TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – The 89th Iron Bowl is just hours away, with Alabama hosting Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Both teams are aiming for a victory to close out the regular season, and a win for Alabama could potentially secure them a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
Ylli Makolli is ready for this year’s Iron Bowl, having prepared Italian vegetables at his new Milano’s Italian diner in Tuscaloosa. The diner, which opened only two weeks ago, hopes to benefit from the massive Iron Bowl crowd, which is expected to exceed 100,000 fans this weekend.
“Whenever there’s a game in town, restaurants tend to get more business, so we need to be ready for that,” said Makolli.
On the Strip in Tuscaloosa, we met Josh Hartman and his wife from northern Virginia. Despite having no connection to the Crimson Tide, the couple decided to check the Iron Bowl off their bucket list. It will be their first time attending the game, and they’ll be sitting behind Alabama’s bench.
“I’ve followed Nick Saban for a long time, and once I became an Alabama fan, I knew I had to make the trip,” Hartman shared.
At ‘Bama Stuff’, a store dedicated to all things Alabama, owner David Jones is gearing up for a busy day, with his team ready for the large crowd. While Auburn has had a rough season and Alabama has faced some struggles with three losses, the Iron Bowl remains a significant event and a post-Thanksgiving tradition.
“It’s the biggest rivalry in the area, and with everyone in town, I expect sales to be strong,” said Jones.
By Friday, the crowds are mostly finished with shopping and dining, and Alabama fans are left to wonder which version of their team will take the field.
Alabama enters the game with an 8-3 record, while Auburn comes in at 5-6.
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