TexanMark's Tailgate Guides

WVU Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-08-23T22:39:00.009-05:00

"NOTE: CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION"

Morgantown Click to enlarge
Image from www.retirewv.org

This is one of a series of tailgating guides for Big East football schools written by Syracuse fan and tailgate aficionado TexanMark. If you have any feedback or additional information you think belongs in this guide, please drop an email message to Mark by clicking here.

First Things First: GETTING THERE
If you’re a Pitt fan, finding Morgantown is easy and fairly painless. For the rest of us it is much more involved. The airfares into Morgantown (MGW) can be very expensive. Morgantown has scheduled service with United with daily flights to Washington DC (Dulles-IAD) on commuter aircraft. Probably the easiest way to fly there is to fly in and out of Pittsburgh International and rent a car.

For the rest of us, we drive from our homes. Here is a sample list of travel times by car: Pittsburgh 1 ¼ hrs, Washington DC 3.5 hrs, Cincinnati 5.5 hrs, Syracuse 7 hrs, Northern New Jersey 7 hrs.

This link has some good directions from the interstates. West Virginia offers a tremendous Football Game day environment. Since Morgantown is relatively small, the whole town is involved with the Mountaineers. It is very similar to how smaller cities within the SEC take to their teams.

From the Regional Research Institute: “WVU is easily Morgantown's leading employer. When school is in session, Morgantown's population jumps from 29,000 to 50,000. The city is located in the north central part of West Virginia, within 10 miles of the Pennsylvania border and 30 miles from Maryland. It stands near the corner of Interstates 68 and 79, but the more important intersection historically was the confluence of the Monongahela River and Decker's Creek.”

Campus Info:

In order to gain an understanding of how Mountaineer Field sits in the Campus you must first become familiar with the two campuses. A good view of the two campuses and the unique Personal Rapid Transit (PRT).

Two Campuses: Downtown on left, Evansdale on right--click to enlarge

Walnut Street PRT Monorail Station (Downtown Morgantown)

From the Regional Research Institute:

“The university's downtown campus lies on the northern edge of the city's small central business district, and a more striking setting for a university is hard to imagine. Dating to 1870, WVU looks like the Ivy League.
Campus streets lead uphill from downtown to hills and more hills. (After four years at WVU you not only would have a bachelor's degree, but Olympic-class leg muscles as well.)

At the crest of one landscape-dominating mound is Woodburn Circle, comprising three of the university's oldest buildings, which stand like three distinguished professors posing for a yearbook photo, overlooking the city and the Monongahela Valley.

In the 1950s, WVU ran out of room to expand, and a second campus - the Evansdale Campus - was initiated three miles to the north. Unfortunately, the Ivy League architecture stayed downtown. The new campus buildings are more functional and, well, dull. Except for the coliseum, it is on a hilltop is visible for miles. The coliseum looks like a concrete UFO. Saucer-shaped, big enough to hold 14,000 beings, it appears to be merely parked there, waiting for a call from its home planet.

(A WVU alumni friend, whose devotion to the university's sports teams is fanatical, insists that the true atmosphere of the university is revealed on any given football Saturday, when its Mountaineer Stadium is filled with 60,000 people chanting "Let's go, Mountaineers" and the prize-winning marching band performs.)
When WVU began operating two separate campuses, it needed a way to connect them. It was too far to walk, the hills discouraged bicycling and shuttle buses had problems on the narrow streets.

So in 1975 planners created the Personal Rapid Transit system, which is essentially a horizontal elevator. You put 50 cents into the turnstile (WVU students use a "Mountaineer Card") (Editor Note: the PRT is FREE on game day) and select your station, just as you would choose a floor in a high-rise. You wait for a yellow, electric-powered, rubber-tired car about the size of a soccer mom's SUV to sidle up to the platform. And off you go, even though there's no driver at the wheel - and there's no wheel.

The PRT system runs about nine miles from the medical center through the old campus to downtown. Most of the passengers are WVU students and staff, but anyone may use the system.”

West Virginia University Main Campus

Game Day Tailgating/Parking:

Parking on Campus--printable PDF with comments

Like most big time programs the ability of visiting fans to park near the stadium is extremely limited. Unlike some other Big East programs tailgating is very common and fairly easy to do. The close in parking lots are the haven for the season pass holders and the well connected. Some people like to park elsewhere and then wander over to the Blue Lot for the vendors selling food. The Blue Lot used to be referred to as "the Pit" and was home to a lot of rowdies. WVU cracked down on the rowdy behavior a few years ago. It is much tamer now but instead of a concentrated area of rowdy behavior it has dispersed into lots all around. Morgantown unlike other Big East cities turns into a huge tailgate around the city. If you have a good sense of humor you shouldn't have any real problems. One way to make friends with the natives is to buy some Pepperoni Rolls and share them. These WV favorites sound like the perfect tailgate food as they do not require refrigeration. BTW, most of the rowdy students have moved to the nearby apartment complexes and other private lots.

The Party in the Parking Lot
Using the “KISS” principle (Keep It Simple Stupid), I suggest first time visiting fans park in the free parking lots surrounding the Basketball Coliseum. It is located about ¾ miles away from Mountaineer Field and is an easy landmark for visitors to find. RV Note for the Coliseum Parking Lots: There is now a $40 charge for RV's. But, that $40 fee is good for the whole weekend, Fri - Sun. RV's in coliseum parking must park in an area near the stoplight at Patteson Drive. There are other free lots at the Evansdale Campus if you want a spot with better shade (these lots surround many of the academic buildings southeast of the coliseum). The Coliseum/Evansdale Campus Shuttles run continuously, starting about two and one half hours before kickoff and of course run after the game. The roundtrip cost is $4.00. WVU provides you a list of rules and suggestions to make your trip to the stadium stress free.

From the Official MSN WVU Website

2011 Football Parking Information

MARSHALL GAME PARKING: At 8 a.m. on Saturday RVs can enter the Coliseum and Blue general RV lots. At 3 p.m. the front row Blue, Light Blue, Green and Red lots will be open and RVs must be out of the lots by noon on Monday. Lots will not be open for cars until 7 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Parking policies now in effect

- All lots are open for cars at 7 a.m. on game day. Any car left in the lot the day before the game with a parking pass will be towed.

- The Green lot (off Van Voorhis Road) opens at 3 p.m. for RVs the day before the game and a single-game RV pass is $115. The Green lot opens at 7 a.m. for cars. Bus parking is available in the Green lot for $80. Recreational vehicles who don’t have a season pass should park in the WVU Coliseum lots. The White lot, located off of Oakland St., will accept game-day passes for $40. This is a car-only lot.

The new parking garage will also be available to Green lot users for $40.

- The Burgundy Lot and the Purple lot (Areas 52 and 61 behind Sheetz on Route 705) will have limited spaces available to purchase single game parking passes. Passes wil be sold for $20, and the Burgundy and Purple lots are car-only lots.

- Small tents may be erected in designated areas only and may not be larger than 12' x 12'. A parking permit for the designated lot is required to erect a tent and the vehicle must be parked adjacent to the tent. Tents may only be erected after 7 a.m. on game day.

Recreational vehicle parking

- Lots open for recreational vehicles at 8 a.m. in the general Blue and Coliseum lots; Front Row, Red, Green and Light Blue lots open at 3 p.m. on Fridays prior to Saturday home football games.

- Recreational vehicles are 20 feet or longer. Vans are considered cars.

- Trailers are permitted in the Red, Green and Coliseum lots only.

- Car passes may not be upgraded to RV passes.

- RV passes may not be used for cars.

- RV parking at the WVU Coliseum is now $80 in designated parking areas only. RVs parking at the WVU Coliseum will be issued a special pass when arriving and upon receiving payment.

- All RVs must now be parked two hours prior to kick-off.

Other Parking Information

- Parking pass is not valid for limousines.

- Free parking is available in the lots adjacent to the WVU Coliseum. A shuttle service to the stadium is available for $4 round trip.

- No tent can be erected in parking spaces or in such a manner to impede the flow of traffic. Open fires in the parking lots are also not permitted.

- Parking passes are limited to one space per pass. Tailgate gatherings are not permitted to overflow into adjacent parking space and/or drive lanes.

- Parking by Ruby Day Care Center or anywhere on Hospital Drive will require a pass. All cars without a pass will be towed to the Prete Building at owners expense.

- Games involving the consumption of alcohol are not permitted in any of the University-operated parking lots.

- Fires are not permitted in any of the University-operated parking lots.

Handicapped Parking

- Handicap parking is available for single-game purchase ($30) on a limited basis at the WVU Law School (Brown Lot). Handicap-accessible vans will provide transportation from the Blue and Brown lots to the stadium gates.

- A handicap-accessible shuttle bus will provide transportation to and from the WVU Coliseum at a cost of $4.

- Handicap parking will require the following admission to the appropriate lot:

- WVU issued color-coded parking permit

- Valid state-issued handicap parking placard or license plate

- Valid state-issued handicap parking registration card

- Photo ID of the handicapped permit holder (the photo ID must match the handicap parking registration card and permit holder must be in vehicle)

- Handicap permit holders will be required to park in the spots reserved for handicap parking only. This will be strictly enforced.

If you arrive early ('eers start early-- 7 am for an afternoon or evening kickoff is considered normal) and want to get in a WVU lot closer to the stadium you can try the Burgundy or Purple Lots: NOTE from the MSN Website: "- The Burgundy Lot and the Purple lot (Areas 52 and 61 behind Sheetz on Route 705) will have limited spaces available to purchase single game parking passes. Passes wil be sold for $20, and the Burgundy and Purple lots are car-only lots.
" The University’s sports website states, “Private Parking (not affiliated with WVU): is available for a fee at several locations along Patteson Drive, Van Voorhis Road, W.Va. Route 705, University Avenue, Don Nehlen Drive, Willowdale Road and other areas near the stadium.” Two suggestions: The first one is located across from the Kroger Grocery Store on Patteson Ave. It is a strip shopping center (Rite Aid, Boston Beanery Restaurant and Radio Shack). Expect to pay about $10-20. You can obviously get beer and other tailgate supplies at the Kroger. The White Birch Office Tower is located north of the stadium at 1255 Pineview. Parking costs about $10.

A very good article about the West Virginia Game Day experience was written by a Washington Post reporter a few years ago. Tailgating in its finest form is found in Morgantown, all Big East fans need to circle this game on their calendar to do. One last option is to park in downtown Morgantown and ride the PRT. The PRT will take you the PRT Health Sciences Center Station which is about 1/4 mile north of the stadium.

Low Hassle Shuttle Alternative

The Mountain Line Transit Authority (click on Football Shuttle link on right side at MLTA website) provides shuttles to all WVU Football home games. Shuttle buses pick up passengers at the lower entrance to Mountaineer Mall (5000 Greenbag Road Morgantown , West Virginia 26501) . Cost per passenger is $3.00 round trip, children 5 and under ride free. Shuttles will begin two hours before kickoff. The return trips will begin at the start of the fourth quarter and run for one hour after the game.

More notes from their website: All Buses are fully accessible to persons with mobility impairments. Parking is free at the Mountaineer Mall. Buses run every 10 minutes to the game. Buses operate return trips beginning at the start of the fourth quarter and run for one hour after the game. Buses load and unload under Ruby Hospital Canopy (a short walk north of the stadium). Accessible buses are available for transport from the Blue Lot to both East & West Gates (please notify shuttle driver of your needs)

Mountaineer Field The Big East's Largest Crowds are here!

Milan Puskar Stadium has been around since 1980 but has been enlarged and modernized.

TAILGATE SUPPLIES

The closest places to pick up tailgate supplies: Kroger Grocery Store on the west side of the stadium (350 Patteson Ave). It is open 24/7. On the north side of the stadium is a Sheetz Convenience Store on the north side of the stadium. On the west side of town in Granville is a WalMart SuperCenter.

Scalpers and You: From the University website:

The scalping of tickets on University property is forbidden. Violators are subject to removal from University property. No solicitation of any kind is permitted in the parking lots or stadium. Individuals discovered soliciting will be asked to cease or will be removed.

You have been warned.

Scalping tickets is illegal in WV. Reality is it is tolerated around the stadium on gameday. The blue lot(the lot located between Puskar Stadium and Ruby Memorial Hospital) is very popular for ticket selling. Another place for scalpers is on Patteson Drive. The road runs between the Coliseum and the stadium. You can find scalpers there with signs.

Since buying/reselling tickets is illegal in WV you can save this for future use at other locales. A few tried and true techniques to get the best price buying I have used: 1. Know what a legit ticket looks like 2. Buy from your own fan base first 3. The smaller the group the smaller the price--single tickets are cheapest 4. Prices usually peak 1-2 hours before kickoff--inside an hour the closer to game time the cheaper the ticket, right after kickoff they plumment to near nothing 5. A fan walking to the stadium in with a group of friends and still holding extra tickets to sell will usually dump them for a cheap price (they do not want to miss the game and often they are doing a favor for a buddy to sell them) usually you'll spot them holding a finger or two out to their side or over their head or saying selling one, etc... 6. If you have to deal with a professional scalper--NEVER give him what he asks, have a seating chart with you, check to make sure all tickets are really together and for that game, offer him lower and be prepared to walk away, after you turn and walk away more than half the time in my experience they'll give in and take your offer, if you can afford to wait...wait inside 20 minutes to kickoff as see the prices drop (assess the situation for the number of tickets available, how many you need before employing that strategy) 7. Don't be embarrassed to go back to a scalper to buy ticket(s) 10 minutes after you said no to his previous offer 8. Don't fall for their tactics to make you feel like you're ripping them off by only offering $20 a ticket, etc...they love to play games with your self-image and ego.

Finally, be sure to visit Larry and his crew and say hi at his WVU tailgate website.

'Eers Know How To Have Fun On Saturday!

LODGING:

Like most small towns it will be next to impossible to find a room if you look a week out. If you are a fan of historic, restored hotels Morgantown has the Clarion Hotel Morgan. It is within walking distance of the PRT. The Hampton Inn is very close to the stadium and might be a good option if you get lucky with a reservation. The Residence Inn by Marriott opened in 2006 and is also very close to the stadium but it sells out quickly. And a newly renamed 16 story Waterfront Place Hotel (nee Radisson) has opened in the Wharf District downtown. New to 2009 is a Microtel Inn near the Mall. Recent new additions are the Hilton Garden Inn in the Suncrest Town Center and the Fairfield Inn and Suites near the University Town Centre. Your best resource is to use the local visitors' guide. Last resort if you strike out, try looking for some "Mom and Pop" Motels near Morgantown.

Waterfront Place Hotel
If you decide to travel to Morgantown at the last minute: first see if you can find any cancellations at the motels in Morgantown. If you strike out, you’ll need to try outlying areas.

If you are traveling in from Pittsburgh and points north and east try these three cities:Washington, PA for motels, Waynesburg, PA for motels, and Uniontown, PA for motels.

If you are traveling from the south or west try these cities: Fairmont, WV for motels, Clarksburg/Bridgeport, WV for motels, and Wheeling, WV is another option for motels for those coming from the west as well as Washington and Waynesburg, PA.

DINING:
Almost all restaurants and pubs close to campus are going to be packed to the brim on a football weekend...so so enjoy the scene and have patience.
If you want to go somewhere not to far from the stadium that is a traditional haunt of WVU students/alums...I would suggest....Crockett's Lodge
The Boston Beanery II near intersection of Patteson Dr. and University Dr. has a varied menu, lots of fans and reasonable prices. Expect to have to wait to eat. A few blocks north of the Wharf District in downtown is Morgantown Brewing Company. Morgantown's only brewpub is located at 1291 University Avenue phone(304) 296-BREW. A comprehensive list of bars is here. One final website gives you some great options for food and drink and shows you where the bar specials are and menus for lots of restaurants.

For older readers who don't want to get caught in the hustle and bustle of the students...I would suggest Colasantes Ristorante & Pub ...this is a place is just west of Morgantown (in the city of Westover) and is very close to both I-79 and I-68. If you want a more upscale place....I would suggest Oliverio's Ristorante....this establishment is located on the beautiful new wharf district in Morgantown overlooking the Monongahela River. Tailpipes opened in early 2010 and features gourmet burgers and old fashion shakes. Dragonfly Sushi offers much more than just Sushi in an elegant environment. Yesterday's Bar & Grille restaurant has an upper-casual dining atmosphere. Other restaurants can be found here. BTW, you can limit your searches on this website to various neighborhoods of Morgantown.

SPORTS BARS:Kegler's is a sports bar near the campus, Buffalo Wild Wings is known for their duh, wings, and also lots of TVs carrying all the college football games. The Sports Page has ESPN Gameplan and looks to cater to a younger crowd. The Varsity Club is very close to the stadium and has an awesome baked Italiano Sandwich. Another gem is the the Brick Yard Pub. Finally, Damon's , on Hwy 705 about 1 1/2 miles from the stadium, is known for their ribs as well as their full offerings of sports programming.

Shopping: Morgantown has University Town Center which has a typical assortment of big box retailers and trendy shops found in newer suburbs around most cities. It is located next to Star City/Osage--Exit 155 I-79 on Highway 19. Morgantown Mall is located across I-79 from University Towne Center. It looks to have a nice selection of retailers. If you are in search of chain restaurants you can find them in this area.

Things to Do:

If you happen upon Morgantown during the changing of the colors you need to checkout nearby Coopers Rock. It is the largest and most visited state forest in WV.

Cooper's Rock

A real nice website detailing all your outdoor types of things near Morgantown should keep you busy.
If you prefer to stay in town, the trolley is a great way to see Morgantown.
Whitewater rafting is great in West Virginia. If you are adventuresome, consider going on a river rafting tour on the New River or The Gauley if you have an extra day, they are several hours away. If you don't want to travel as far try the Cheat River or Youghiogheny River.

White Water Rafting on The Gauley

Morgantown is revitalizing an old area of their town into the "Wharf District". You can see the orientation of the Wharf District to downtown Morgantown here.

Wharf District

GOLF:

There are some great courses in West Virginia, including the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport (about 30 mins south--rated the top course in West Virginia and one of the top 100 golf courses in the US by Golf Digest) and the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs. Note that White Sulfar Springs is 3 1/2 hours south of Morgantown near Exit 181 off I-64. Lucky for all of us--a very nice course with lodging is located in Morgantown. The Lakeview Resort might just be the perfect solution for a golf and football getaway.

