Alabama Football: No stick shakers allowed at SEC Championship

Alabama football fans need to know the rules in Atlanta

Alabama football is one win away from winning the SEC West and clinching their berth in the SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs. If they win that game, the Tide will almost certainly be the top seed in the College Football Playoff.

Tide fans are used to traveling to Atlanta for the SEC Championship, but there are a few things they need to know about this trip. The SEC released an official fan advisory for the game in December.

The advisory included basic information about when the gates open and where fans can tailgate. It also included simple rules regarding the SEC’s mobile ticketing system and clear-bag policy. All of these rules coincide with Bryant-Denny Stadium’s policies, so Alabama football fans should know what to expect.

The two rules that differ from a Tuscaloosa gameday experience include cashless payment and the shaker policy. For safety reasons, stick shakers are not allowed in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. These are the shakers most Alabama football fans use, and they are often provided inside the stadium.

Instead, fans are allowed to bring paddle shakers. While some organizations give these out as promotional items, they are not the ones you typically buy in Tuscaloosa. Fans will have to ensure they find one if they want to use a shaker to cheer on the Crimson Tide.

Also, Mercedes-Benz Stadium was the first stadium to go completely cashless. Fans will have to pay with cards if they want to purchase anything inside the stadium. If you forget, there are cash-to-card kiosks within the stadium that charge no transaction fee. You will essentially give them your money in exchange for a prepaid debit card that can be used inside and outside of the stadium.

If Alabama football clinches the SEC West, fans will need to keep these things in mind before they head to Atlanta.