What’s the most you’ve ever paid for a serving of chips?
That was the question hanging over Bryant-Denny Stadium last Saturday, where a trip to the concession stand can feel a lot more expensive than a grocery run. A large bag of Doritos might set you back about $5 at the store. Burnt End Nachos at Alabama football, though, are a different story.
We already laid out the full Bryant-Denny menu after the season opener against East Carolina, and the prices were enough to make anyone blink. The biggest eye-opener was the Burnt End Nachos, the priciest item on the board at $20.
So during one of the many lightning delays against Florida State in Tuscaloosa, we headed to the east upper deck and gave them a shot.
Here’s the breakdown: Burnt End Nachos are tortilla chips topped with chopped brisket and melted cheese. You can find them at Crimson Tap House concession stands in Sections 104, 123, 128 and 843.
The listed price is $19.99 before tax, which comes out to $21.99 after tax. If you’re a Yea Alabama “veteran-level” member, the discount knocks four dollars off, bringing it to $15.99 pre-tax.
The short version? Not bad. That’s about as strong as the praise gets for chips that clear out more than 20 bucks from your wallet.
They’re straightforward nachos: chips, meat, cheese. No barbecue sauce, no extra toppings.
The portion is solid, and the cheese load is heavy. But at $22, the price is impossible to ignore.
Next to the Gallettes Yellowhammer at $23.99 pre-tax, the Burnt End Nachos are the most expensive item on the concession menu. They also echo the same item sold at Crimson Tap House at 2107 University Blvd in Tuscaloosa, where it goes for $16.99 on the regular menu.
That’s the thing with stadium food: if you’re paying the premium, the price shapes the whole experience. If these cost $8 or $10, nobody would think twice. At nearly $22, every bite comes with a little side of sticker shock.
And make no mistake, there are plenty of ways to keep the spending rolling. You can pair the nachos with a $24 Yellowhammer, a $13 domestic beer, a $10 souvenir soda or a $5.50 bottled water. If you want a workaround, bring an empty water bottle and refill it from the water monsters at all four corners of the stadium.
Still, the nachos themselves do the job. They’re nachos.
If you walk into Bryant-Denny expecting fine dining, that’s on you. And if you pay the $22, that part is on you too.
One customer ahead of me walked off with Burnt End Nachos stacked on top of a giant pretzel with beer cheese. When someone asked what it cost, he answered, “About 40 bucks,” and didn’t crack a smile. That’s stadium math for you.
You either stomach the price and the food, or you wait until after the game.
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