Tide & Tigers Face Off In College Football Playoff Semifinal; Partying Together For NYE
The town is painted red.
Well, Crimson, actually. As well as orange.
Alabama and Clemson fans have arrived in New Orleans and the Big Easy is a big party place for New Year’s Eve, leading into the New Year’s Day College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between the Crimson Tide and Tigers.
The game is Jan. 1., at 7:45 p.m. And that leave plenty of party time before kickoff.
And New Orleans is the perfect place to be the host city for these two Southern teams.
Alabama fans in particular know their way around the city and its bars the way Nick Saban does a recruit’s living room. The Tide has played in the Sugar Bowl several times. Plus, “Nawlens” is close enough to Tuscaloosa, Mobile and Birmingham to be a regular party place for Tiders.
Clemson fans haven’t been there for a game since 1959 but being Southerners, they are quite familiar with all New Orleans has to offer visitors.
They both know to go to Pat O’Brien’s for the city’s signature Hurricane cocktail, to Tropical Isle for the green “hand grenade” drink served in a tall plastic cup, to the Famous Door to hear bands, to any bar on Bourbon Street for its daily 3-for-1 Happy Hours (from 4-7), to Acme Oyster House for raw oysters, Cafe du Mond for beignets and Napoleon’s for cheap Cajun food.
Bourbon Street and the entire French Quarter are howling with booming “Roll Tide” chants breaking out and there are huge cheers when the bands in the bars play “Sweet Home Alabama.” And bands in the bars play that song often, at least once a set, whether or not Bama fans or present.
The Tiger contingent is no less vocal, brining a true college game atmosphere to the city.
The bonus is New Year’s Eve. New Orleans is PubClub.’s #1 NYE destination in the world, in fact.
So yes it’s a party. And come New Year’s Night, it’s going to be an even bigger celebration for one team.
I’m right in the middle of the two and I tell you I can actually feel the excitement growing. We have Alabama fans here as well as those who love NOLA. You can’t beat the spirit of game day.
Awesome; thanks for the comment and let the good times roll in New Orleans!