awful (still pretty much are). I bet there were only 15 people at the game. The sound of the lights humming almost drowned out the game. There was so much apathy that it was hard to be a Lamar fan. They had a huge basketball facility (over 10,000 seats) that was built after their magical years in the 1980’s.

I used to work with a guy who play for Lamar from 95-99. I didn't know that until we had a "retreat" and decided to play a basketball free-throw shooting game...he dominated the game while never setting down his beer