The Lakeview Resort

Pete Dye Club

There are a number of golf courses the Morgantown Area. Here is a list. The Mountaineer Golf & Country Club is a public course for the golf challenged and/or budget minded. It is a short course that is relatively flat and inexpensive. You should be able to walk this course for less than $20, even on weekends.
Hope this helps. Thanks to WVURON and Jackson1011 for helping me with the guide.
The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark. While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible. Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, Rivals.com or its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.
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USF Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-08-20T14:22:00.014-05:00

Tampa Bay at Night

This is one of a series of tailgating guides for Big East football schools written by Syracuse fan and tailgate aficionado TexanMark. If you have any feedback or additional information you think belongs in this guide, please drop an email message to Mark by clicking here.

University of South Florida (USF) is the lone geographical misfit of the Big East Football Conference (well at least until TCU joins). Most felt USF won the BCS lottery when Boston College bolted for the ACC and left the Big East searching for an eighth member for the 2005 season. Well I tell you what, they have fit in quite nicely in the Big East and have become a first tier team strength wise. Due to the southern location USF has become a favorite destination for mini-vacations for Big East football fans. USF is a young program but it is a great asset to the league.

First Things First: GETTING THERE

Unless you want to drive 900 or so miles (Louisville, Cincy, WVU and Pitt) this trip will be a flying event. The good news most everyone can get a nonstop into either Tampa or close by Orlando (90 miles). Both of these airports have a bevy of cheap flights to northern cities. Note: Orlando offers the most nonstops and generally the cheapest flights. It might be worth your while to fly into Orlando and rent a car and drive to Tampa. Obviously, many visiting fans will plan a four-five day mini-vacation and will visit Orlando anyway. If time is tight you should fly into Tampa. The airport is located about a mile from the stadium. You can easily take a cab to the game. Note: Taxis drop/pickup riders at the northwest corner of the stadium.
Other Travel Options:
Several ultra discount charter carriers offer scheduled service between some northeastern/midwestern cities and Orlando Sanford Airport (2 hours) and Saint Petersburg/Clearwater Airport (30-45 mins). Note: These airlines often only fly once a day so a missed flight or broken aircraft could be very problematic. If you have a lot of time, Amtrak offers service into Tampa. The fall season is a great time to visit Florida due to discount prices for rooms and other tourist related services. Consider yourself lucky if your team has an October or a November visit scheduled to Tampa and take advantage!

Getting to the Stadium: Raymond James Stadium Click to enlarge (Thanks USFFan)

USF (like UConn and Pitt) plays their football games off campus. The campus is located about eight miles northeast. Like Pitt, they share a stadium with an NFL team. Raymond James Stadium (RayJay or RJS) opened in 1998 and is a great venue with many amenities. Note: USF games since demand increased are selling upper deck tickets for all games. Listed capacity for USF games is about 66,000. RayJay is located off Dale Mabry Highway which is a major North/South Artery in Tampa. The stadium is located adjacent (east) to the airport.

Directions:

FROM THE NORTH
I-75 to I-275 South to Himes Avenue North
or
Dale Mabry North.
Stadium is approximately one mile north, between Himes and Dale Mabry.

FROM THE SOUTH (SARASOTA AND BRADENTON)
I-75 to I-4 West to I-275 South to Himes Avenue North or North Dale Mabry
or
I-75 North to I-275 North to North Dale Mabry.
Stadium is approximately one mile north, between Himes and Dale Mabry.

FROM THE EAST (ORLANDO)
I-4 West to I-275 South to Himes Avenue North or North Dale Mabry
or
I-4 West to Hillsborough Avenue West or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard West.
Stadium is approximately one mile north, between Himes and Dale Mabry.

FROM THE WEST
I-275 to North Dale Mabry
or
Highway 60 East to Spruce Street East to North Dale Mabry.
Stadium is approximately one mile north, between Himes and Dale Mabry.

Parking/Tailgating

Map of Parking Near Ray Jay Click to enlarge (From the official Bucs site)
Note:Lot 14 was the old mall lot

The easiest thing is to park at RayJay. The lots open five hours before games(or at 8am for Noon games). Note: Buses and Campers are allowed to park on stadium property for USF games in Lot 8 (located south of the stadium). Note: Campers/RVs park in a different lot for Buc games. Expect general admission parking to be directed to Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 but you can park in some other lots south of the stadium. Looking for where the USF students park and tailgate? Try Lots 3+4 and the old mall lot (Lot 14). Lot #4 is closest USF's student government sponsored tailgate area and student entrance (Gate B). USF fan outrunner states, "There's a lot of frats and clubs partying in there, and a lot of heckling/smack talk."

The official website states: “For USF home games Cars and Motorcycles will be charged $15, Buses, Campers, and Limousines will be charged between $45 and $60 depending on the size of the vehicle and the number of spaces it occupies.” Tailgating seems to have few restrictions.
Note: The stadium has in the past enforced very restrictive rules on the size of bags brought in the stadium. Definitely err on the conservative side.
However, charcoal grills are okay in the parking lots! One other parking option is located adjacent to the stadium grounds across the street (west) at Hillsborough Community College.
Note: Just to the east was the old Tampa Bay Center Mall. Recently it was torn down. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are building training facilities there. A lot of Bull fans and USF students have used the free parking at the Mall in the past. ARRIVE EARLY OPTION: The Mall Lot has been converted into Lot 14 now and is a pay lot. Students still flock there. It is a pay lot but people routinely show up 5-7 hours before kickoff. You can arrive early, set up, save spots and throw a football. The rules are more lax. Expect an attendant to come by later to collect money. All Ray Jay lots are $15 to park.

I tailgated in 2006 and found the convenience of the stadium lot hard to beat. I queued up 3 hours and 10 minutes before kickoff on the roadside of Dale Mabry (northbound) at Gate 9. There were about 15-20 cars waiting with me at 9am. (NOTE: kickoffs now open 5 hours before kickoff and at 8am for noon kickoffs) They opened at precisely three hours prior to kickoff. I went through the gate and turned left and parked in Lot 7 right behind a rope separating me from permit parkers. If you arrive early like I did you get a "primo" spot next to one of the walkways. Tailgaters filled in over the next hour or so. We were about 400 yards south of Ray Jay's entrance. Plenty of porta-potties and lots of good times as Cuse and USF fans intermingled nicely. We stayed about 90 minutes after wards. By then the lot was very empty. If parking on site doesn't appeal to you...try cruising around to find some private lots which might accommodate you earlier. There are several smaller lots available to the east of the stadium. Try looking of Woodlawn and Ohio Avenues. Brad from BullsTailgating suggests:

"There are a few private lots on the east side of the Stadium. I would definitely
recommend our lot. Our lot is the second one on Woodlawn behind News
Channel 28. There are a couple of them right around us, great place to
Tailgate, shade close to stadium and grass lots so it's not as hot as the
Asphalt."

Finally, The Bulls Tailgating Association has a good website that gives you even more info. Their forums have some good suggestions in there for Bars, recipes, etc...

Driving an RV Down?

Florida in the Fall is a great time to get one last use in before the Winter for the northern Big East fans. Unfortunately no overnight parking is offered at the RayJay. Instead you'll need to park at one of these RV parks listed below and drive in the day of the game.
For overnight RV parking, please contact one of the following parks:

Bay Bayou RV Park
813-855-1000
12622 Memorial Highway
Tampa, FL 33635

Happy Traveler RV Park
813-986-3094
9401 E Fowler Ave
Thonotosassa, FL 33592

Lazy Days RV Campground
800-350-6731
6210 County Road 579
Seffner, FL 33584

Sun RV Resorts (Tampa East)
813-659-2504
4630 McIntosh
Dover, FL 33527

Ticket Scalping and You: USF fans have told me it is legal to buy and sell tickets now for whatever the market bears. Supply is more than demand currently. You should be able to find tickets offered for less than face around the parking lots and walkways except for the high demand games. Even though ticket reselling has been liberalized there is still a rule not allowing reselling tickets on the grounds of stadiums you have been warned.

With that in mind: A few tried and true techniques to get the best price buying I have used: 1. Know what a legit ticket looks like 2. Buy from your own fan base first 3. The smaller the group the smaller the price--single tickets are cheapest 4. Prices usually peak 1-2 hours before kickoff--inside an hour the closer to game time the cheaper the ticket, right after kickoff they plumment to near nothing 5. A fan walking to the stadium in with a group of friends and still holding extra tickets to sell will usually dump them for a cheap price (they do not want to miss the game and often they are doing a favor for a buddy to sell them) usually you'll spot them holding a finger or two out to their side or over their head or saying selling one, etc... 6. If you have to deal with a professional scalper--NEVER give him what he asks, have a seating chart with you, check to make sure all tickets are really together and for that game, offer him lower and be prepared to walk away, after you turn and walk away more than half the time in my experience they'll give in and take your offer, if you can afford to wait...wait inside 20 minutes to kickoff as see the prices drop (assess the situation for the number of tickets available, how many you need before employing that strategy) 7. Don't be embarrassed to go back to a scalper to buy ticket(s) 10 minutes after you said no to his previous offer 8. Don't fall for their tactics to make you feel like you're ripping them off by only offering $20 a ticket, etc...they love to play games with your self-image and ego.

RayJay Stadium:

This place is great now that USF is consistently drawing over 40,000 fans and a few games over 60,000...great job USF. The facility is absolute first class and has many amenities. I don’t expect all the concessions to be open but you should still have a good variety.

Buccaneer Cove
Buccaneer Cove is a tremendous landmark and you need to wander over and check it out sometime during the game. You should have great sight lines since the stadium was built for football.

City of Tampa a lot of stuff to do

TAILGATE SUPPLIES:

If you find yourself short on supplies on game day there are two Publix Supermarkets nearby. One to the south on W. Hillsborough Ave. and one to the north at 10015 N. Dale Mabry Ave.

About a mile south of the stadium is Total Wine and it had a huge selection of Liquor, Beer and Wine. I even found quite a few microbrews from up north there. There is a Walmart across the street for all your other supplies.

Shopping

I’ll keep it real simple. Drop your spouse here. The International Plaza shopping complex is located about 1 ½ miles southwest of RayJay stadium.
From the website: “International Plaza, adjacent to Tampa International Airport, is the most distinctive shopping and dining destination of Florida's West Coast. Four fashionable department stores, over 200 specialty shops and Bay Street at the Plaza... an open-air village of fine restaurants and small boutiques.” This place has a hotel (Renaissance) there and offers some travel packages. Thirty and over crowd alert: The Bay Street Level (Street Level) has a large collection of upscale drinking and dining establishments. This is a good alternative to the rowdier, younger Ybor City area.

Dining/Nightlife

I do know you need to try to eat at a Cuban Restaurant in Tampa. Cuban food is excellent and not too expensive. There is a huge selection in the area around the stadium especially if you drive south of the stadium. I would recommend after the game to head to Bay Street Level of the International Plaza or another option is cruising over to the Port of Tampa area and checking out Channelside.

Map of Channelside/ Hyde Park Areas
Channelside is another retail/dining entertainment area with many great restaurants, bars and lodging to include motels and condos. If you decide to stay downtown this place should be a must do destination. A trolley is available to take you from Channelside to Ybor—a plus. Hyde Park is located just SW of Channelside. There are lots of little shops to browse. Restaurant BT comes highly recommended. It specializes in a modern style of classic French & Vietnamese cuisines and is a great place for a quiet romantic dinner. Recommend using the valet parking because parking is at a premium.

Ybor City--a great place to party
Finally, Ybor City has an international reputation for hosting a great party. The crowd trends a little bit younger than International Plaza and Channelside. Ybor is Tampa’s old Latin community. Like many other urban areas it has been revitalized. If you really want to let lose and mingle with lots of other like minded people this is the place. The Columbia Restaurant (Ybor City) has been around for a century, specializing in Spanish and Cuban fare (get the paella). They have the best sangria, and is it is a great spot for lunch or dinner.
Following are restaurants recommended by local USF fans: “Bern's Steakhouse (South Howard Ave) offers the best steak in the Bay area. It's unique decorative style -- part bordello, part renaissance and the world famous dessert room is something to see. The Colonnade (Bayshore) offers great seafood and wonderful views of Tampa Bay and downtown Tampa. Whiskey Joe's Bar and Grille (Courtney Campbell Causeway) offers good food and reggae music and is built out over Tampa Bay. Salt Rock Grill (Indian Rocks Beach) is a great place to have dinner after a day at the beach. Frenchy's Rockaway Grill (Clearwater Beach) is the best place to grab a quick sandwich when catching rays on a GREAT beach.

SPORTS BAR ALERT!

Lee Roy Selmon's (Boy Scout Blvd - near Tampa Stadium) has some GREAT barbeque as well as a lot of TVs. The Pressbox Sports Emporium is also close by. Beef O'Brady's is a large sports pub chain. The Westchase location is fairly close to the airport area. International Plaza has Champps. It is a full service sports bar and should have ESPN Gameplan. Finally, if you are looking to shoot a game of pool and be surrounded by lots of Coeds...well Peabody's Billiards is the place for you. It is located just north of the USF campus.

BARBEQUE

Besides Lee Roy Selmon's (mentioned above)--other great barbeque places: Kojak's House of Ribs (Gandy Blvd), Jimbo's, First Choice BBQ, maybe the best barbeque around Tampa? Near the campus try Lupton's Fat Man's BBQ (located near the college). Another place with a great reputation is Big John's Alabama Bar B Que. Big John's daughter runs the location on Dale Mabry, called BJ's Alabama Bar B Que. Finally, Jazzy's BBQ has a legion of fans.

CK's (Tampa International Airport Marriott) is a revolving restaurant with a GREAT Sunday Brunch. Another great place for Sunday breakfast: The Brunchery (S MacDill Ave & N Dale Mabry). Charley's is great for gourmet steaks. Charley's can be seen from I-275 just east of West Shore. For tailgate sandwiches, Publix deli & Brocato's on Columbus and 50th are about as good as you are going to get. The bay area's best buffet (arguable) is right down the road on Dale Mabry (were RJS is) known as the Vari Asian Crazy Buffet. It has steaks, seafood, sushi, Japanese, etc. It's pricey at $22 a head. Looking for Thai? Try the Thai Terrace on Dale Mabry.
For wings, Hooters is north of the stadium on Hillsborough just west of Dale Mabry and the Press Box is south on Dale Mabry. If you are looking for a very good brew pub near RayJay try Cigar City Brewing. It is about a mile south of the stadium. The original Hooter’s is in Clearwater Beach. For Japanese hibachi steak, chicken, & seafood (cooked at the table), try Arigato's Japanese Steak House. It is reopening soon (as of Aug 2010) north at 14430 N. Dale Mabry in the Carrolwood Plaza (next to Bally's Fitness). If staying on the beach in St. Pete, for seaford I'd recommend the Hurricane on St. Pete Beach, Crabby Bill's with several locales, Ted Peter's in St. Pete on Pasadena for smoked mullet and Shell's Seafood. TBO.com is a good information source for Tampa Bay eats & things to do too.”

Note: long time restaurant Sam Seltzer's Steakhouse closed May 2010.

Lodging

Lodging is plentiful and comes in all price ranges. If you want to be able to walk to the game the (new) Holiday Inn Express, Day's Inn or Comfort Inn are your best choices. Note: You are smarter to drive and park if you are bringing in supplies staying at either property--Dale Mabry is a very busy road and not pedestrian friendly. A couple others very close to the stadium are the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza (a Marriott Property, 4 star luxury) and a Mircotel (2 star budget). If you want to benear the airport (Westshore Area), there are a bevy of choices which you can see here. The airport motel area is only about a mile or two from the stadium which means you can avoid a rental car if you are only staying overnight.
Another option to try is the Downtown/Channelside/Ybor area, which is several miles from the stadium. Finally, if you want to stay near the beaches you should try Clearwater or St. Pete areas. Expect you’ll be about 45 minutes from the stadium. The Don Cesar is not to be missed.

Beaches and Other Tourist Stuff

World class beaches await you on your trip to Tampa. USF fan, JimUSFSig says: “Sand Key Beach, just south of Clearwater Beach, is usually less crowded and has some of the best sand around. Clearwater Beach is where the tourists head to catch some rays. St. Pete Beach is where the locals go -- check out the Undertow Beach Bar for one of the best beachside bars around.” BullDoug says, “don't forget Fort DeSoto Park. It was voted the nation's overall best in 2005. It is south of St. Pete Beach just west of the Skyway Bridge. It is about a 50-60 min. trip from (RayJay) and good for a relaxing day to picnic. Treasure Island is a nice beach too. T.I. is south of John's Pass where there are numerous shopping opportunities and dinner cruises leave from there.”

You all know about Disney in Orlando so I won't tell you about it. The Tampa Bay area has some neat attractions, too. Busch Gardens offers a chance to view animals, be entertained by performers, drink a couple brewskis and ride some awesome roller coasters. Hint: Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman is entitled to free admission under the "Here's to the Heroes" program. More info here. The Florida Aquarium a few miles south in Channelside is a neat place to take the kids. Into tropical gardens? Drive over to St. Pete's Sunken Gardens. About 60-90 minutes north of Tampa is Homosassa Springs and Weeki Wachee Springs if you want to get away from typical amusement parks.

GOLF

Good and cheap:
East Bay
Located in the heart of Pinellas County, minutes from the Gulf Beaches, Eastbay is an 18 hole, par 72-championship layout. A William Mitchell design, this track features elevated, well-bunkered greens with water in play on 14 of 18 holes. Eastbay has the GPS yardage system on its brand new fleet of carts. All tees, greens and fairways are overseeded with winter ryegrass for the winter months, ensuring lush, green playing areas.

Babe Zaharias
Babe Zaharias Golf Course is a municipal course that winds through a residential area in North Tampa. It's the shortest of the city courses, but tight fairways and small greens keep it challenging.

Rocky Point
Rocky Point, located near Tampa International Airport, is a scenic course with a mix of tree-lined fairways and open holes. Water comes into play on 12 of the 18 holes.

