Barstool Weekend

If you’d told us three years ago that Barstool Sports would choose Christopher Mobley as their tailgate hub for the biggest college football game of the year, we might have laughed—and then started planning anyway. But three weeks before the highly anticipated Alabama vs. Texas game in 2023, that’s exactly what happened.

How Barstool Reached Out

It all started when a familiar face from Christopher's past reached out. Back in their college days, Christopher had crossed paths with a fellow Alabama alumnus who had gone on to work with Barstool Sports. Fast forward to 2023, and this former classmate was tasked with finding the perfect location for Barstool’s live college football show tailgate in Tuscaloosa. A phone call followed soon after, and we were thrown into the whirlwind of preparation for what would become one of the most memorable weekends in our store’s history.

The Call That Started It All

Barstool reached out with an electrifying request: host their live college football show tailgate in Tuscaloosa. No big deal, right? Just the biggest names in sports media, a national audience, and one of the most passionate fanbases in the country, all descending on our space. Then, silence. For a week.

We assumed they’d moved on, but exactly one week before the game, the phone rang again. They were serious and wanted to fly in immediately to take intensive measurements of our parking lot. After the Barstool team left, Bryant called Christopher, who was in Athens, GA at the time. They were both excited—but nervous. Could we really pull this off without it disrupting our operations? Would it hurt sales or distract the team? We were also concerned about the massive attention this could bring—not just in the store but also in the community.

Making the Call: A Leap of Faith

After weighing the risks, Christopher and Bryant made the call: this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Moments like this are why we do what we do—to be part of something bigger than ourselves and to represent what game day in Tuscaloosa is all about.

Zoom Calls and Late-Night Prep

The next few days were a blur. Zoom calls with Barstool HQ became a daily routine, planning logistics with the same crew we’d watched on screen for years. Every detail was scrutinized: parking layouts, crowd flow, VIP areas.

The build-up became a full-team effort. Late nights in the store, sketching out seating plans and stock-checking our exclusive game day gear. The entire staff stepped up, and even folks from the community offered to help. It felt less like work and more like gearing up for the biggest family gathering of the year.

Game Day: Controlled Chaos and VIP Vibes

When the weekend finally arrived, it was a whirlwind of excitement. The crowd outside grew bigger and more energized as the show approached, and we quickly realized we had to gate off our store entrance to manage the chaos. The VIP section was set up both outside, in front of the store, and inside, giving us the best seat in the house. With our windows just 15 feet from the stage, it felt like we had front-row access to the live show, all while keeping our closest friends, family, and loyal customers right in the action. Watching the show unfold just outside the door—and through the windows—was an unforgettable experience that gave everyone a front-and-center view of the excitement.

Walking the Field: A Last-Minute Dream

The cherry on top? Christopher himself getting a last-minute invite to walk onto the field with Dave Portnoy, Big Cat, and Kayce Smith before the game. It was one of those moments that felt bigger than us—a reminder of what makes college football in Tuscaloosa, and the spirit of Christopher Mobley, so special: passion, community, and a bit of that unexpected magic.

More Than Just a Tailgate

That weekend was about more than hosting a show. It was a celebration of everything we love about game day, from the adrenaline of competition to the bonds formed in the tailgate lot. And as we stood in the VIP section watching the Barstool show, it felt like the start of something bigger—a new tradition, perhaps.

Thanks to Barstool for bringing the party to us. Thanks to our team for making it unforgettable. And thanks to Tuscaloosa for proving, once again, that there’s no better place to be on a game day.