The Alabama women’s basketball team is returning to Coleman Coliseum starting with the 2016-17 season. The Crimson Tide has played primarily at Foster Auditorium following the building’s renovation in 2011.

“One of the first things I talked about in my introductory press conference when we arrived three years ago was building our fan base,” said women’s basketball head coach Kristy Curry. “We’ve worked really hard at that both on the court and in the community, and in turn, those fans have provided us with one of the most incredible and electric home court atmospheres anywhere. Foster Auditorium is such a special place, and we have enjoyed calling it our home since day one. We will continue to work out of and practice in Foster, but we are thrilled that the interest and excitement around the program has made for a move back to Coleman Coliseum.”

The women’s basketball team split time between Foster Auditorium and Coleman Coliseum from 1974-81, until permanently moving to Coleman from 1981-2011. The Crimson Tide reopened Foster with its game against Florida on Feb. 13, 2011, following an extensive renovation of the building. Since then, women’s basketball has played all but four of its home games, which includes two season-opening doubleheaders with men’s basketball and a pair of 5th Grade Fastbreak games, at Foster Auditorium.

“With our program improving each season under Coach Curry’s leadership, we are optimistic about our future,” said Director of Athletics Bill Battle. “Based on a variety of factors, we decided that now is the time for our women’s team to play its games in Coleman Coliseum. We have seen growth in our attendance at Foster Auditorium, and we want to enable more growth in the future. Foster Auditorium remains an excellent home for our women’s program to practice and office in throughout the week.”

Season ticket sales have increased over 50 percent since Curry took over at the Capstone in 2013. Each season a new attendance record has been set, with the most recent coming on Jan. 17, 2016, when 3,732 were on hand for the Tide’s win over Georgia. That number also ranks 13th among all Alabama women’s basketball attendance figures, which includes games at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama’s average attendance has continued to grow and is up an average of 1,506 per game since Curry’s arrival (1,145 in 2012-13; 1,992 in 2013-14; 2,550 in 2014-15; 2,651 in 2015-16).

Season tickets for the 2016-17 season will go on sale July 1. For more information, contact the Alabama Ticket Office at 205-348-BAMA or toll free at 1-877-TIDETIX.

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