The Claw at USF
Featuring long, tight fairways lined with oaks, cypress and pines, this attractive course is home to a variety of wildlife, including the occasional alligator. Located just off I-75 near the University of South Florida, the club is home to the university's golf teams and is a par-71 layout with driving range, golf clinics, individual lessons by PGA professionals and a golf shop. Summer golf camps are featured here, and players gather at Rocky's Sports Grill to moan over the score sheets.

Good and not so cheap:

Westchase

Since opening in the fall of 1992, Westchase Golf Club has established itself as one of Tampa Bay's upscale golf facilities. The 6,710 yard, Par-72 Westchase course was designed by nationally known architect Lloyd Clifton. Located in northwest Tampa, it is one of the better upscale courses in the Bay area. The natural setting and the well manicured fairways and greens of this course surrounded by natural wetlands, wooden bridges and bulkheads are what set it apart.

The Eagles
This facility features two 18 hole layouts, The Lakes and The Forest:

The Lakes
An abundance of water inspired the moniker for this course. Water comes into play on virtually every hole. This 18-hole course measures over 7,100 yards and is more like the traditional Florida course with huge greens and generous driving areas. Both nines of The Lakes start out with unique par-5's that challenge golfers to use their creativity to make a sub-par score. As you play these outstanding layouts, you soon understand why The Eagles Golf Club of Tampa Bay has a hard-won reputation for well-conditioned tees, greens, and fairways. Four sets of tees offer golfers a wide choice of challenges. When the St. Petersburg Times canvassed several dozen Tampa Bay golf courses to put together a Tampa Bay "Dream 18," two holes from The Eagles were selected.

Water at the Eagles

Noted golf course architect, PGA Tour professional and NBC-TV commentator Gary Koch and master architect Rick Robbins are responsible for the front nine of The Forest Course, while noted architect Ron Garl designed the back nine. Accuracy is a premium on this course, with its highly contoured fairways and well placed, meticulous greens. This course measures 6,700 yards and features the signature island-green, par-3 sixth hole, which rivals the famous 17th hole at the TPC at Sawgrass in Jacksonville.

Belleview Biltmore
Designed by world famous golf architect Donald Ross, the Belleview Biltmore Golf Club opened in 1925. It is a challenging course that features lush lined fairways and water hazards and is noted for its beauty.

TPC of Tampa Bay

The TPC of Tampa Bay is part of a network of outstanding stadium golf courses across the country owned and operated by the PGA Tour. Winner of the Golf Digest's four star award for places to play, this course is the home of the Verizon Classic, the area's only Senior PGA Tour event.

I’d like to thank USF fan JimUSFSig and BullDoug for helping me with this guide. I hope this helps.

Finally, a big thanks to all the posters at The Bullspen who helped with making this guide better with all their suggestions.

The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark. While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible. Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, Rivals.com or its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.

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Syracuse Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-07-22T16:29:00.021-05:00

Syracuse Looking Towards Onondaga Lake from Mount Olympus--click to enlarge

This is one of a series of tailgating guides for Big East football schools written by Syracuse fan and tailgate aficionado TexanMark. If you have any feedback or additional information you think belongs in this guide, please drop an email message to Mark by clicking here or make a comment below.

NOTE: I have populated a map found here with most of the places talked about here (be patient it might take 30 seconds to load). This wonderful website has informational maps on most major colleges. Check it out http://www.mapgameday.com

First Things First: Getting There:

Syracuse is the northernmost school in the Big East (Football schools). It is a relatively short trip from Rutgers and UConn (each about 3.5 to 4 hours). Other schools within a reasonable drive for a weekend game are 6-7 hours away (Pitt and WVU). Cincinnati and Louisville are too far to drive to unless you have 3 days or love spending the weekend in a car.

Flying into Syracuse is fairly easy. It is a decent sized airport but beware that some of the airfares can be artificially high. The airport has a proposed and much needed renovation coming in the next few years. Jet Blue generally has the lowest airfares and have helped a lot to lower airfares into Syracuse. However, airlines like Delta, American, USAirways, and United often will meet or beat flight rates into Syracuse from Jet Blue Destinations. The airport really needs Southwest and AirTran to offer better fares. If you are flexible flying in/out of nearby airports (both origin and destination) you can save 100's of dollars. If you are going to rent a car you might want to check into flying in/out of Albany, Buffalo and Rochester (all are within 2 hours of Syracuse) for lower airfares. Southwest serves Albany and Buffalo while Air Tran serves Buffalo and Rochester. NOTE: Airfare differences between various Upstate NY cities can vary by 100's of dollars.

The Syracuse airport is about 5 miles north of the downtown/university areas, many local motels will pick you up in their courtesy shuttles if you want to avoid renting a car. The great thing about Syracuse is 500,000 people live in the city and suburbs but you are never more than 10-15 minutes from anything. Obviously, if you have an extra day or two you might want to check out Niagara Falls, Turning Stone Casino, Cooperstown and the World Famous Baseball Hall of Fame, Thousand Islands or the Finger Lakes wineries (all are within 2 ½ hours of Syracuse). A national travel writer recently named the Finger Lakes and the 1000 Islands in the Top 10 of all Lake Districts in the world! Cruising famous Skaneateles Lake on a boat, Note: World Class Salmon fishing is just 40 minutes north in Pulaski. If you really want a special trip try mixing in fishing and stay up in Pulaski for a few days and check here first for anything you forgot. A few more suggestions. Finally, something for the kids close by. Big Don's Wild River is less than 15 minutes from Downtown in Cicero. If you are driving north on I-81 the Greek Peak Resort offers both an indoor water park, motel rooms and other outdoor activities. It is about 45 minutes south of Syracuse.

Turning Stone Casino--Oneida Nation

The train station and bus station are co-located about a mile north of downtown and it is a short walk (under an I-81 overpass) to the huge Carousel Shopping Mall. You can catch a bus or cab from the train station to the university.

The Travel Masters A Syracuse Fan Friendly Travel Agency

The Travel Masters is a Syracuse Area Travel Agency that understands what you need in a travel agent for the Syracuse University sports fan. Call Jeff or any of his professional staff (315-768-4161) to receive personal attention for your next trip. Jeff is a life long Orange fan and will work with you to maximize your fun and minimize your hassles for your next Syracuse game, business trip or vacation. Let them know you are an Orange fan and tell them him what is important for your Cuse trip. You'll be confident in knowing they'll understand your particular trip requests.

The Travel Masters is located in the Colonial Center, 131 Oriskany Blvd. Whitesboro, NY 13492

Game Day Parking/Tailgating:

Finding the Carrier Dome is fairly easy. It sits just east of downtown and is perched on top of a hill overlooking the city. However, the University provides a nice overview and has it broken down to the three main parking areas. Read below to see which set of directions you should use.

The Syracuse tailgating scene is one of lots of small tailgates spread throughout the campus. This is due to the Carrier Dome being built in the middle of a cramped campus with little close by parking. If you are a visiting fan you can find tailgating/parking options in the University area but it will be mostly by private vendors.

NEW FOR 2010: Free WiFi

The University is rolling out free WiFi around campus. It has not covered all the lots yet but it might be worth checking the link for hotspots. Wireless access is available for guests with laptops and hand-held devices. AirOrangeGuest provides unsecured access and available on a temporary basis.You need a text enabled cell phone and of course your computer. Hopefully you'll be able to stream some ESPN3 games while tailgating.

The Main Campus Click to enlarge
A link with interactive maps of all the Campuses

Suggested areas to look:

Check the fraternities/sororities on Walnut, parking garages (Sheraton Hotel, a few others can be found around Crouse and Irving Avenues a few blocks north/west of the Dome), and private residences. Expect to pay about $5-20 to park. BTW, I found a $5 lot near Adams St north of the Crouse Irving Hospital which sold out about two hours prior to kickoff. If you are lucky enough to have a connection there are several nice lots near the Dome for parking/tailgating but require a permit (based on donation level). All of the lots owned by the university close to the Dome are permit only. The Stadium West Area (the lots just to the west of the Dome in the direction towards I-81) is particularly in high demand PARKING TIP: Syracuse started in 2009 printing individual parking passes for these premium donor lots. Each game has a separate pass you hang from your rear view mirror. It makes it real handy for someone who isn't going to the the game to let you use a pass for a specific game. The school says they are not transferable but it isn't enforced. PARKING TIP: If you decide to try your luck with on street parking in the Stadium West area (west of the Dome, streets between Dome and I-81) you need to arrive at least three hours early. If you find a space open and you aren't blocking a driveway or too close to an intersection or fire hydrant park there. Bottom-line: parking is only allowed on one side of the street. They will ticket and tow. THE SWITCHOVER IS 6PM AND THEY USUALLY TAKE NO PRISONERS. PARKING TIP: If the kickoff is at 3:30pm the Syracuse cops should allow you to park past the 6pm switchover if you leave quickly after the end of the game. Just be sure to ask a nearby cop to double check they are still are allowing a short grace period after the game end. If you have a small tailgate crew you (as a visitor) shouldn't have a problem tailgating in the stadium west lots. Fans actually set up small tailgates on the strip of grass between the curb and sidewalk. Just don't set up in the prime spots in the lots as regular Cuse fans might raise a stink. Another spot to park within walking distance of the stadium west tailgate lots is to park under the I-81 overpass. There are tailgate lots under I-81 on Almond Street for $10 (you need to be in good shape as you have to walk up a hill to get to the Dome or Stadium West parking lots). The lots are filled with tailgaters. A nice printable map shows the permit parking lots as well as the non permit day game lot at Skytop. To reiterate: best advice is to arrive 3-4 hours before kickoff and scout around for a spot. If you have a noon kickoff show up by 9-9:30am and you should be okay. PARKING TIP: The university does offer two parking garages for game day parking without a permit. University Ave Garage and Booth Garage are available but are expensive($20) and most important be sure to ask when they are closing--I have heard they close 2 1/2 hours after the end of the game, be smart and ask the attendant. See link above for locations. Additionally there are a few other parking garages in the area. The one just south of the hospital complex along Irving Avenue charges $15. The Sheraton Hotel garage also allows game day parking for about $20. If you park at a parking garage obviously take a spot on the roof. Don't even try cooking with propane or charcoal in the garages. You are smart to send a scout out early to claim a spot. For 12:00 kickoffs you should be able to find a decent spot as late as 9:30am. For 3:30pm or evening kickoffs you should arrive 3 hours prior.

Urban Tailgating Syracuse Style

PARKING TIP: Okay I came upon another lot. It is tailgate friendly. However, you will need to walk a few blocks away for a bathroom. It is at the NW corner of Irving and Harrison. Enter on Harrison, about 100 feet down the hill on the right side from the Irving/Harrison intersection. Harrison (one way down the hill to I-81) allows a fast escape to the interstate highways.

The University recommends visitors without passes to park at Skytop, this map will give you a good overview of where it is in relation to the main campus. It is located about 1 mile south on Comstock Ave. from the main campus just past Manley Field House. Shuttle buses are available and free and run continuously two hours before football games from both Skytop and Manley. Out of town RV’ers will have to park at Skytop. (The Henry Lot in Stadium West Area for RVs and Buses is forever closed due to new student housing) Here is a visual look at the Skytop area. I have been told RV's can park at Skytop the night before the game. You should call parking services to check though. Tailgating out at Skytop is good but it is usually mellow with smaller tailgate groups. It is usually the most popular area for visiting fans to go to. The disadvantage is you need to take the shuttle to the game. It is about a two mile walk but it is a scenic walk on a nice day. Expect to pay $10 to park a car at Skytop. Bottom line: if in doubt before game day call the parking services department on campus for more info.

CENTRO Bus Service:

CENTRO (the local bus company) offers several great options from different parts of the city. Out of Towners if you find yourself staying near the Great Northern Mall (I-481 and SR 31) in Clay (North Side) or Wegman's Grocery Store in Dewitt (near I-481 and SR 5 on the east side) this could be a handy stress free option. They also provide this service for basketball games.

Sharkey's Dome Shuttle

“Sharkey’s Orange Machine” shuttle bus offers stress-free round trip transportation to and from The Carrier Dome. In fact, it’s going to be a tailgate party on wheels, hosted by your cruise director, “Toot The Tangerine” (otherwise known as Mandy). It’s only $5.00 and your first beer or soda inside the bar is included in the price! The EARLY bus leaves 70 minutes before kickoff/20 minutes after the game ends, and the GAME TIME bus leaves 20 minutes before kickoff/70 minutes after game ends. PLEASE NOTE: The “Game Time Bus” riders may…or may not be…at the Dome in time for kickoff. It all depends on the traffic and if all passengers are ready to board on time. Sharkey's is located about 5 miles north of the Dome in Liverpool.

ARMORY SQUARE PARKING/TAILGATING (Alternative)

NOTE: As of March 2008 the Orange Express Train Service was discontinued. The good news: merchants around Armory Square are running buses from Armory Square to the Dome.

Okay so no train. You can still tailgate downtown and take a shuttle bus from Armory Square. Armory Square is a fabulous area of entertainment choices about 1.5 miles away in Downtown Syracuse. It literally was a decaying old warehouse area that was rejuvenated in the last 15-20 years.The local bars and restaurants are running a free shuttle buses that leave from Walton Street in the heart of Armory Square. They start bus service 40 minutes before kickoff and go until 20 minutes before kickoff. After the game go back to the same spot you were dropped off at and take the bus back. IT IS FREE!

The merchants hope you party before and after kickoff with them. I would certainly stop in and give them some business. However, if you want to tailgate find a nearby parking lot and go for it. NOTE: As of September 2011 the Trolley Lot will be closed up to two years for a major environmental project. The Trolley Lot is large and RV friendly. Enter through a tunnel off the circle around the MOST Museum. Look for the tunnel under the train track here to the Trolley Lot (Use the streetview option to get a picture). There was free parking there during the day last year. I expect it the same this year. Night games you might have to pay $5.

I can't vouch for how the tailgating is downtown anymore since the train left and I tailgate in Stadium West now. However, it is okay to tailgate in the lots downtown. If you park at the Trolley Lot or any of the other nearby lots in the Armory Square Entertainment area you should some others doing the same. Here is a map of all the parking downtown.

Be sure to visit PJ's Pub and Grill and SyracuseSuds and say thanks for the buses.

The Carrier Dome Switched To FieldTurf in 2005

The Carrier Dome in Basketball Configuration Over 34,000 fans attended games before here.

Tailgate Supplies:

Sporting My New Cuse Flag
From College Flags and Banners

New to 2010 are great tailgate products offered to my readers...BTW, you get a 10% discount.

College Flags and Banners Co. is the ultimate source for your tailgate. They offer a huge selection of college flags and banners including: Army, Cincinnati, Connecticut, ECU, Louisville, Memphis, Navy, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, USF, and WVU. Plus everything else you need for game day, from tailgating flagpoles and wheel stands to conference pennant sets. All products are officially licensed and ship within 24 hours. Order today and relieve 10% off your order by typing in coupon code "MARK10" at checkout.

If you are looking for more than just college try their sister company.

Other Sports Flags:
Sports Flags and Pennants Co. is the premium source for all of your NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and NASCAR flags and pennants. Fast, secured shipping to your doorstep and all products are officially licensed. Through our site we are offering a coupon code for 10% off your order. Just enter "MARK10" at checkout.

NOTE: In New York State you can buy beer in grocery stores but hard liquor and wines are sold in liquor stores. There is a movement to change this but I expect 2010 will still be the status quo as NY politics is well NY politics. Obviously the Huge 24/7 Walmarts (this one isn't a Super Center but it is close to the liquor stores mentioned below) around town offer good selection of tailgate supplies and beer. If you are already situated at your tailgate and need a few items try these places (all are within 10 mins of the campus): The Party Source (fairly extensive beer selection) at 2646 Erie Blvd., Phone: (315) 446-8281 but the place has mixed customer service reviews. The biggest and closest liquor store is also out near the Party Source. Pascale's Liquor Square has a huge selection of liquor and wine. Brilbecks's has an awesome selection of craft beers. They are in the Tipperary Hill section of Syracuse (about 1.5 miles west of downtown). If you go to Brilbeck's I suggest stopping by Coleman's for lunch or dinner. The closest Full Scale 24 hour Grocery Store is Price Chopper at 2515 Erie Blvd., Ph 315-449-2314.. If you want to shop the best Supermarket Syracuse has to offer try the Wegman's Chain (this one is about 10 mins from the University. They have a very loyal following on the east coast. NOTE: Allow an hour to shop here--once you enter you get sucked in and don't want to leave. LOL

Money Saver Tip: Wegmans, Price Chopper and the Top's(nee: P+C) Grocery Stores in Syracuse use loyalty cards. P+C Grocery Stores underwent bankruptcy in 2009 and Top's Super Markets took them over. They converted all the stores over to the Tops name in 2010. If you are a one time shopper usually if you ask a person in line they'll let you borrow their card to swipe for the discounts or the checkout person sometimes will swipe a card for you.

If you can't drive and are tailgating on/just off campus and need some beer/food. The closest walkable place is a Quickway Food Mart at 701 Crouse and Adams, Ph 315-475-0900 (about a block north of Marshall Street Ticket Scalping Area). They offer a limited selection of beer and some food stuffs.

CARRIER DOME, TICKETS and SUCH

Tickets are a buyers market right now in Syracuse. The Dome's capacity is just shy of 50,000 but the last few years have seen crowds of around 35,000 for most games. There hasn't been a sellout in many years. I don't expect it to change until the Orange start consistently winning again. The 2010 season saw 8-5 with a Pinstripe Bowl victory and excitement is growing but I still expect a buyers market in 2011. The school offers Internet purchasing of tickets. Single game tickets usually go on sale each August. They are doing both "print at home" and traditional mailing of tickets. If you arrive without tickets the best place to buy tickets are near the intersection of Marshall and Crouse, the walkway between the Quad (near Hendricks Chapel) and the Dome or the area surrounding the parking lots just west of the Dome. New York appears to be relaxing the rules on scalping tickets so the Police shouldn't bother you as long as you don't buy on the sidewalks next to the Dome. The actual rule appears to be within 1500' of the Dome. They arrested a few scalpers in March 2010 for the NCAA Basketball Regional. For Syracuse Football games they don't usually seem to be arresting but just stay away from the areas directly surrounding the Dome.

