6 ways to make Vandy and Georgia Tech fans feel at home for the Birmingham Bowl

It’s game week for the two teams participating in this year’s Birmingham Bowl – Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech. As the two teams and their respective fanbases arrive in town for a week of practice and special events leading up to the big game, it’s up to the citizens of Birmingham to show both visiting teams and their fans a good time in the Magic City.

While both teams already have pretty deep connections to the city, there are plenty of things in Birmingham that we think could make residents of Nashville and Atlanta feel right at home during their visit.

Vanderbilt – Anchor Down!

Eugene’s Hot Chicken

Taking a cue from Nashville’s iconic spicy fried chicken, Eugene’s is located right across the street from Protective Stadium and puts a unique Birmingham twist on Nashville hot chicken. Try it with Alabama white barbecue sauce for a Nashville-Birmingham culinary fusion! Another hot tip – if Eugene’s is packed, head to Hattie B’s in Lakeview for your hot chicken fix.

Vulcan

Nashville’s Parthenon houses an enormous statue of the Greek goddess Athena, and Birmingham is fond of statues of classical gods too! Head to the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city to find a 56-foot-tall statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of the forge. You can even take an elevator to the observation deck to see for miles in every direction around Birmingham.

Nightlife

While there’s certainly no equivalent to Nashville’s Broadway, Birmingham has an underrated and lively nightlife scene – you just have to know where to look. Active spots for nighttime fun include 1st Avenue North, 5 Points South, and Avondale and the bars and clubs in town range from lively and loud to cozy and chill. Birmingham is also known for its booming craft brewing scene with nearly all of them offering a tap room where you can sample their brews.

Georgia Tech – The Ramblin’ Wreck!

Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

Atlanta is home to the College Football Hall of Fame and Alabama has its own museum commemorating some of the state’s biggest figures and moments in the sport. Georgia Tech played a huge part in the history of college football in the state of Alabama as a former rival of both Alabama and Auburn. They even used to be a member of the Southeastern Conference, whose headquarters is right across the street from the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The good news is the Hall of Fame is open on gameday, the perfect pre- or post-game activity.

Milo’s

One of the most iconic spots on Georgia Tech’s campus in Atlanta is The Varsity, an old school diner that’s been slinging burgers and hot dogs to hungry students since 1928. When I think of iconic Birmingham burger joints, I think of Milo’s. Founded in the 1940s, Milo’s offers a similar old-school approach and features a unique sauce that’s hard to describe and loved by locals. There are several locations around Birmingham, including downtown just minutes from Protective Stadium. If you’re not in the mood for burgers, you can always check out Birmingham’s vibrant barbecue scene.

Civil Rights National Monument

Birmingham and Atlanta are forever linked in their importance to the Civil Rights Movement. In both cities, there are iconic and historically significant places on nearly every corner, and you can find many of those spots in Birmingham as part of Civil Rights National Monument. From the 16th Street Baptist Church to Kelly Ingram Park, sites around the city have been marked and commemorated and are within walking distance of one another, allowing you to see so much history in one afternoon.

Send your Vanderbilt or Georgia Tech friends to Bham Now for more great reccomendations and stay tuned for our coverage of the Birmingham Bowl on Friday, December 27th.