traditional rivals at neutral sites rather than Jordan-Hare Stadium. This was partly due to the larger capacity and better amenities available at other stadiums, as well as relative difficulty in traveling to Auburn for most of the 20th century and the lack of accommodations in town. For instance, at the time the stadium opened, there were only two gas stations in town with public restrooms. In its first decade after the stadium opened Auburn only played a total of 12 true home games. Until 1960, all games against Georgia continued to be played in Columbus. Until the 1970s, Auburn played all home games against Tennessee and Georgia Tech at Legion Field. Georgia Tech first came to the Plains in 1970, while Tennessee came to Auburn for the first time in 1974. Modern era As Auburn became more accessible and the stadium expanded in capacity, more games were moved to Jordan–Hare Stadium. By the 1980s, Alabama was Auburn's last major rival to have yet to play a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The yearly Iron Bowl clash between Alabama and Auburn had been played at Legion Field since it was renewed on a permanent basis in 1948. Initially, it made sense to play the Iron Bowl at Legion Field, since neither what was then Auburn Stadium nor what was then Denny Stadium had nearly enough seats to accommodate the crowds attending the game. At its height, Legion Field seated over 20,000 more people than Jordan-Hare. From the 1970s onward, however, Auburn fans increasingly felt chagrin at facing Alabama in Birmingham, particularly after the 1980s expansions allowed Jordan-Hare's capacity to eclipse that of Legion Field by over 2,000 seats. Legion Field had long been associated with Alabama football, even though Auburn played some home games there well into the 1970s. Indeed, until the 1980s, most of Alabama's "home" football history took place in Birmingham, which was only 45 minutes east of Alabama's campus in Tuscaloosa. By the time Dye became head coach and athletic director at Auburn in 1981, calls to make the Iron Bowl a home-and-home series had grown to a fever pitch. Years later, Dye recalled that almost as soon as he sat down with Bryant for the first time as Auburn's head coach, Bryant mused, "Well, I guess you're going to want to take that game to Auburn." Dye confirmed that hunch, saying, "We're going to take it to Auburn."