A few tried and true techniques to get the best price buying: 1. Know what a legit ticket looks like 2. Buy from your own fan base first 3. The smaller the group the smaller the price--single tickets are cheapest 4. Prices usually peak 1-2 hours before kickoff--inside an hour the closer to game time the cheaper the ticket, right after kickoff they plummet to near nothing 5. A fan walking to the stadium in with a group of friends and still holding extra tickets to sell will usually dump them for a cheap price (they do not want to miss the game and often they are doing a favor for a buddy to sell them) usually you'll spot them holding a finger or two out to their side or over their head or saying selling one, etc... 6. If you have to deal with a professional scalper--NEVER give him what he asks, have a seating chart with you, check to make sure all tickets are really together and for that game, offer him lower and be prepared to walk away, after you turn and walk away more than half the time in my experience they'll give in and take your offer, if you can afford to wait...wait inside 20 minutes to kickoff as the prices drop (assess the situation for the number of tickets available, how many you need before employing that strategy) 7. Don't be embarrassed to go back to a scalper to buy ticket(s) 10 minutes after you said no to his previous offer 8. Don't fall for their tactics to make you feel like you're ripping them off by "only offering $20 a ticket", etc...they love to play games with your self-image and ego.

The Dome mostly has aluminum bench seating (without backrests) and it is very easy to improve you seating into vacant areas. If you buy your tickets through your own University you should expect to be in the corner of the endzone near Section 111. Click here for the seating chart and here for what your view will look like. Normal questions about what you can bring into the stadium, where is disabled seating, etc...can be found here. Concessions include Beer (sales end at the start of the 3rd Quarter) and the normal food fare. I was told there is a better selection of beer on the first level. If you get a Dome Dog make sure it is Hoffman Brand. Concession prices are fairly cheap compared to those at some other Big East Stadiums. Beer is about $5 for 16 ounces.

A FULL DOME--aka "The Loud House"

LODGING (Close):

Note: The local Syracuse Visitor’s website a good place to help you find addresses and phone numbers for businesses. If you have waited until summer or fall for football weekends the rates around the Dome will be high (local motels traditionally jack up the rates even higher for Parents Weekend over a standard football weekend). Bottom line, if you have a car and want to save money you should look to the suburbs or outlying towns (Clay, Auburn, Cortland, Tully, Oneida, etc...). Note: If you are in dire straits for lodging try this website for some "Mom and Pop" motels. I like the convenience of being near the Dome and usually stay Downtown or near the campus. If you are flying or taking the train in for the game most of these hotels listed below will pick you up at the Airport/Train Terminal via Courtesy Shuttle.

I've compiled a list a few places below that all have proximity to the Dome, you can walk to them all or take a Bus from Armory Square on game day.

Downtown/SU Area Lodging

Hotel Skyler The Newest Hotel on the University Hill

Hotel Skyler is a gem and just opened in 2011. From the hotel website,

"Hotel Skyler is an eclectic boutique hotel located at the epicenter of the Syracuse University campus. Once a former temple and theatre, this lovingly reclaimed gem boasts 58 expertly appointed guest rooms that mix cutting-edge technology with artisan details for an inspiring and invigorating hotel experience.

You've never been anywhere like Hotel Skyler. In the serene and welcoming lobby, industrial minimalism meets soothing organic comfort. Retro and metro mingle cozily in one-of-a-kind guestrooms. From the moment you check in until you reluctantly say goodbye, you'll know you're somewhere special – somewhere designed to nurture the spirit and the planet. You're at Hotel Skyler, Syracuse's first LEED Platinum Designed hotel."

This hotel is awesome if you want to walk to everything. Tailgating is easily done from here too.

Parkview Hotel: A new boutique hotel opened May 2005. It is related to the Genesee Grande property a few blocks away and mentioned below. Bottomline: it is reasonable (mid 100s) and close (about 5/8ths mile away to the Dome). All rooms feature custom fabrics, bright living spaces and flat-screen LCD TV; extended-stay suites also have kitchenettes. The Parkview also provides voice mail, speaker phone, high-speed Internet access and a 24-hour on-site business center with administrative support. Local phone number is #315-701-2600 (you might be able to get a better discount by calling) and they do provide a courtesy shuttle.

Crowne Plaza, In 2010 it converted to a Crowne Plaza. It was a formally a Renaissance in 2007. A few years prior to that it was the The Marx Inn. Originally it was built around 1979 and was a Holiday Inn for many years. Many name changes but this hotel is a far cry from the mid 90's when it still looked like the old Holiday Inn stuck in the 70's. It is in my opinion a very good value among the upscale hotels near the campus. Located about 5/8 mile from the Dome. Nice on-site restaurant. The place is very clean. Rooms are around $150-250. I have heard Redfield's is a great restaurant and located in the hotel.
A very nice point is the free covered parking lot.
Note: If you ask, you can get complimentary shuttles.
A View From the Crowne Plaza click to enlarge

Genesee Grande Inn They recently did a major renovation--it is just beautiful. It is about 1/2 mile walk to the Dome on the north edge of campus. The pricing varies from the mid 100s and up (Suites). Valet parking is available. The restaurant has received good reviews. In fact the 1060 Lounge offers their famous Syracuse #44 Burger on game day as well as drink specials. This place sounds real good if you are bringing your wife. Be advised the neighborhood turns dicey about several blocks away east or north.

Sheraton at the University This is the place to stay if you want to soak up the college experience. It is literally steps from the Dome. It has been extensively renovated in 2011 and looks gorgeous. I always run into somebody famous there on game day. The downside is it is expensive ($200+ a night) and most football weekends will book up early. On game day it has a lot of people mingling and the Hotel sets up a tailgate (fee to get food/drinks) outside for guests and visitors alike.

Sheraton at the University the closest Hotel to the Dome

Closest (Upscale) to Armory Square/Bars:
Jefferson-Clinton Hotel (nee Hawthorn Suites) at Armory Square This is my favorite place but that is the problem, it is also with others and is usually booked. The Hotel is across the street from the Trolley Lot and within staggering distance of all the bars at Armory Square. It is amazing what they did to the old Jefferson-Clinton, a one-time “flea bag” hotel in the 70s. If you get lucky with reservations expect to pay $150+ a night for a Queen Euro. Suites are $225+. A hot breakfast buffet is included. Free parking is outdoors in a contracted lot, valet/concierge services available.

Econolodge (2 star quality) on James Street is usually the cheapest choice: Obviously, the benefit is you can get a room (they are clean) usually for around $80-100 with a breakfast and TV/Fridge/Microwave. Lately, the hotel has been jacking up the rates for some games. IMHO, it isn't worth paying $120+ for some of the games. It is about a mile walk to the Dome and about a half mile to Armory Square. They do provide courtesy shuttle to the airport and other locales. The downside is the distance to the Dome and it is near St Joseph’s Hospital. You'll hear the ambulances. Be advised there are some street people in the neighborhood but the area is as safe as you can expect for an urban downtown environment. The Parking Lot is secure and well lit and the manager lives on site. This is a great place to go with a bunch of guys--probably not the family. I have stayed here several times in the past and have never had a problem.

One other option for those on a very limited budget is the Hi-Downing Hostel about 1 1/4 mile from campus.

LODGING (5-15 minutes away)

There are quite a few motels in the Carrier Circle area. This area is about 3 miles northeast of the university near the Thruway (I-90, exit 35) interchange by the same name.

Another area is around the intersection of I-81 and I-90. The 7th North area also has several options. Two independent motels here are worth checking out. The Maplewood Inn and the United Inn sometimes will offer much cheaper rates but still are well maintained properties. A real bargain can usually be had at the Econolodge near the Airport. The property is nearly new and clean and less than 10 minutes from the campus and real close to the next two suggestions. Two newer hotels are a Candlewood Suites and a Holiday Inn Express located about 5 miles N of the Dome at the entrance to the Airport on South Bay Road. I recently stayed at both the Holiday Inn Express Airport and the nearby Econolodge and was quite pleased. They both were very clean properties only about 3 mins from the terminal and very close to several restaurants. They may have rooms available when others are sold out. If you want something a little different in a motel try the Red Mill Inn in Baldwinsville. It is a neat little village about 15 minutes northwest of Downtown. The Hotel is an old mill on an island next to the old Erie Canal. Prices are generally about $100 a night and people have told me it is a great alternative to chain motels. Hint: A new Holiday Inn Express (converted from a Wingate in 2010)is about 6 miles NW of the Dome near Exit 39 on the Thruway. New for 2010 and close to the Dome are a Holiday Inn Express a few miles east and a Hampton Inn at Erie Blvd and Thompson Road also a few miles east. These two locations will have plenty of retail and restaurant options nearby.

The Red Mill Inn lodging next to the lock on the canal

If you are looking for a Bed and Breakfast in the city try Moonstruck Manor on the west side. If you want a romantic getaway town about 30 mins away, I recommend Skaneateles (pronounced "skinny-atlas")or Cazenovi a (pronounced "Caz-a-no-via"). Each village is charming and possesses excellent hotels, B and B’s and restaurants. One of the best lodges (Mirbeau) in the country is located in Skaneateles. Another lodge with an excellent reputation is the Sherwood Inn. If you are looking for a more casual lodging experience in Skaneateles try Skaneateles Suites. Both Skaneateles and Cazenovia are under 30 minutes from the University. A little bit closer in the eastern suburb of Fayetteville is the Craftsman Inn. The hotel is noted for fine Syracuse made Stickley Furniture.

DESTINATION LODGING 30-60 mins away

Several neat getaway destinations are away from Syracuse but still close to make the game day drive somewhat easy.

If you are coming up from the south the Greek Peak Resort offers Lodging, resort amenities and an indoor water park. It is located about 45 mins south of Syracuse. Another suggestion is Aurora it is about 50 minutes southwest of Syracuse on Cayuga Lake and has The Aurora Inn in a quaint setting. It is especially nice in the Fall as it is located in the middle of the Finger Lakes winery region. Be advised you need to book well in advance. For the sportsmen: try a weekend trip of fishing and football. This resort has it all for you about 40 minutes north of Syracuse. If you are coming from the east or like to golf and gamble I suggest Turning Stone Resort. It is located 30 mins east near I-90.

Skaneateles Suites: Unique collection of lodging options in a beautiful setting

SHOPPING (Nonfootball Watching Spouse Option)

Carousel Mall is huge and expanding. It should be able to keep your spouse busy for hours. It is located about 2 miles north of downtown off I-81. Be advised the mall will be undergoing major, major changes over the next few years. It is soon to be renamed DestiNY USA. It is planned to be a multi billion dollar destination place with a huge section of outlet stores. This project has been ongoing for years...but really it finally looks like it will get moving in 2011. Even if it doesn't the mall is still the largest one in Upstate NY.

Carousel Mall--Phase One of Expansion (Photo from Syracuse.Com, Jun 13, 2008)

Two other shopping options: Shoppingtown Mall has been an institution in Syracuse for nearly 50 years. It is located near the hotels around Carrier Circle. Locals tell me it has gone downhill over the last few years so it might not be a good choice.

The COR Center has a nice mix of stores in a warm village atmosphere typically found in upper income areas, check out the Fayetteville Towne Center property. It is located on the east side about three miles further east from Shoppingtown. Note: There is a nice YMCA located at the development. UPDATE: LL Bean opened an outlet late September 07. Another COR Center is in the northern suburb of Clay.

Sports Clothing: If you forgot a rain jacket or sweatshirt...you have a couple choices on Marshall Street: Shirt World, Manny's, and Syracuse University Bookstore. You can also try the Marshall Square Mall just behind Marshall Street.

DINING IN SYRACUSE: This website is marvelous as it offers websites and menus for hundreds of restaurants. It should help you narrow down your search.

DINING DOWNTOWN

When you arrive back after the game, a multitude of choices await you in Armory Square.

Visitors should check out: Syracuse Suds Factory and world famous Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and the Blue Tusk (a cool meeting place with an awesome selection of beer on tap). Another really cool bar is J Ryan's Pub and has 69 beers on tap and very good pub food. Dinosaur has the best BBQ in the North and the most eclectic atmosphere of any place in CNY. Lemongrass and Bistro Elephant offers upscale Thai-Pacific Rim and Euro=Asian Food respectively as good as you'll get in large metropolitan areas. Great News! Armory Square has reopened its second brew pub in summer '07. The Empire Brewing Company shut down and reopened. I visited fall '07 and it still retained its quality of food and brew before. It is a must for visitors. BTW, the other Brew Pub (Syracuse Suds-mentioned above) is also quite good and has TVs for viewing games. Finally the Syracuse Downtown Committee has put together a nice compilation of where to eat, shop and play in Armory Square.

World Famous Dinosaur Barbeque--CLICK Here For VIDEO
Photo by Lucy Saunders (c) Who does a website about cooking with beer that is very useful for tailgating.

Still in Armory Square is a cool Irish Pub with good food called Kitty Hoynes. A nice Italian Restaurant called Pastabilities was one of the original pioneers in the Armory Square area. The Black Olive serves Greek/Mediterranean specialties and is located in the Armory Square area. Finally, a new restaurant that has good reviews is the upscale BC Restaurant. Not in Armory Square but a few blocks away by the OnCenter is Ale 'n' Angus Pub. It serves awesome steaks, burgers, and other American favorites at reasonable prices. Finally, if you want to cap off a grreat day try bitterSweets Wine Bar & Desserts in Armory Square.

NOTE: SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS If you want a neat place to kill a few hours or you have children with you should check out M.O.S.T. it is an interactive science and children's museum. MOST also has an IMAX movie theater.

Blue Task and Kitty Hoyne's--two great places to have a drink

The City of Syracuse has a good website for visitors that is also worth checking out.

HANOVER SQUARE (Another Downtown Option)

Hanover Square is a smaller version of Armory Square but it is considered quite good. Hanover Square is #5 on the linked map is bit more sedate and caters more to the 25+ crowd. The live music scene is alive an well at the Bull and Bear Pub. Bull and Bear Pub offers a Food Menu. If you desire Italian try Anthony's Pasta Bar. If French is your choice, try L'Adour. Just around the corner from Hanover Square is a nice Restaurant called Traditions of Syracuse at 201 S. Salina Street. Finally, the Downtown Committee has put together a nice compilation of where to eat, shop and play in the Hanover Square area.

THE UNIVERSITY AREA, aka "The Hill"

If you want the college experience you need go no farther than the Marshall Street area (this is the main retail area for Syracuse University just a few blocks from the Dome).

Another option is the funky off campus college neighborhood on Westcott Street (between Genesee and Euclid) about ½ mile away. There are several neat little restaurants and bars.

If you are staying at the Renaissance, Parkview, Genesse Grande, Skyler or Sheraton the dolce vita world bistro bar/kitchen is nearby at 907 E. Genesee St. It offers Wi-Fi, big screen TVs, craft beers, world-infused cuisine at reasonable prices.

Places that come highly recommended in the Marshall Street area (the main student retail center about 3 blocks from the Dome) are Faegan’s Café and Pub (famous beer and food joint for meeting friends), Varsity Pizza (local institution where all SU’s opponents pennants are on the wall. If SU wins a SU player gets the honor to turn the losing team’s pennant upside down) of course has good, cheap NY style pizza, Acropolis Pizza and Cosmo Pizza (two other great pizza places) and King David (Middle Eastern and Greek food) all are on Marshall St. Another new restaurant on Marshall is the huge Chipotle Burrito Chain. King David's actually moved upstairs and Chipotle is now on the street level. While famous Hungry Charlies is gone, Chuck's Cafe replaced it. The food is decent but on gameday and the evenings this place is hopping with coeds. A few more places can be found at the "Shoppes at Campus Plaza". Walk downhill on Crouse just below Marshall Street and turn right into an alley. You can find several ethnic restaurants and bars there. Sal's Birdland is noted for their Wings and located in the Schine Student Center on campus. While not on the University proper a new Chipotle Restaurant is scheduled to open up soon near on Erie Blvd.

DINING AWAY FROM CITY CENTER

A few other unique places (you’ll need a car) to try: Heid’s of Liverpool is located about four miles north of downtown in the quaint village of Liverpool. The art deco styled restaurant has been an institution for generations of Syracuse residents. You need to try the coney “co-nee” (a white hot). Hoffman white "Coneys" aka "snappy griller" and red "Texas Hots", made in Syracuse and Served at Heids Here is a video of Heid's.

Tailgate Food Suggestions: The Coney and Texas Hot served at Heid's is actually made by Hoffman Sausage. It is a local treasure and most Syracuse natives prefer no other. Like wise Syracuse prefers Gianelli Italian Sausage. I highly recommend trying them at your tailgate in Syracuse. The Hoffman and Gianelli products are found in the deli/meat section of most CNY grocery stores.

Heid's of Liverpool

Another unique place is Coleman’s Irish Pub in the Irish neighborhood of Tipperary Hill. Tipperary Hill is famous for having the only green over red traffic light in the USA. The restaurant can be difficult to find so I suggest you print out a good map. The food is excellent and the atmosphere can’t be beat. It has been rated as one of America's 10 great Irish Pubs.

Coleman's Pub--Check Out The Leprechaun's Door

If you want to try barbecue on the north or southwest sides of town the Limp Lizard is for you. It has a legion of devotees (many locals say it good but a step below the more famous Dinosaur BBQ downtown). It also has a biker and blues theme and shouldn't have the long waits like at Dinosaur. Syracuse has become an excellent city for barbecue (from a Northeast perspective LOL). The North Syracuse Limp lizard location is about 5 minutes from the airport. The other location (Onondaga Blvd) is SW of downtown. A new location has opened on the north side in Liverpool too. However, locals told me to go to the other Limp Lizards.

Limp Lizard Barbecue--definitely worth driving to.

One more barbecue joint that is as good as you can get down South is Krabby Kirk's out in the western suburb of Camillus. They serve other food too. Their Pastrami Sandwich is absolutely the best this side of Manhattan. While out in Camillus try two other high end restaurants in the Green Gate Inn B+B for French Cuisine and the Inn-Between for traditional fine dining.

The Retreat Restaurant is located in the Village of Liverpool. (Not far from Heid's, and close to Onondaga Lake Park). It has great food and caters to fans. Their spacious bar dining area boasts 25 large screen TVs, including our 110-inch high-definition projection TV.

