Dick's Sporting Goods — University of Alabama Championship gear advertised in January 2019. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

It has become a decade long tradition in the state of Alabama.

Six times in the past eleven years a team from our state has won college football’s national championship. Like clockwork, minutes after the victory, local sporting goods stores reopen their doors to sell the hats and t-shirts the players are wearing on the field at the trophy presentation.

On the day before the big game between the University of Alabama and The Ohio State University, we called up several stores to see if they will be open after the game

Here is what we discovered.

What to Expect

Alabama Football - Bryant Denny Stadium — Alabama plays Ohio State for the National Championship on January 11, 2021. Photo via Pat Byington for Bham Now

As you can expect, this year’s tradition will be a little different. Cannon Calvert, the store manager at Hibbett Sports in Fultondale described to us some of the precautions his store is taking.

“In past years, we have had a single file line with about 100 people in the store at a time. Obviously, this year there will be some safety guidelines. We’ll only be allowed to have 25 people in the store at one time. Unfortunately, some people may have to wait out in the cold. We definitely want everyone to show up wearing a mask and try to social distance the best they can. We want everyone to do their part.”

If the Crimson Tide wins, Hibbett will have available the hats and shirts the Alabama players will be wearing on the field during the trophy presentation.

“What people want is what the players are actually wearing during the celebration. You’ve got to be wearing (the gear) the next day when you get your coffee in the office!” Calvert told us.

The Details

ESPN — Bryant -Denny Stadium. Photo by Will Byington

A few more details. Of course, if Bama loses, the stores will not reopen. It is sort of a mystery where all the hats and shirts go, but here is hoping they have that problem in Ohio!

From our survey of local stores – here is who we know will be open after the big game if Bama wins. (PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU GO TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE INVENTORY)

Hibbett Sports Stores