Recently, Coleman Coliseum has been at the forefront of conversation for Alabama Basketball fans. Many are beginning to wonder if the building is able to keep up with other arenas in the SEC. Athletic Director at Alabama, Greg Byrne has constantly fielded questions of what the fate of Coleman will be.

However, there is another issue that has been brought to the attention of Tide fans, and it most recently has shown its effects during the Iron Bowl of Basketball.

During the game, according to Tide fans, Auburn had a decently sized contingent in Coleman Coliseum. While many students were turned away, the reason being the student section was too full to accommodate more.

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This has resulted in a petition being created to fix the student seating problem that arose:

Alabama Basketball fan and Co-Owner of Crimson Crossover Christian Sykes commented on the irregularity of Coleman's Student Section:

"If you look at the elite college basketball arena home-court advantages there is always one of two things that they have in common. First thing, students along the sideline right on the court about 12 rows up or students across the baseline about 20 rows up." Sykes continued, "By putting your loudest fans across the sideline or baseline it allows the sound to get to the floor more efficiently having a greater impact on the game. The second thing this does is it essentially requires fans behind the student section to stand up to see, making it more likely that they stand and cheer."

Sykes also commented on the fact that some Tide Pride members treat basketball like a football game, saying:

"If you go outside of the student section in a football game majority of fans are sitting down and cheering only when they feel imminent danger to lose the game."

A video taken showing Tide students and fans reacting to a missed free throw shows the disparity Sykes is referring to:

However, while seating remains an issue in the arena, Sykes believes Byrne will sort everything out:

"Obviously, you can’t change season ticket seating currently as fundraising is still required to build a new arena. Greg Byrne and the Athletic Department are stuck between a rock and a hard place." Sykes went on to say, "But Tuesday night’s game should be an eye-opening experience for change within the basketball experience. When away fans come into your arena and are louder than you that’s a major issue. I trust Greg Byrne and what his plan is. He is the best AD in the nation."

Will we see a new student section possibly next year or in a new stadium for the Tide? Time will only tell.

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