Retreat Restaurant...serving great food for nearly 30 years

If you are coming from the South or Midwest you should try the Clam Bar for excellent seafood. I love their haddock fish sandwich. It is huge! It is located near W. Taft Rd and Brewerton Road ( US 11) also known as “Sweetheart Corner” in North Syracuse. It is about five miles north of Downtown. Parking is located in the rear off South Bay Road.

Another famous seafood restaurant in Syracuse is Doug's Fish Fry. There are a couple locations throughout Central New York. It is especially well worth the drive to Doug's in the scenic village of Skaneateles. JD's Fish n Grill also has their legion of devotees. They not only offer seafood but turkey. Be sure to print out one of their coupons.

Scenic Skaneateles (skinny-atlas)is 25 mins SW of Syracuse

Another excellent restaurant on the north side is Zebb's in Mattydale. Zebb's is located right next to the northbound Interstate 81 exit 26, in the Mattydale Plaza, opposite the parking lot from the K-Mart, about 4 miles north of downtown. Zebb's offers a varied menu with great burgers, BBQ, salads, etc. Another restaurant on the north side is famous for their comfort food. Located about 10 mins north of downtown in Cicero is home to, Thee Diner, it is about 1/2 mile east of I-81 on SR 31 across the street from Cicero-N. Syracuse High School. It offers a diner type menu (most items under $8) with some of the best desserts to be found. If you crave fried chicken and other good fast food try heading over to Solvay (5 mins west of downtown) to Sam's Chicken Land. They also have great cheese steaks and gyros.

BREAKFAST JOINTS

The Little Gem Diner just reopened under new management and it will provide you a great breakfast in a classic diner. Another one out in Liverpool is the Gardenview Diner and is very good. Finally Mother's Cupboard is just excellent for breakfast or any other time. It was featured on Man vs Food. They serve huge portions.

Little Italy

If you crave Italian Food you should wander around Syracuse’s “Little Italy”. It is located just north of downtown. Francesca's Cucina in Little Italy is know for great food. You must try the local specialty "Utica Greens" at Francesca's. Also in Little Italy is Asti Caffe. They known for their Shrimp Scampi and other Italian specialties. Another Italian restaurant near Little Italy is Gentile's Restaurant, they serve "eclectic Italian". Finally, the best pastry shop in Syracuse is in Little Italy. The Biscotti Cafe is one of those places you quit your diet for a day. All types of Italian pastries will be sure to please. Biscotti Cafe also offers excellent Italian style sandwiches. Angotti's (a little less expensive and more children friendly) and located about 3/4 miles east of Little Italy. Another Italian Restaurant located about 2 miles NE of Little Italy in the Syracuse neighborhood of Eastwood is Michael Angelo's. Michael Angelo's is an upscale Italian diner/restaurant located in a small strip mall on James St a couple of places down from Mother's and Friendly's (more west towards Eastwood). Just opened in January. Their chef/cook is the guy who made the chicken riggies at Antonio's famous locally. Great food. Recommend the chicken riggies, the haddock sandwich, the lasagna, if it has sauce on it, you are going to love it. Prices are very good as well.

One more excellent restaurant is Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse, located on Erie Blvd East near Thompson Road, not far from Carrier Circle or the SU campus. It has become a great meeting spot for people who enjoy huge steaks and great Italian Food. You’ll have to try the 24 ounce steak and pasta for under $20.00! One last excellent Italian Restaurant is Casa di Copani, located about two miles northeast of downtown on Burnet Ave, near Thompson Road, also not far from Carrier Circle.

If you crave a great sandwich/sub in the Jewish Deli style then look no further than the Brooklyn Pickle. They have an extensive menu and you will not leave hungry. They are at the corner of Midler and Burnet next to I-690 about 1 mile east of the university. They cater. Phone: 315-463-4969.

If you like steak sandwiches, have a big appetite and are on a budget (I am assuming all apply to a college student), I would recommend Second North Deli. Order the house specialty, the Fresh London Broil sandwich. It costs $5.95 for a whole (can't order a half). Spend the extra .80 or whatever it is to add the mushrooms and the onions. Comes on a great freshly baked hard roll. Just an outstanding value. And while you are there, get an order of their potato chips, made in house, served hot from the deep fryer. Order them extra crispy.

If you are looking for a Philly Cheese-steak I suggest A Taste of Philadelphia on the NE side of the city in the Eastwood neighborhood.

Finally, another great cheese steak and pizza can be found about 10 mins SE of downtown at Robbie T's.

SPORTS BAR ALERT: Good news--walking the campus looking for new sports bars yielded me a new one offering ESPN Gameplan on campus. ZJ's Pizza and Wings (aka Harry's) offers multiple screens with ESPN gameplan. It is located at 700 S. Crouse Ave in the basement....look for the CVS drugstore. No website but you can call them to see if they'll put on your game (315-422-2123). Another place on campus is Chuck's Cafe(nee: Hungry Charlies) and is located in an alley just north of Marshall Street. Chuck's is a great place to watch a game during the day.

In the local area: If you are looking for good times and good food in a sports bar offering ESPN Gameplan, you need to drive to one of the four Tully's locations in the Syracuse/Liverpool area. A west side favorite is Rosie's Sports Pub and Grill located at 1443 W. Genesee St. 315-468-1269. They offer ESPN Gameplan. Another classic sports bar is Buffalo Wild Wings. It is located near Lowes off Route 11 and Circle Drive in the North Syracuse/Cicero area and they offer all the college games via ESPN gameplan, Directv, etc... Another place to check is the Beginning II, it is very close to the Carrier Circle Motel area. I recommend calling to see if they can get your college game as I'm not sure if they offer ESPN Gameplan. Quaker State and Lube has quite a following and is another option to watch games--however it is located about 8 miles NW of the Dome. If you are downtown there is a new sports bar in Armory Square. Gio's Tavern, Armory Square's new sports-themed bar, at 207 Walton St., Syracuse, the former Ambrosia nightclub. The pub features 5 large-screen TVs, two pool tables, electronic and steel-tip darts and shuffleboard, plus a LARGE selection of mainstream & craft draft and bottled beer. Also downtown (near Clinton Square) is a new sports bar sceduled to open soon...called the Saltine Warrior Sports Pub. Google it and see if it is open this Fall.

Golf

Central New York is blessed with a wide variety of affordable public golf courses. If you are a golfer and have time to get in a round, bring your clubs and check out one of the local tracts. You should be able to play golf in CNY at least through the end of October and sometimes you can get a round in with decent weather during November. Courses are generally opened from early April through late November. Here is a quick rundown of some of the best choices the area has to offer:

Green Lakes Golf Course--a great bargain

Green Lakes

Green Lakes is a state course designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1935. Built on a series of drumlins about 10 miles east of Syracuse, the course is very hilly. Flat lies are rare. Not very long...5920 from the white tees and 6212 from the blues. The greens feature the massive undulations that became a trademark of the young RTJ. Some look like potato chips. Very pretty area. You can see Oneida Lake and the foothills of the Adirondacks from the high points of the course. Closes just after Thanksgiving each year.
The course was not well maintained just a few years ago. An extensive irrigation system has been installed and the course is looking better since they become operational.
Yardage: reds: 5481, whites: 5920, blues: 6212.

Battle Island State Park Golf Course

If you are staying in the northern suburbs this is a fun course to play. It sits next to the Oswego River on State Route 48 a few miles north of Fulton. It is about 25 minutes from Downtown. It has hills, a little bit of water and no sand but fairly tight fairways in places. It is a real nice value and in decent shape. It is short but you'll use every club in your bag save your sand wedge. Par 72 plays from about 5400 to 6000 yards.

Radisson

Radisson Greens Golf Club is a semi private, 18 hole layout. It is located northwest of the city of Syracuse, about 20 minutes from downtown near the village of Baldwinsville. The design features large, bent grass greens, tight tree-lined fairways, large bunkers guarding all greens, with fairway bunkers on all but 5 holes. Lakes provide water in play on 6 holes and add to a challenging round for the most skilled player, packaged in a beautiful, scenic layout. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the course opened in 1978.
The course features a number of striking and impressive holes and is arguably the most challenging layout for a public course in Onondaga County (the Turning Stone courses are not in Onondaga County). It is unfortunately not well maintained. Bunkers are rarely raked and the fairways are troubled in some areas.
Yardage: reds: 5543, whites: 6360, blues: 7010.
Weekend cost: varies.....see the web site.

Links at Sunset Ridge

The Links at Sunset Ridge is a relatively new course in Marcellus, about 20 minutes west of the SU campus. Built on rolling hills, the course features some great views of the surrounding countryside and farms. It is consistently well maintained.
The course is fairly wide open and has little danger....water and sand come into play on only a handful of holes. Despite having 6 par 5s, it is fairly short. The greens are hard to read and fairly quick. The carts are outfitted with GPS devices.
Yardage: reds: 5298, whites: 6123, blues: 6700

The 16th hole at Links at Sunset Ridge requires a precise approach shot over a large ridge to a green cut into the side of a large hill.

Foxfire

Foxfire is a challenging course located just off route 690. about 15 minutes northwest of the city of Syracuse. The well manicured layout meanders through various townhouses, patio homes and private residences. The fairways are fairly tight and most of the greens are protected by several fairway and greenside bunkers.
The course is generally well maintained.
Yardage: reds: 5401, whites: 6372, blues: 6856

The Links at Erie Village

The is an awesome course and really a very good bargain. It blends an interesting mix of driving fairways and tight carries over water. It is located about 10 minutes east of the Carrier Dome.

The 15th Hole at The Links at Erie Village

Timber Banks

Timber Banks is a high end Nicklaus course built on the Seneca River around a residential community. Nice design. Nice practice facilities. They opened the back nine in 2009 and the front nine just made its debut in 2010. They tout it as a Turning Stone Casino level golf facility with a shorter drive and a lower price. Haven't played the front yet but based on what I have seen to date, I think that is going to end up being pretty much on the money. Green Fees are from about $40-65.

Timber Banks, new to the scene in 2009

Turning Stone

The Oneida Nation Turning Stone golf facility has emerged as the premiere golf destination in New York State. In fact it just hosted its first PGA Tour last September. It features 3 outstanding premium priced 18 hole courses: Atunyote, Kaluyat and Shenendoah. All three are spectacular designs, especially Atunyote, which hosts an annual PGA event the 3rd week of September. All have been built in the past 5 years. All are extremely well maintained. If you have the money and the game, this is the place to go. Note that Turning Stone is a 35 minute drive from downtown Syracuse. It is worth the drive.

Atunyote reds: 5102, gold: 6069, whites: 6561, blues: 6998 Weekend cost: varies....see web site (but $150-$200)

Kaluhyat reds: 5293, gold: 5690, whites: 6183, blues: 6724 Weekend cost: varies....see web site (but $70-$125)

Shenendoah reds: 5185, gold: 5839, whites: 6328, blues: 6685 Weekend cost: varies....see web site (but $70-$125)

Kaluhyat

Atunyote

BUDGET GOLF

Drumlins West

If you are golf challenged and/or budget challenged, consider playing at the Drumlins West Course. Drumlins is owned by Syracuse University and is located very near the SU South Campus. The West Course is open to the public, features short holes and open fairways and great rates ($17 to walk the course).

Orchard Vali

For you bad weather "golfaholics" I offer Orchard Vali. It is located about 10 mins south of downtown. It is short, rather wide opened golf course suitable for the beginner/hacker or the golfer who wants to get a round in when other courses are closed. It is noted for the fastest drying fairways in the area due to a gravel base. Rates are reasonable and food is very good.

Finally, if you just want to work on your irons the city offers two municipal 9 hole courses. Rates are very reasonable--about $6 but you get what you pay for--don't expect alot. Burnet Park Golf Course is about a mile west of downtown. Sunnycrest Park Golf Course is about 1 mile northeast of downtown.

Hope this helps! TexanMark

The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark. While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible. Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, Rivals.com or its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.

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Rutgers Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-07-17T17:31:00.021-05:00

New Brunswick (Raritan River in background) Click to enlarge
Photo Courtesy of RUNYYFan

This is one of a series of tailgating guides for Big East football schools written by Syracuse fan and tailgate aficionado TexanMark. If you have any feedback or additional information you think belongs in this guide, please drop an email message to Mark by clicking here.

Rutgers University is located about 30 miles southwest of Manhattan along both banks of the Raritan river in the City of New Brunswick and the suburban Township of Piscataway, New Jersey. It can be an intimidating environment for the uninitiated. Traffic and a confusing road network compound a new visitor’s anxiety. The whole key is to have a well thought out game plan and a GPS for your car. Folks, this isn’t like driving to Syracuse, Louisville or Morgantown. You can’t drive into town with just a hazy idea where to go. If you prepare well, you will reap the rewards of having a car to visit many of New Jersey’s hidden secrets. If you decide against driving flying into Newark Liberty International or taking the train into New Brunswick are your two best options. I think most fans will be pleasantly surprised with a trip to Rutgers. IMHO, if you have a few extra days, you have the best city (good link for an overview of option to get from Airports to midtown) in the world 45 minutes away to visit. This website can help you figure out which subway line to take in NYC. Philadelphia is a decent alternate airport especially if you are flying USAirways, Southwest or AirTran. It is about 90 minutes from Rutgers. I saved $150+ flying in to Philly per ticket from Texas as opposed to Newark in 2008. Rutgers has developed a visitors guide for for fans coming to NJ. TexanMark Tip: All New Jersey Gas Stations have gas pump attendants. Do not pump your own gas.

Flying

You can fly into Newark and rent a car and drive to Rutgers. If you decide to rent a car, you need to do your homework. Note: Leaving Newark International airport without an explicit set of directions or an operating GPS is a sure way to risk embarrassment or worse yet an accident. Trust me on this. There is another option for anybody who isn’t comfortable driving in a busy, fast paced area. It is possible to fly into Newark Liberty International and get to the game without using a car. You can get a train from the airport and take it into New Brunswick. From there your hotel should be able to provide you a courtesy shuttle. Expect to take a cab or hop a ride with fellow fans to the game though unless you are staying in downtown New Brunswick. Note: There are not any motels really close to the stadium but the Hyatt and Heldrich (see below in Lodging) offer shuttles to the game and are very close to the train station. If you leaving immediately after the game you can get a shuttle back to New Brunswick and work your way back to the airport or Midtown Manhattan. NOTE: Rutgers Fans have told me that there are many shuttles running and even if you aren't staying at the Hyatt or Heldrich you can move easily between the stadium and Downtown New Brunswick and the train station.

AirTrain to NJ Transit

How to Transfer to the train after landing at Newark Int’l:
1. Find out which terminal you are arriving to.

2. Obviously collect your bags

3. Proceed to the airport shuttle train. Look for signs marked Monorail / AirTrain Link. Note: Do not follow signs for Ground Transportation. There are three different terminals (A, B and C) and you need to get on the shuttle (AirTrain) and go to the Newark Liberty Int’l Train Station. Note: AirTrain takes you between the airline terminals, central parking areas, car rental facilities and hotel courtesy vehicles. All travel within the airport is free. You need to go past Terminal C and P4 (Parking) and onto the train station. This link offers info about how often the trains run.

Link for a Printable Map

4. Get off the AirTrain Shuttle From the NJ Guide, “When you exit AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station, follow the signs to NJ TRANSIT trains. You will go up one level, pass through the fare gates and go down one level onto the NJ TRANSIT train platforms. It takes approximately 5 minutes to get from AirTrain to the NJ TRANSIT platform.”

5. Purchase your ticket; there are several different areas where to purchase your ticket. NOTE: AirTrain is free around the airport but you pay an approximate $5 surcharge to exit the airport using AirTrain on top of what NJTransit or Amtrak charges. If you are a first time visitor, it is best to get it at the Train Station. You are going to the Central New Jersey area. You want to get on the New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor Line (NEC) run by NJ Transit. A sample check for a Saturday shows a train leaving about every 20-30 minutes to New Brunswick. The cost is about $14.00 (which includes the $5.50 airport fee). If you get on the train without a ticket you can pay the conductor cash but he/she will charge you an additional $5. NOTE: Show your ticket twice
You must use your ticket twice regardless of which direction you’re traveling. You’ll need to show the ticket to the conductor on the NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak train, and you’ll need the ticket to pass through the fare line at Newark Liberty International Airport Station. Be sure to take the ticket with you.

More info about the NEC here. Using the trip planner select Newark Airport and New Brunswick for your departure/destination as appropriate. Note: Some of the options have you getting on the “North Jersey Coastline” and transferring at the Rahway Station. One other option is to take Amtrak from the Airport but it is quite a bit more expensive than NJTransit.

6. Get off at the New Brunswick Train Station. It is located in downtown New Brunswick at the intersection or Easton Ave (Route 527) and Albany Ave (Route 27). You are within walking distance (a tad over a mile) of the Busch Campus where the Football Field is located. There are shuttle buses that run from the Hyatt Hotel and and the Ferren Parking Deck (across from the train station) in NB directly to the stadium.

Best Bet: Take the Red Northeast Corridor line to New Brunswick, be careful to avoid express routes which do not stop at New BrunswickClick to enlarge

Driving By Car

The official Rutgers University web site has directions from several approaches. I have been told by a Rutgers fan to forget them. Generally your best course of action is to:

come in on I-287 and exit 7 or 8 (and follow signs. This is accessed from the New Jersey Turnpike (NJTP) exit 10 or The Garden State Parkway (GSP) exit 127.
Route 18 through New Brunswick will take you extra time on game day, and River Road is the absolute worst way to get to the stadium (TRAFFIC).

I-287 exits 7 and 8 both have signs directing you to Hoes Lane which eventually becomes Route 18 as you head south, however you will then take the RAC exit or Campus Road exit before getting on to Route 18.

Use this Map of New Brunswick, NJ US as a guide.

NOTE: This definitely applies for weeknight games. If you are driving from North NJ or NYC and taking the NJ Turnpike do not use exit 9 and NJ Route 18 to get to the game. It is much quicker if you take I-287 (NJ Turnpike Exit 10) to the west and take a surface street into the stadium.

Finally, one more useful web site with directions is here.

Rutgers Stadium

Parking

PARKING AT RUTGERS--mostly prepaid except for the RAC, downtown and a few other spots. NOTE: The map above is out of date click here for the most current map.

