Crimson Tide Sports Network releases statement after parting ways with Eli Gold
Eli Gold will no longer be the Voice of Alabama Football after a lengthy career with the program. The UA Crimson Tide Sports Network (CTSN) decided to move on from Gold and replace him with Chris Stewart. Gold spoke following the decision and made it clear he would not be retiring and stepping away was not his decision.
On Thursday, CTSN released a statement regarding the parting of ways with Gold. They say Gold was offered the opportunity to remain and still call Alabama games on occasion. However, he declined and the broadcast will be “best served” by Stewart on a full-time basis.
“As we noted in yesterday’s release, Eli Gold has been a legendary broadcaster in a career spanning 52 years,” the statement said. “In 2023, we worked out a plan to have Eli call the home games plus Auburn, with Chris Stewart handling away games. We are incredibly appreciative of the positive things Eli has contributed to the Crimson Tide Sports Network and The University of Alabama during his time with us, which is why our desire was for him to remain part of the gameday broadcast and allow us to celebrate his UA broadcast career.
“But at this point, the interests of UA and CTSN are best served by Chris Stewart handling play-by-play for all games. After a series of conversations over a period of time, Eli was presented with an opportunity to continue his contributions to the CTSN broadcast team in the coming years in a more limited role, including the lead broadcast role for this year’s A-Day game. Unfortunately, he declined the opportunity.
“We will always appreciate Eli and wish him nothing but the best in his next endeavors. We are incredibly excited about the future of CTSN and what Chris Stewart will bring to the broadcasts in his new role.”
As mentioned in the statement, Gold was on the call for every Alabama home game plus the Iron Bowl against Auburn. He did not travel to Atlanta for the SEC Championship against Georgia nor the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl vs. Michigan.
Stewart will not be an unfamiliar voice to many Alabama fans. He has been working as the men’s basketball play-by-play voice and has taken a bigger role since Nate Oats arrived in Tuscaloosa. Although he is taking over football as well, there are no plans for Stewart to leave the basketball broadcast.