Report: Alabama's Million Dollar Band elects not to attend Texas game over seating dispute

Alabama will be traveling to the Lone Star state’s capital this weekend, facing off against the Texas Longhorns. Unfortunately, not everybody involved with the program will make the trip, with the Crimson Tide’s Million Dollar Band left at home in Tuscaloosa over a seating dispute.

In a statement obtained by AL.com, Alabama Athletics confirmed the school’s band will not be traveling to Austin. “Seating location and configuration” is the reasoning given, as the Million Dollar Band was scheduled to sit in the second deck of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

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“Due to the seating location and configuration of the visiting institution’s ticket allotment at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, the Million Dollar Band will not make the trip this weekend for the Alabama at Texas football game,” the statement UA Athletics sent to AL.com read.

Alabama, SEC reserve lower bowl spots for traveling bands

This is unusual for Alabama, which has always seen its band travel with the football team during away games and even at neutral sites. Whenever there are SEC showdowns, there are agreements between conference members to block out sections in both the lower bowl and upper bowl for the traveling band and fans.

With the Big 12 having no such deal, Texas has always put opposing team bands and fans in the second deck. A similar issue was brought up when LSU came to Austin during the 2019 nonconference showdown.

Alabama will be given 5,000 tickets for Saturday’s game but will all be placed in the upper deck.

Of course, Alabama and Texas will soon be SEC foes when the Longhorns join the conference within the next few years. The next time the Crimson Tide visit, their band will most likely have a section to perform at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Until then, they will have to watch Nick Saban and company play from afar.