Parking is not easy at Rutgers, especially since they are now drawing great crowds. Officially, all parking on the Busch Campus (stadium is located at the south end of Busch Campus) is prepaid except the RAC lot (Rutgers Basketball Arena about 1 mile from the stadium) with one notable exception (see insider parking tips). The RAC lot costs $20. Buses run almost constantly from the RAC to the stadium. A plus is the ability to use the bathrooms inside the RAC. This is probably the easiest place to meet if you have several cars meeting up to tailgate if some of your party do not have GPS devices and need to follow signs. A nice overview (Interactive Map) of the Busch, Livingston and College Ave campuses shows you that Rutgers is spread out among many different locales. The downside is the bus ride and the crowds all trying to ride the bus at the same time.

Other Game day Parking Options

From the Rutgers Official Guide:

I DO NOT HAVE A PARKING PASS. WHERE CAN I PARK?
• Game Day Cash Parking Lots can be found on the Livingston, College Avenue, and UMDNJ Campuses on a first-come, first-served basis (see maps on reverse). Livingston Campus/RAC: RAC parking lots can be accessed via Suttons Lane or Avenue E. Take the FREE shuttle bus from in front of the RAC ($20 per vehicle).
College Avenue Campus: Parking is available in the College Avenue Parking Deck and Lot 30 located behind the College Avenue Gymnasium. This lot can be accessed via Route 18 North or South. Take the FREE shuttle bus
from in front of the Rutgers Student Center ($20 per vehicle).
UMDNJ Campus: UMDNJ parking lots can be accessed via Hoes Lane West. Located within close proximity to the
Stadium ($20 per vehicle).
Johnson Park: Parking will be available, weather permitting, in Johnson Park, across from High Point Solutions Stadium on River Rd, on a game by game basis. Route 18 North and South - River Road exit, follow stadium signs ($30 per vehicle).
• FREE Shuttle Service: Take the Rutgers Shuttle Bus in front of the Rutgers Bookstore to High Point Solutions Stadium. The Free
Shuttle is available for every home game. Shuttle Bus runs every 20 minutes starting three hours prior to kickoff and
continues throughout the game. The Shuttle Bus stops running one hour after the game ends.

And More Areas:

Johnson Park

Johnson Park is located across the street from the stadium and snakes along the Raritan River. It offers convenience but it costs a rather pricey $30. Expect heavy traffic in the area around game time. Arrive early for the best parking and least hassle. This site drew rave reviews from several of my buddies In Nov 2010. They loved the closeness to the stadium and park setting. I highly recommend this for visiting fans who plan to arrive 3+ hours early. NOTE: Johnson Park is located in a flood plain and can be closed during periods of heavy rain or heavy rain within a few days prior. If you are bringing a big group to the park I would call the local authorities if it sounds like flooding is/was possible.

College Ave Area Downtown: You can park for a nominal fee on the College Ave. campus during game day (weekend games only) and walk or shuttle to the game. The best thing to do is park in one of the lots behind the College Avenue Gym (College Ave and Senior Street)and then jump on one of the buses that are lined up in front of the gym. There's also plenty of parking along Senior Street and Sicard St. alongside of and beyond the gym. There are indoor rest rooms in the student center next door to the gym. I have been told the parking lots here are not known for tailgating but parking for patrons of nearby bars. However, if your plans are modest, "what the hay" give it a shot and set up a couple chairs. Before cracking beers open you should to check about open containers though.

Ferren Deck Downtown: When you buy your Rutgers ticket, you might be able to buy a parking pass for the Busch Campus (where the stadium is located). Possibly visiting fans can pay for this option through through their university but you need to work this out with your school. I wasn't given an option when I bought tickets through Syracuse. If it isn't available then then parking at the RAC (Orange Lot on Parking Map) on gameday is another option besides the College Avenue (New Brunswick) Campus or adjoining areas in downtown New Brunswick. On weekends you used to be able to park for free (now 7:30am Sunday to 7:30am Monday) at the Ferren Daily Deck. You now figure about $8-10 on Saturday. It is across from the Train Station. You can then take the same shuttle bus serving the train to Johnson Park (located just south of the stadium). For a weekday game this might still be a viable option since the parking rate is reasonable. Also Free parking is available at the Wolfson Deck, located at the corner of Neilson and Liberty Streets after 5:00pm, however if there is a Theatre event taking place on a game day a minimal $5.00 flat rate per car will be charged for parking. To download a parking map visit www.njnbpa.org.

UMDNJ (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) : These big lots are located about 1 mile NW of the stadium on Hoes Lane West. If you are in good shape you can walk to the stadium along the golf course. If not Shuttle buses will bring spectators to the stadium.

Buccleuch Park: sits just across the Raritan River from the stadium. It is a 15 minute walk. If you arrive about 3 hours before kickoff you should be able to park for free here. Rutgers fan ABRO1975 states, "There is a circular road that loops around the park. Parallel parking anywhere here is fine, unless sign prohibits (usually fire hydrants). There is a small lot with spaces. The circular lot is about a mile in distance, the further west in the park you are, the closer you are to the Landing Lane Bridge, where you cross over the Raritan River. A good landmark is the high rise apartment building, which is adjacent to Landing Lane Bridge. You can see the High Rise Apt from anywhere in the park. If you get there anywhere before 10:30 you should be fine for a Noon Kickoff." I would assume allow at least 2 hours for later kickoffs. Since it is a park you should be able to do a modest amount of tailgating. Just see what the Rutgers fans are doing.

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Lot: It is pricey but very close and secure and probably my #1 recommended spot. It does allow a quick getaway if you need it. They charge $35 (tax deductible with receipt) and open six hours before kickoff. They do allow beer but obviously frown upon rowdiness. They offer indoor bathrooms--a real plus for the ladies. They have 250 spaces, first come, first serve (No Buses, RVs or Trailers). They also sell pre-paid season passes for Rutgers fans. If anyone wishes to secure their spots (10 or more), please send an e-mail: stgeorgeparking@comcast.net and they will be able to accommodate your request. Lot usually fills one hour before kick-off but varies with the opponent. The only negative I saw was they require you to tailgate on the grass lawn away from your cars. Expect to move your gear from the car to the front lawn. To make it easier tell them you plan to cookout and they will park you in the special cookout area. I really like that they provide tables and chairs for your use a huge plus for visiting fans. This is where I recommend visitors to look first if you plan to arrive early, are easy going mellow fans and have a well organized but compact tailgate spread. You will have to carry and roll your stuff over to the lawn. No tailgating allowed in the parking lot.

Saint Sharbel Maronite Church

St. Sharbel Maronite Church is located across the river about a 3/4 mile walk. You have to walk down Landing Lane and across the bridge. Some of the walk has no sidewalks so it isn't recommended for those with mobility issues or towing along small kids. They charge $20 to park. I recommend calling them if you are bringing a RV or a large group.

Insider Parking Tip: There used to be several spots you could park on the Busch campus for free. They are gone. There are two game day cash lots. The RAC and the other unpublicized lot is located in front of the Physics Building at Lot 53. You should get there at least 3 hours prior to kickoff to assure a spot. It is located at the corner of Frelinghuysen Rd. and Allison Rd. I would recommend having a campus map and a Plan B in case the lot is full. It costs $20 the same as the RAC. BTW, the Busch Student Campus Center which also has a has a convenience store if you need some extra drinks for your tailgate. This was current for 2008, with stadium expansion happening it could be different in 2011. Thanks to Rutgers fan RUNYYFan for the tip.

RV PARKING

Those with RVs will need to park at the RAC or Silver Lot unless they have a parking pass in advance to park elsewhere. I would recommend calling parking services for the latest guidance. Cars are $20 to park. I believe RVs are charged $40. The following is the parking info supplied by the University.

Unofficial Note from a Rutgers Fan: “It's not in writing, but if you bring an RV to the game, park at the RAC. I know for a fact, you will be able to park overnight. The RAC is the place to go if you don't have prepaid parking passes.” A shuttle bus runs before and after games between the RAC parking lots and the football stadium. Cost is $20 for cars.

2011 Printable Rutgers Parking and Stadium Guide

Rutgers Tailgating

Tailgating suffers officially from short duration (officially only starts three hours before kickoff) but you can tailgate until dusk if you have an early kickoff. Numerous fans have told me you can start tailgating waaaay earlier than three hours prior to kickoff. Fans told me you can arrive early to the RAC and if a parking attendant isn't there to drive in and park. They will be by to collect the money. One other thing is contrary to policy you can set up a canopy...so bring it and see what others are doing.

With the improved team play Rutgers is developing a large tailgating scene. Rutgers has always done up tailgating right, some have suggested they were the first school to tailgate. During the "dark years" some fans would only tailgate and not even go to the game, not anymore! Bottom-line: I wouldn't worry too much about the three hour before rule and show up 5+ hours before kickoff and stay as long as you want after wards. The RAC is a good place to go for visitors since Rutgers opens up the bathrooms inside the RAC to use (always popular with the ladies). The university web site outlines all the parking and stadium policies:

Scalping and You

Ten years ago you could get freebies. Not anymore. A disclaimer:

The maximum resale premium, in accordance with New Jersey State Law, is 20 percent of the ticket price or $3, whichever is greater.

For 2011 Rutgers has a year old expanded stadium. The early season games should definitely be a buyers market as the the opponents are not good and the stadium might not be sold out. Even if it is technically sold out there should be plenty of tickets available for sale around campus. Unless Rutgers is on a huge winning streak I would expect lots of discounted tickets on game day.

Now where do you look? The most popular area is along "Scarlet Knight Way" (Frelinghuysen Rd) near the intersection of Sutphen Rd. This is just north of the Stadium. On game days this road is a pedestrian walkway into the stadium from the Blue, Yellow and Purple lots. Another area is on the far side of the practice bubble in the vicinity of where the RAC shuttle bus drops off fans. Stubhub is another source of tickets.

A few tried and true techniques to get the best price buying: 1. Know what a legit ticket looks like 2. Buy from your own fan base first 3. The smaller the group the smaller the price--single tickets are cheapest 4. Prices usually peak 1-2 hours before kickoff--inside an hour the closer to game time the cheaper the ticket, right after kickoff they plummet to near nothing 5. A fan walking to the stadium in with a group of friends and still holding extra tickets to sell will usually dump them for a cheap price (they do not want to miss the game and often they are doing a favor for a buddy to sell them) usually you'll spot them holding a finger or two out to their side or over their head or saying selling one, etc... 6. If you have to deal with a professional scalper--NEVER give him what he asks, have a seating chart with you, check to make sure all tickets are really together and for that game, offer him lower and be prepared to walk away, after you turn and walk away more than half the time in my experience they'll give in and take your offer, if you can afford to wait...wait inside 20 minutes to kickoff as see the prices drop (assess the situation for the number of tickets available, how many you need before employing that strategy) 7. Don't be embarrassed to go back to a scalper to buy ticket(s) 10 minutes after you said no to his previous offer 8. Don't fall for their tactics to make you feel like you're ripping them off by "only offering $20 a ticket", etc...they love to play games with your self-image and ego.

TAILGATE SUPPLIES:

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Last Minute Tailgate Supplies

If you need some supplies the day of the game there are a few places. Just a mile east of New Brunswick in Highland Park there is a Stop and Shop at 424 Raritan Ave. A list of liquor stores show a lot of choices. If you need more extensive tailgate supplies there are several Walmarts close by. Three are close to New Brunswick.

LODGING

The Heldrich--New Brunswick's Newest Hotel
Rutgers lacks the close by hotels/motels where you can walk to the game. However, they offer a ton of motels in the area. Some folks will walk from the Heldrich and Hyatt but check out a map first and decide for yourself. Note: Three bridges from east to west allow you to cross the Raritan on foot. 1. The Rt-27 (Albany St. Bridge) goes to Highland Park Borough (pedestrians should turn left (west) at river road and walk though Johnson Park about 1.5 miles to the stadium). 2. The Rt-18 (John Lynch Bridge) goes to Piscataway (There is a pedestrian walkway on this bridge that is part of the inter-campus ped/bikeway system. It leads directly to the Busch tailgating areas near the stadium, and continues to the RAC). 3. The Landing Lane Bridge (there is a pedestrian walkway - Landing Lane leads directly to the South end of Rutgers Stadium. A walkway leads up the hill to the West Gate). Walking is a viable option for those who do not mind a one to two mile walk from New Brunswick.

The Hyatt has a nice advantage because there is a shuttle that leaves in front of their hotel for the game. A new luxury hotel has recently opened in New Brunswick. The Heldrich looks like a nice property and also offers shuttle service.. They are both accessible within a few blocks from the train station and both allow you to stumble home after an evening on the town. If you decide not to stay at the Heldrich or the Hyatt there are a lot of motels within a short drive. They mainly cater to the business traveler. Your best bet is to stay in New Brunswick or the nearby strip of motels. If you want to save some dough $$$, try the Motel 6 chain by the freeways (I-95/287). there are three motels close by and have rooms for under $60. Another source of hotels near campus lists many hotels that cater to business travelers.

Finally, a few miles NW of New Brunswick is Somerset, NJ. There are a lot of hotels here. If you have your game day parking figured out this is a great option. The Homewood Suites comes recommended as a great value.

New Brunswick Hyatt

New Brunswick is an urban environment with a nice variety of restaurants, bars, and cafes. These are found primarily along George Street and Easton Avenue near the New Brunswick campus. The Piscataway campuses (where the stadium is located) are isolated from a lot of commercial development. It is a 2-3 mile drive from them to Piscataway's retail district found along South Washington and Centennial Avenues and Stelton Road (generally the area near I-287 to the north). Here you will find the usual array of chain restaurants, fast food, supermarkets and big-box stores. Below I'll concentrate on the on local places versus the national chains.

SHOPPING

A couple large scale malls are nearby. Menlo Park Mall and Brunswick Square Mall should keep your non-football watching spouse happy. Another large mall is the Woodbridge Center. One other suggestion is to wander around the many shops in downtown New Brunswick.

Menlo Park Mall

DINING

For classic game day grub, you need to wander down to College Ave and experience the Grease Trucks. Basically these are parked trucks which serve food. It doesn’t sound too appetizing to me, but the students love them.
Grease Truck--->
Stuff Yer Face has a reputation for excellent strombolis and a great selection of beer. Looking for Pizza and Subs--look here they all deliver. Jimmy's Grill has people raving about their Fat Sandwiches. Harold's Offers huge NY Style Deli Sandwiches. Want a great burger? Try Blitzbrger. There is one next to the Olde Queen's Tavern and one in North Brunswick. Want a great dog? Try Tido N His Junk Yard Dogs. Excellent Pizza at a moderate price, try Panico's Brick Oven Pizza.
R.U. Grill and Pizza is also noted for pizza and such. And they offer the famous “Fat Darrell”. Eat at your own risk. Many of the places above are on or near Easton Ave. the main student drag with lots of cheap eats. On Easton Ave try Thomas Sweets Ice Cream and Chocolate it is a local institution.

Fat Darrell Sandwich

Fine Dining

New Brunswick has developed a theater district along George Street. George Street has become a street know for upscale dining. If you dine on George Street Old Man Rafferty's and the Harvest Moon Brewery are two of the most reasonably priced places. Both are very popular on game day. Most of the others located on George Street are very upscale.

As mentioned above, Old Man Rafferty's is an excellent American Style Restaurant with a nice menu featuring delicious desserts. Old Man Rafferty's and Stuff Yer Face are very popular on game day. Other restaurants (some are 4 and 5 star rated fine dining establishments) that come recommended include: Tumulty's (noted for Prime Rib), Harvest Moon (gets overflow from Old Man Rafferty's--very good beer and food Brewery, A new addition for 2011 is the George Street Ale House which has a great selection of beer and upscale pub food, Old Bay (for Cajun), Catherine Lombardi (upscale Italian), Hotoke (Upscale Asian/Sushi) Stage Left (Upscale and Romantic), and The Frog and Peach (Exquisite Upscale Dining). An upscale steakhouse (Steakhouse85) closeby to the Hyatt has been getting great reviews. And just across the street from the Hyatt is Due Mari and has exquisite seafood and Ilalian entrees. Downtown New Brunswick Downtown New Brunswick offers huge selections of restaurants. Another list here. A nice map overview here of bars. Clydz Martini bar also hosts an upscale restaurant and is a great bar for the post college crowd. Rutgers fan RC1971 sez:

Very close to the Heidrich and a fantastic place. Flexible dress code, from jeans and a tee shirt to slacks and a button down, relaxed but somewhat sophisticated atmosphere, excellent cocktails, attentive staff, usually a fair amount of people. Not much of a "college" bar though.

Additionally he sez:

If someone is looking for a Dive, or to sample some of New Brunswick's local Music Scene, The Court is the way to go, at 124 Church Street (not too far from Clydz in the downtown area). It's a "rough around the edges" type of bar, but it is the heart of the high in tradition New Brunswick music scene. Cheap Beers, Dim Lighting (Probably a good thing) and always good music. FWIW, it's my favorite move to spend a swanky first half of the evening at Clydz and then roll straight into the Court.

Enjoy!

Bars for the Younger Crowd

For the younger crowd: Olde Queen's Tavern is Rutgers signature student bar. another place with a young crowd is the Olive Branch, (nee: Patty's). The Golden Rail linked below in sports bars is another bar loaded with college students. The Knight Club is another well known bar for the college crowd. A few other places are reviewed here. A list showing other bars shows many places that cater to the students. A few suggestions: Doll Place Restaurant--a restaurant and also a place to meet and mingle. Glo Ultra Lounge looks like it caters to those out of college. Perle is a classic upscale disc jockey dance club. The Corner Tavern is close to the train station. A great place to relax with pool, darts and shuffleboard. Drink prices are reasonable. Finally,a very good website going over all your entertainment options in and around New Brunswick.

Olde Queen's Tavern--A Rutgers Drinking Institution

Sports Bar Alert!

Stuff Yer Face is a great place to watch some games, eat a Stromboli and enjoy an extensive beer menu. Houlihans is your classic chain sports bar but very good. It is located on US 1 in New Brunswick. Glass Woods Tavern is an upscale sports bar in the Hyatt. Champps is another sports bar chain. It is located in nearby Edison. It should have ESPN Gameplan. South of town (about 10-15 mins) is Damon's. They are a national chain but are noted for great ribs as well as being a good sports bar.

