The Tuscaloosa Police Department closed down "The Strip" Saturday afternoon and evening due to overcrowding after the A-Day scrimmage game.
Police released a statement saying they wanted to maintain public order and safety. People were permitted to go inside any businesses that remained open, but everyone on the street was told to leave the area.
"We have patrol units blocking vehicle traffic at both the University Boulevard and Reed Street and University Boulevard and Frank Thomas/Campus Drive West intersections," police stated. "We appreciate your cooperation as officers work to keep everyone safe."
Tuscaloosa Councilman Kip Tyner took to Facebook to voice his frustrations and blamed the chaos on people coming to Tuscaloosa from out of town.
"The Strip is being shut down immediately - multiple arrests - guns - and much more. Makes me sick - it's not locals or UA students - it's folks from Lipscomb, Bessemer, Ensley, Hale County causing crap! Get rid of A Day? Sad," Tyner posted.
Tyner has since deleted his post and apologized.
"I'm apologizing if anyone took offense to my post about the closing of the strip - I'm man enough to say my intentions were not to offend anyone but the locations mentioned came straight from the police not from me," he stated. "Any and everyone who knows me know I never had a racist bone in my body and my lifetime of work has hopefully proven it. But come at me if you'd like - I just intended to inform all about the closing and the large amount of guns visible should have just said nothing. I've certainly made bad choices in my life but stood up and took my medicine. Again I would never intentionally harm anyone."
Historically, A-Day weekend brings hundreds into Tuscaloosa. In 2021, police shared a photo of the crowd. That year, there was increased law enforcement on The Strip, but still, several arrests were made, and six weapons were confiscated. Police said there was also a fight, and police had to break up the crowd around midnight.
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