GOLF
Consider playing one of these three Middlesex county golf courses, all located close to the Rutgers New Brunswick campus:
Raritan Landing Golf Course
This easy 3,400-yard, par-58 family style golf course, designed by Stephen Kay, opened on October 1, 1999. It is located a short drive from the Rutgers New Brunswick campus. Cost for 18 holes on the weekend for a non resident is about $30 walking (carts are $26). If you don't have much time or are a mediocre golfer, this would be a good choice.
The Meadows at Middlesex Golf Course
The Meadows is an 18-hole, 6,290-yard, par-70 championship course. It is located a short drive from the Rutgers New Brunswick campus. This bent grass golf course was designed by Joe Finger in 1972 and finished in 1980 by world renowned designer Tom Fazio. It features a full-service restaurant, locker rooms and electric carts. Cost for 18 holes on the weekend for a non resident about $35-50 walking (carts are $28).
Tamarack
Tamarack features two 18-hole championship golf courses, both designed by Hal Purdy (who designed a number of course in the Syracuse area, including Foxfire, Pompey Club and Kanon Valley). The East (Gold and Blue) course is a 6,226-yard, par-71 course and the West (Red and White) course is a 7,025-yard, par-72 course. The West course is tougher and is the better choice if you are an advanced golfer.
Tamarack includes a full-service restaurant, locker rooms and electric carts. The driving range features 34 stalls, five target greens and top-of-the-line tees and teepads. Located in East Brunswick, it is a short drive from the Rutgers New Brunswick campus.
The New Jersey State Golf Association rated Tamarack West as the second most-difficult course in Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Somerset and Union Counties. Cost for 18 holes for either course on the weekend for a non resident is about $40 walking (carts are $28). Please note that these courses never close.
Rutgers University Golf Course
Over 6,000 yards in length, the picturesque, tree-lined course is a par 71 and offers a challenging layout with four teeing areas per hole. Like Tamarack, this course was designed by Hal Purdy (who designed a number of courses in the Syracuse area, including Foxfire, Pompey Club and Kanon Valley). Highlights include narrow fairways, fast greens, and water hazards on nine holes. Golf Magazine awarded the course a 4 star rating in 2004.

Rutgers University Golf Course
Cost for 18 holes on the weekend is about $50 walking (golf carts are $30). If you want to play here, get a tee time ASAP. The course is in great demand on football weekends.

Golf and Stay at Crystal Springs A nice resort with multiple golf courses (six signature courses within five miles!) is located about an hour north of New Brunswick in NW New Jersey. Crystal Springs ranks among Golf Digest’s top ten list for public golf courses in New Jersey.

I'd like to thank all the Rutgers fans who helped in making this guide better: Scarlet16E, Jumba72, Upstream, srru86, lawmatt78, Andrew, Randall, RC1971 and several others.

The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark. While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible. Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, Rivals.com or its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.

Return to TexanMark's Tailgate Guides Main Page

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Pittsburgh Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-07-10T14:54:00.023-05:00

The Pittsburgh Skyline

This is one of a series of tailgating guides for Big East football schools written by Syracuse fan and tailgate aficionado TexanMark. If you have any feedback or additional information you think belongs in this guide, please drop an email message to Mark by clicking here.

First Things First: Getting There

Pittsburgh is the most centrally located University among the football members. All teams’ fans (except USF) can drive to Pittsburgh in less than 7-8 hours. If you decide to fly to the Pittsburgh Airport. you will find it is huge and only 15 miles west of the stadium. If you decide not to rent a car there are several ways to get downtown. The official airport guide should give you more specific information. Southwest, Air Tran, Jet Blue, and Frontier/Midwest are some of the several discount carriers. US Airways still maintains a decently large footprint in Pittsburgh but it has decreased (once the main hub of US Airways)somewhat in the last few years.Amtrak and Greyhound both have stations downtown not too far from Heinz Field and might be another good option for those who don’t want to hassle with driving or flying.

If you driving to Pittsburgh for the first time I would suggest you find a motel near the stadium and leave your car parked most of the time unless you have a GPS. Pittsburgh due to the topography and geography is very tough to navigate around. Apply the “K.I.S.S. Principle” (Keep It Simple Stupid) and you’ll do okay.

Heinz Field
The stadium as most of you know is shared by the Steelers and it is located across the Allegheny River from downtown in an area called the “North Shore”. The University is actually located a few miles away to the east. A tour of the campus is a must and is well worth your time.

The Cathedral of Learning: 42 stories tall

University of Pittsburgh Campus along Forbes Ave.

Touring The University

The Pitt campus is something overlooked to many visiting sports fans with the football field several miles away. Pitt fan CrazyPaco gives you a suggestion tour.

I would explicitly mention that the Cathedral of Learning is open to the public and that you can view the Nationality Rooms with a self guided tour for $3 (the rooms on the third floor are open for free if you don't even want to pay that) and that you can take an elevator up to the Honors College on floor 35/36 for a view of Oakland and the city. I'd hate to think that people would go up to Oakland, walk around it, and not venture inside of it because it is even more impressive on the inside.

Frankly, the university website doesn't do a good job explaining these things, but a better link is one that is hidden on their website in the graduation section....and I'd link that one.

Most of the buildings on Pitt's campus are open to the public, for free, and ones worth stopping in include Heinz Chapel (as long as there is not a wedding, the docent is usually happy to give a free tour and even play the organ), the Stephen Foster Memorial, William Pitt Union, Frick Fine Arts Building, and for baseball buffs, a stop by the Forbes Field wall remnant and home plate inside Posvar Hall. Right on this part of the lower campus are also venues you can pay to go in including the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, Phipps Conservatory, and for military buffs, Soldiers and Sailors Museum.

Really, you can easily spend a whole day in Oakland just touring around the campus. I had a tour worked out in the map below

CrazyPaco's Pitt Tour..thanks for your inputs

If you are visiting in September or even October (if the Pirates do well) you could get lucky and get the opportunity to take in a major league baseball game. PNC Park is located about 1/2 mile east of Heinz Field.

Getting to Heinz Field

Directions to Heinz Field--from the Steelers Stadium Info Section--this section offers a bunch of useful info.

Directions To Heinz Field

From The Airport:
Take Route 60 South toward Pittsburgh that turns into I-279 through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. Keep to the left after exiting tunnel and merge left to cross Fort Duquesne Bridge. Exit to left (EXIT 7A) after crossing bridge turn left onto Allegheny Avenue and follow to North Shore Drive, which circles Heinz Field. (During construction please follow detour signs for 279N and then signs for North Shore.)

From 279 Parkway North:
Follow I-279 South to the North Shore Exit (Heinz Field/PNC Park). Follow Reedsdale to the second traffic light and make left onto Allegheny Avenue and follow North Shore Drive, which circles Heinz Field.

From Turnpike:
Take the Monroeville Exit- head toward Pittsburgh. You will be on I – 376. Follow I-376 to North Shore ramp onto Fort Duquesne Boulevard. Keep to the left and merge left to cross Fort Duquesne Bridge. Exit to left (EXIT 7A) after crossing bridge and turn left onto Allegheny Avenue and follow North Shore Drive, which circles Heinz Field.

Heinz Field

Heinz Field Seating Chart
Tailgating/Parking
This is a great place to start learning about Heinz Field.
This guide has laid out all your options and is the best source I found. Bottom-line: You usually need to have a season permit to park close to Heinz Field proper (for the most part). Pitt fans have told me sometimes you can get into a permit lot on game day in some season ticket permit lots with "ahh umm" shall we say a tip to the parking lot attendant and his lot buddies. I personally wouldn't recommend it but leave it to you. If you arrive early, a limited number of parking spaces around Heinz Field are available per game on a first come-first served basis for $12. There are also a few lots/parking garages that sell game day parking but they are located east toward PNC (Pirate's BB Stadium). If you are coming with a big group one option is to call the Pittsburgh Parking Authority and prearrange a rented lot, a Pitt fan said he arranged 30 cars for $300.

The following are suggestions if a large crowd is expected: If you are traveling in a smaller group I would suggest making a copy of this guide, print this map and arrive early (of course), and enter the Northshore Garage (Blue 10) $15, West General Robinson Garage (Red 5) $15 or Allegheny Center Garage $15. The "North Blue Canal" Garage/Lot is one block south of the Allegheny Center Garage but there isn't any link/info but it might be available. More game day parking info from Alco.
TexanMark Tip: Pre-sold parking is reserved for all North Shore locations thru the Pitt Ticket Office 1-800-643-PITT.

Also, a limited number of game day spaces (non-presold) are available at Allegheny Center Garage for $15.

Okay now you are in a parking garage--how do I tailgate? If the weather is dry I suggest parking on the roof. Open flames are not allowed but you should be able to bring in subs/sandwiches/drinks and do a reasonable job. Another option is to locate empty space in a lot or grassy strip nearby. Lastly I suggest fraternizing with the enemy--there is usually a common bond of mutual respect and they may just either invite you to join them or give you tips where to setup. Who knows you might develop a network of opposing teams' fans and have your parking/tailgating worries taken care of. The Station Square Option (below) is a very good option for out of town visitors. Another option is to hunt around the Northshore for private lots. There are some private lots near PNC but can be expensive. If you arrive early try around Isabella Street just east of PNC or the area near South Commons (across Hwy 279) about 3 blocks north of PNC.

Finally TexanMark's secret parking location: I was invited to a tailgate in Lot 22 and was able to park one block away from the lot and about 4 blocks from the stadium. The lot was at the corner of Western and Allegheny. It was $10 to park and located across the street from convenience store. They double parked people so if you plan on leaving early allow yourself an exit. The only issue with this lot is tailgating didn't look promising unless it was just a couple of you. I arrived three hours early for a Noon kickoff and the lot only had a few parkers but attendance was around 25,000 that day. Other lots are running toward Ridge toward PNC. Another fan also suggested areas just north or possibly west of the Carnegie Science Science (located just west of Heinz Field) has spaces on a daily rate if you arrive early.

NEW: For 2012 but if will affect you in 2011

Light-rail is coming to the Northshore for Spring 2012. It should bring up more options for the fun visiting Pittsburgh. Expect some of the lots to lose some parking but I envision more parking/tailgating downtown to take up the slack.

Sports Bar Alert!
Don't want to tailgate but looking for a place to have a meal and watch a few games on TV close by? Try McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon in the Equitable Building near PNC. Mullens Bar and Grill near PNC stadium. In the same location as the old Hi-Tops (closed due to cash flow problem), Mullen's (has several Chicago establishments) opened Spring 08. They promise good food and a young professional crowd. Looking for a close by Irish Bar? Try Finnegan's Wake. All should be decent home away from homes. I'd like to thank the Scout Pitt board for helping me with the parking section.

More options are below. If you (the reader) know of any good tailgate spots in private lots pass them on. I’ll need an address, cost, charity if any they support, and how many cars it can park and when does it fill up. Email me.

Heinz Field Parking Link for New PDF Map for 2010

Station Square (Tailgate Alternative)

If you don’t need to tailgate in the traditional way, this might be your best option. It is going to cost you $10.00 for parking but it is a good deal if you plan to stay after the game. There are a ton of things to do in Station Square. You can even stay at the Sheraton during your visit.
The neatest thing is the ability to take a riverboat over to the game. It costs $10 roundtrip per person. Here is a decent overview of the Station Square in map form. I have been told Station Square's surface lots are disappearing but some are still available. Full scale tailgating is not going on here but I suggest you ask what they'll allow on game day.

Map of Station Square Area Click to enlarge

More Parking Options Including Downtown
More Heinz Field Parking/Tailgating Options can be found here. The Steelers provide this map of downtown lots for your situational awareness. The Robert Clemente Bridge on game day is a huge pedestrian walkway on game day. If you don't mind a walk downtown should provide several opportunities to tailgate in a lot.

TAILGATE SUPPLIES:

Get Pittsburgh Gear Like This at College Flags and Banners

New to 2010 are great tailgate products offered to my readers...BTW, you get a 10% discount.

College Flags and Banners Co. is the ultimate source for your tailgate. They offer a huge selection of college flags and banners including: Army, Cincinnati, Connecticut, ECU, Louisville, Memphis, Navy, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, USF, and WVU. Plus everything else you need for game day, from tailgating flagpoles and wheel stands to conference pennant sets. All products are officially licensed and ship within 24 hours. Order today and relieve 10% off your order by typing in coupon code "MARK10" at checkout.

If you are looking for more than just college try their sister company.

Other Sports Flags:
Sports Flags and Pennants Co. is the premium source for all of your NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and NASCAR flags and pennants. Fast, secured shipping to your doorstep and all products are officially licensed. Through our site we are offering a coupon code for 10% off your order. Just enter "MARK10" at checkout.

Lodging

For “out of towners” seeking convenience and don’t mind paying a higher price should check out the Sheraton at Station Square first (really nice if you want easy access to the Gateway Clipper). Be advised by the time you read this it is probably already too late to find a vacancy if the game is the same weekend as a Steelers game unless you get lucky.

Sheraton at Station Square located across the river from downtown

North Shore Lodging

The Northshore has seen several new hotels over the last few years. It is much easier to get a room within walking distance than just 2-3 years ago. The newest addition it the Hyatt Northshore. It appears to be a solid 4 star type hotel. If you want something smaller and more quaint. The Priory Hotel is located on the Northshore near PNC Ballpark. It draws rave reviews by almost all. If you want a smaller boutique hotel, this is it.
The Priory Hotel

The SpringHill Suites by Marriott is located right next to the PNC stadium, and within walking distance to Heinz Field. It looks to be a very good option. Another Marriott property located close to PNC is the Residence Inn Northshore. It is huge and should have good availability on non Steeler weekends.

The Inn on Mexican War Streets (yes that is the name) is a B+B in a restored mansion. It is not far from Heinz Field.

Downtown
There are several major hotels downtown I found using Google. Staying downtown over the weekend is often a good way to stretch your dollar. Many downtown hotels have weekend rates since their business stays are low over the weekend. The major hotel chains represented downtown were: Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton, Marriott, Omni, Ramada, Renaissance and Westin. With plentiful parking downtown for tailgating and the ability to either walk or take light rail (Northshore connector opening Spring 2012) over to the Northshore having your group downtown makes sense.

Staying a Few Miles Away Near Campus?

The university recommends these places near the campus.
I see there is a Quality Inn nearby, a Holiday Inn Select, and the Wyndham Garden University Place also are close by. One thing must be noted about the Oakland area where the Pitt campus is located. This is an urban area with urban crime. When walking about, use common sense. If you want to stay on the southside The Morning Glory Bed and Breakfast surely will appeal to your spouse.

Restaurants/Entertainment:
I’d like to thank “PittFan7” and my brother-in-law Don Lancaster for giving me the local insight as follows in this guide.
"Pittfan7" lists five places that you should look into for hang outs, bars, food, etc…

1. South Side which info can be found on Yahoo or Google and type it in as I wrote it. This place is every college guys dream; 70 some bars all on one street (East Carson Street) and all within walking distance. That street is called. This is one of the busiest streets on weekends. It has everything... Bars, Restaurants, Hotels, Movie Theatre, Grocery Stores, Shops, EVERYTHING!! Southside Works is a great starting point. A few restaurants to check out: Dish Osteria, Mallorca and Gypsy Cafe. Lastly, Fatheads is a institution in Pittsburgh. It features truly great wings, mega varieties of beer and something called a “Headwich”. Review. If you are looking for a pool hall and bar try Dee's Cafe. Finally, something new to Pittsburgh and frankly to the rest of the US...a real German Beer House...The HofbrauHaus is in SouthsideWorks.

2. The Strip District (on the Allegheny River near downtown) offers lots of produce/artist's markets in the day time and night life/restaurants at night for the “Club” people that enjoy dancing. If you are looking for upscale Italian--you should try Lidia's. Several neat, original, must do eating places are in the Strip District. Vietnam's Pho has a great reputation and delivers delicious Asian food. Hungry for Seafood? Try Roland's it is a long time establishment and has a great reputation.

Map of the Strip District

3. Oakland which is where the Pitt campus is located. They have quite an array of entertainment. Good food not as many bars but a good college environment. Not technically Oakland, this Shadyside bar (Doc's Place) near the Pitt Campus has a great party rep. Sports Bar Alert: In ShadySide and your hungry for Wings, Ribs and Big Screen TVs try Buffalo Blues.

4. Station Square (mentioned above) has bars, clubs, food, hotels and the Gateway Clipper Fleet for river tours and concerts etc... You also have the option of taking the Monongahela Incline, which will take you to the outlooks of Mt. Washington, from which you and your main squeeze can have a romantic view of the city skyline. Also, awesome at night to take loved ones to. Another neat suggestion is to ride the Dusquense Incline and head over to some awesome restaurants. A few are very upscale and come highly recommended: LeMont, Tin Angel, Monterrey Bay Fish Grotto, Grandview Saloon, Cliffside,...If you want to stay and eat at Station Square the Sesame Inn has excellent Chinese/Asian Food.

5. Homestead Waterfront This area isn't quite the bar scene atmosphere, but it has a huge variety of entertainment. They have a huge outdoor shopping plaza, movie theater, a few bars here and there but a lot of bar/restaurants. Great food, comedy club, an overall great environment for fun.
SPORTS BAR ALERT: Dave and Buster's has an establishment on the waterfront.

6. The Northside is exploding lately with more restaurants and most of them are also sports bars. A couple (McFadden's and Finnegan's Wake) were mentioned above. Sports Bar Alert: Just a long field goal to the east of Heinz on Northshore is Tilted Kilt (nee Calico Jacks), a lively place for sports fans and some of the best looking staff anywhere. Jerome Bettis Grille 36 is newly opened...it features steaks, sandwiches, 36 beers and other man food and is very close to Heinz. There's also a new restaurant for 2010: Rivertowne. This place is close to Tilted Kilt and reputed to have excellent food. They also have a lot of TVs (including 2 that face outside where you can sit outside and watch the games). North Shore Saloon has loads of TVs and worth a look. It might be less crowded on game day than some of the other restaurants. Soho is a quieter trendy place that also sports TVs but it is less sports bar and more upscale restaurant.The Northside additionally has a fabulous German Restaurant located about 8 blocks from PNC. Max's Allegheny Tavern is well worth the trouble of finding a parking spot on the street to eat there. Penn Brewery offers fine a German restaurant. It is located about a 1/2 mile east of PNC.

CASINO (Next To Heinz Field)
Also in the Northshore: Rivers Casino Just West of Heinz Field
If you like casinos then The Rivers Casino might solve your entertainment, eating and parking issues for the game. The casino doesn't offer lodging but they have preferred partners.
It opened August 2009 and is still growing and adding new games. They have a good selection of restaurants and offer free parking. Sports Bar Alert! The Wheelhouse in the casino is a high tech sports bar.

The Rivers Casino

Local Restaurants You Need To Check Out

My brother-in-law knows Pittsburgh and knows the great local food joints. He has shared a few of them with us.
Peppi's (927 Western Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233, (412) 231-9029) This is a local chain that specializes in submarine/hoagie/hero/grinder type sandwiches, both hot and cold. This Peppi’s is located on the North Side about 3 blocks North of Heinz Field. Go up the hill from Heinz Field on Allegheny Ave. When you reach Western Ave. (There is a 7-Eleven there.), turn right. Peppi’s is located mid-block on the right. Peppi’s is the quintessential mix of classic great tasting but mostly high calorie food.

Primanti Brothers' Signature Sandwich

Primanti Brothers: the original shop is in Pittsburgh’s Strip District and is open all night. (The Strip District is the produce area of Pittsburgh.) Their sandwiches are served on thick slices of Italian bread and have the cole slaw and French fries on them. There are Primanti Stands at Heinz Field. Review.

The Original Hot Dog Shop is located in Oakland next to the Pitt campus. It is open all night and is known for inexpensive food. The hot dogs are good; the old fashion deli dogs that make a crack when bitten into. If you order fries, you will get fresh cut potatoes. WARNING - A regular order is enough for 3 to 4 people. It is a basket full. (This is a college eatery.) Also, you order different items from different stations. This speeds up the lines for anyone getting just one thing. Review.

The Original Hot Dog Stand

Jo Jo's is another Strip District eatery. Jo Jo’s serves meals all night but closes during the afternoon. Good cheap eats. WARNING, the Jo Jo omelet is enormous.
DeLuca's is in the heart of the Strip District. They are open early and close in the mid-afternoon. Good cheap eats.>
Benkovitz Fish is located in the Strip District. They are a fish store that of course also serves excellent fish sandwiches. There is NO seating but stand up counters. It closes in the afternoon. There are Benkovitz stands at Heinz Field.
Robert Wholey & Co. (Fish) is located in the heart of the strip district and is a fish and grocery store that serves excellent fish sandwiches. It closes in the late afternoon.
A small, growing chain that has developed a strong following in the area is Quaker Steak and Lube. Yes, it is a close namesake of the motor oil and yes, the place serves food. BTW, you can try these Wings at Heinz Stadium. Check it out.

Diversions/Shopping for the non football Watching Spouse

Below are a few suggestions to do while in Pittsburgh. Some of these places are within walking distance of Heinz Field. This might come in handy for a spouse who might not want to go to the game.
Andy Warhol Museum
The National Aviary
Ft. Pitt Museum
Carnegie Science Center
SportsWorks
Mattress Factory, yes it is a museum and located about 1/2 mile NE of Heinz Field

NOTE: SportsWorks is a great place to take kids for several hours. BTW, if you are an educator tell them and receive a nice discount. A good place to visit if Pitt is playing at night is the Western Pennsylvania Sports History Museum at the Heinz History Center. The Heinz History Center is an excellent history museum that is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute. Over on campus. The Cathedral of Learning, the center-piece Gothic skyscraper on campus that is the tallest educational building in the Western Hemisphere. Thirty to forty thousand tourists a year visit the 27 National Classrooms inside the Cathedral. The Heinz Chapel and Stephen Foster Memorial are on the Cathedral lawn. The Phipps Conservatory is beautiful and located next door to the campus in Schenley Park. One last museum in Oakland is the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Your kids will love the dinosaurs. On the North side (a short car ride from the stadium)is the Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park. In the warmer months, tours are conducted on Friday nights (no cost). The website gives info about the tours.

SHOPPING
If your spouse wants to shop there are a few close by choices. A few miles away is Southside Works. It has food, movies and quite a few popular store brands. If you are looking for outlet shopping then Pittsburgh Mills offers outlet shopping in a warehouse type mall. Another option is Station Square. The nice thing about Station Square is you can tailgate/go to the game while she shops. One last option is to take in the big department stores downtown. You can find more info on Pittsburgh shopping here.

H.J. Heinz Local History Museum in the Strip District

Golf

Thank you, Pitt fans “Willemakit” and “Pittee3” for the following suggestions:

A comprehensive list of courses in the Pittsburgh metro area shows a wide range of prices. If you are a hacker or just want a quick, cheap round of golf try Schenley Golf Course Note: It will be renamed Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park in September 2007.

Schenley Golf Course
If you want a more challenging round, consider the following courses:
Quicksilver 4 star course. You can play 9 or 18 holes for between 30-60 bucks (includes golf cart). You'll need a tee time and there is a dress code. Overall, it is a class operation and a wonderful course.

Champion Lakes About an hour east of downtown, this excellent and challenging course should also be considered. Note that they have a dress code (collared shirt, no jeans) and tee times are required. $40.00 includes cart. Rated one of the top 50 public courses in the US by Golf Digest.
Championship Lakes Grand View This is not your normal 'hit driver 14 times' type course. You need to play target golf. Great test for your course management skills. Not recommended for the high-handicapper (if you are, bring lots of balls). This course is very close to downtown and features some great views of the industrial areas of Pittsburgh.

Grand View Golf Course
WestwoodNever played there but it's not far from downtown and the reviews are goodBirdsfoot Very nice course that is relatively new. A subtle links-style beauty, the Pittsburgh-area course opened in May 2003 and features more than 100 deceptively treacherous grass and sand bunkers between whisker-wide fairways. Seven two-tiered greens yield more than two tears for three-putters. It is reasonably priced and represents a good value, but is a fairly long drive from downtown (50 miles north of Pittsburgh). There are a lot of other golf courses in this area.

Birdsfoot Golf Course

I hope this helps. I'd like to thank “Pittfan7” and Don Lancaster for helping me with this guide. TexanMark

The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark. While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible. Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, Rivals.com or its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.

Return to TexanMark's Tailgate Guides Main Page

......

Penn State Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-07-04T14:17:00.019-05:00

Penn State is the "Big Daddy" of tailgating in the northeast. It is the "Flagship" of the football rich state of Pennsylvania and has a large student body (about 45,000) that really gets into football weekends. Being a rural campus it has plenty of parking and you definitely know that the college and the game is the biggest event around central Pennsylvania.

GETTING THERE

Penn State, a land grant school, is the most eastern school of the Big 10 and can be hard to get to by car depending on which direction you're coming from due to the Appalachian Mountains (more precise the Alleghenies). The closest Big 10 school (Ohio State) is 5.5 hours away. The good news is Penn State is RV friendly and allows parking starting on Thursday evening for RVs. The school is located in the small city of State College in Centre County (Pop. 150,000). State College however lately has become a popular destination for retirees that enjoy the four seasons and outdoor activities.

Pattee Mall on the campus

Flying and Riding
State College is served by the small regional University Park Airport (SCE). Delta, United and US Airways offers limited service. The airport is conveniently located just a couple miles from the campus. Be advise airfare into State College can be high and you also can suffer long waits at hubs if you miss your connection. A better option might be to fly into Harrisburg (1 3/4 hours away), Pittsburgh (2 3/4 hours away), Baltimore-Washington (BWI) (3 1/4 hrs)or even Philadelphia (3 1/2 hours away) and rent a car. Train service is not available into State College. However, it is a short trip away (about an hour) from several Amtrak train stations, located in Altoona, Lewistown, and Huntingdon. Greyhound Bus Service is another option for those living close by as it offers service to the University. An easy to read map showing Penn State and State College is here.

Hotel State College on Allen Street in State College, PA a nice place to spend a weekend
Picture from Nittany Memories check it out

A printable map of the campus

Directions to the Stadium

Lots of different printable maps here.

Most info taken from the 2011 Penn State Information Guides. The newest 2010 stadium brochure is smaller and suitable for printing.

A nice overview map to use--centered on Beaver Stadium.

Driving Directions to Beaver Stadium
The Campus is located within driving distance of many major cities including Harrisburg (1.5 hrs., 90 mi), Pittsburgh (2.5 hrs., 150 mi), Philadelphia (3.5 hrs., 200 mi), Baltimore (3 hrs., 170 mi), Washington D.C. (3.5 hrs., 210 mi), New York City (4 hrs., 250 mi) and Toronto (6 hrs., 300 mi).

These directions are suggested routes only and do not account for construction delays, detours, recent road closures, etc...

University Park Campus Map

From New York City-
From I-280 west, merge onto I-80 west. Continue for 200 miles and take exit 161 for PA-26/US-220 south toward Bellefonte. Turn left at Jacksonville Rd/PA-26 S/US-220 south. Continue onto I-99 south and about 10 miles later take exit 74 (Innovation Park/ Penn State University).

From Philadelphia-
Merge onto I-76 heading west. About 80 miles later, take exit 247 to merge onto I-283 N toward PA-283/Harrisburg/Hershey. Merge onto I-83 N and continue onto US-322 W and merge onto I-81 S. Take exit 67B to merge onto US-22 W/US-322 W toward Lewistown/State College. Continue on US-322 and take the exit toward Innovation Park/Penn State Univ/Beaver Stadium/Bryce Jordan Center.

From Pittsburgh-
Follow I-376 east to Monroeville, then merge onto US-22 by exiting at Murrysville. About 75 miles later, merge onto I-99 north towards Altoona. Go less than 50 miles, then take the US-322/Mt. Nittany Expressway via Exit 73 towards Penn State/State College.

From the West or Ohio area-
Take I-80 to exit 123 (Woodland) just east of Clearfield, then US Route 322 east to the ramp onto I-99 N and take the State College exit. **NOTE--This is the quickest route; however, it is a two-lane road for the majority of the trip.

-OR- Exit I-80 at exit 161 (Bellefonte) and follow Route 220 south to I-99 S and take the State College exit.

From Washington, D.C.-
Take Route 270 north then take exit 32 to merge onto Route 70 west to Hagerstown. Turn left at I-70 E/S Main St/US-30 W. Continue to follow US-30 W. Take I-99 north to Route 220 to Route 322 East to State College exit #74.

-OR-

Merge onto I-495 W/I-95 N and continue to follow I-95 N. Take exit 49B for I-695 W toward Towson. Merge onto I-695 N. Slight right at I-83 N and continue for 65 miles. Take exit 43 towards Capitol/2nd St. Continue onto US-22 W for 55 miles and then onto US-322 W. Take Innovation Park/Penn State Univ/Beaver Stadium/Bryce Jordan Center exit.

PARKING

Persons without parking passes should follow the football directional signs from their route of arrival. Parking fee payment will be made at the lot entrance. Day of the game cost is $40 for parking instead of $10 + $2 Ticketmaster Fee if you prepay. So Plan ahead! You have been warned.
You will be directed to lots# 11 and 26.

Okay you are a visiting fan, how do I get this prepaid parking pass for $10? Well from my experience you have to check Ticketmaster. PSU allows season pass parkers the option to purchase much earlier. Single Game day buyers are allowed starting around late July. Be advised you can not buy your prepaids 10 days prior by phone. Also, single game prepaids do sellout vii8a Ticketmaster. You need advanced planning. If you arrive on Friday before your game you can try to buy a prepaid at the Joyce Athletic Center. If not they gotcha for $40. Nice, huh?
Here is the link with the current parking info.

RV PARKING

Limited overnight parking for recreational vehicles ONLY is permitted Thursdays after 6 p.m. in the designated area (see Parking Map--Lots# 19+20 NE of the stadium). A $60 (for $2011???) per-night fee (for Thursday and Friday) is charged for this service or $120 from Thurs-Sun. There will be separate charges for towing and towed vehicles.

All your RV parking info is here.

A Printable Parking Map is here.

Disabled Parking

From the PSU ADA Guide

Parking
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, parking is available near the stadium for persons with disabilities. Ticket holders with a Handicap License Plate or a state issued Handicap Placard may use parking lot #9 behind the Intramural Building. Patrons must arrive from the west on Park Avenue to access this lot. Shuttle Busses will circulate this lot for two hours prior to kickoff and will stop at Gate B west of the stadium.

Post-game
Shuttles leave from Gate B as soon as they are full, and operate approximately two hours following conclusion of the game.

Fans Requiring Wheelchair Parking
For fans requiring a wheelchair for mobility, please contact Lisa Clark at 814-863-1000 in advance to purchase the proper parking pass for parking areas south of stadium.

Driving to Beaver Stadium--Can be a slow process

RV's are a Common Site at Penn State--photo from Tailgater's Handbook

Scalping

If you plan ahead you usually can buy tickets for games through Ticketmaster. The early season OOC games usually have seats. Additionally at the Ticketmaster website, PSU runs a secondary market for ticket resell by season ticket holders. If you waited and can't get any through Ticketmaster then you have to scalp. From what I could tell Pennsylvania allows you to resell tickets to football games over the Internet (if you are instate) for whatever price the market will bear. The buyer of course can be out of state. It appears to be illegal to do it in person to sell more than $5 above face value. The linked article above stated they arrest between 50-100 people each season. Penn State fans have told me tickets are easy to come by right in front of the stadium along Curtin Road. 'Pro' scalpers and regular fans are selling and buying tickets in that area. Earlier in the day tickets are also easy to find anywhere along College Ave especially between McLanahans (Grocery Store) and the book store. With that warning above (about arrest) in place if you still want to buy tickets above face value the following techniques usually have worked for me in other states: I have always found the best spot to find extra tickets is at the tailgates. I would troll the tailgate lots before game time. As game time approaches you can find tickets leading to the stadium. It is always preferred to buy extras from fellow fans.

If you are willing to risk arrest the following techniques have served me well where it is legal. If you run into a professional scalper as opposed to a fan some off the following tips are key. A few tried and true techniques to get the best price buying I have used from both scalper and fan: 1. Know what a legit ticket looks like 2. Buy from your own fan base first 3. The smaller the group the smaller the price--single tickets are cheapest 4. Prices usually peak 1-2 hours before kickoff--inside an hour the closer to game time the cheaper the ticket, right after kickoff they plummet to near nothing 5. A fan walking to the stadium in with a group of friends and still holding extra tickets to sell will usually dump them for a cheap price (they do not want to miss the game and often they are doing a favor for a buddy to sell them) usually you'll spot them holding a finger or two out to their side or over their head or saying selling one, etc... 6. If you have to deal with a professional scalper--NEVER give him what he asks, have a seating chart with you, check to make sure all tickets are really together and for that game, offer him lower and be prepared to walk away, after you turn and walk away more than half the time in my experience they'll give in and take your offer, if you can afford to wait...wait inside 20 minutes to kickoff as see the prices drop (assess the situation for the number of tickets available, how many you need before employing that strategy) 7. Don't be embarrassed to go back to a scalper to buy ticket(s) 10 minutes after you said no to his previous offer 8. Don't fall for their tactics to make you feel like you're ripping them off by offering $20 less per ticket, etc...they love to play games with your self-image and ego.

Beaver Stadium Seating Chart--don't forget your binoculars

TAILGATING

Penn State has been argued by many to be among the best tailgating schools in the country. They come early and stay late. From the Penn State Parking and Stadium Guide:

Parking lots generally open at 8:00 a.m. For Noon games lots open at 7:00 a.m. For late afternoon or night games lot openings will be posted on the Web site: Plan to arrive at Beaver Stadium after the lots open in order to avoid standing traffic prior to opening.

Fans have told me it is best to arrive early before the lots open. Park your car in queue and wait.

Most of the tailgating is done in fields. As long as it isn't pouring rain this creates a much nicer environment than compared to most other northeastern schools who heavily rely on paved parking lots.

Also new for 2009: NO GLASS BOTTLES IN THE TAILGATE LOTS! Also as before, No Charcoal Grills!

PSU fan, "psufleish23" said:

There are green dumpsters spread around the tailgate areas and on them are rolls of Trash/Recycling bags. At the very least put all your trash in bags in a neat pile so the crews working overtime on Sunday can easily pick them up.

Bathrooms
Lots of port-a-potties but the lines are usually pretty long at them. A tip is that most of the public campus buildings within walking distance are open on weekends, especially the Law Bldg, Forestry Bldg, Business Bldg, Findley Commons, and IM Building. They have nice restrooms in them and the lines are not nearly as long.

Wearing The Other Team's Colors
Most of our fans are pretty nice to opposing team's fans, but we have had a few bad apples in some high-profile incidents recently. Most of those were with major rivals in town. For most games, don't be surprised to have people invite you over for some food or a beer. Some tips to avoid any trouble (applies to all sporting events): Try not to provoke. Avoid the larger tailgates with lots of students/drinking at them. Night games tend to be worse.

Also, a lot of fans like to give some good-nature ribbing to each other on game days. I've found that if you can be a good sport with them about it when you're at their venue, then they are usually pretty nice to you after that.

Photos from: Straight outta Johnstown

Tailgating Alternative

If you are downtown or along South Atherton (Business US 322) in one of the hotels...try setting up in your hotel parking lot and take the shuttle to the stadium. From the CATA Website

The Game Day Football Shuttle service consists of two separate routes that provide continuous service between many area hotels, Downtown State College, and Beaver Stadium.

Downtown Shuttle: serves primarily the Downtown hotels and the three Downtown parking garages.

South Atherton Shuttle: serves the many hotels along South Atherton St. along with several other areas where you can park and ride including:

The rear parking lot at Hills Plaza (not Hills South-see Hills Plaza parking map)
Along the street in Windmere Park (Rolling Ridge Dr, & Windmere Dr.)

STOPS

Both shuttles will stop only at the specially marked designate shuttle stop locations along the routes. In addition to the areas noted above, riders may take advantage of on-street parking along and close to South Atherton Street, University Drive and Easterly Parkway and the fact that the three large Downtown parking garages are within two blocks of the Schlow Library stop on the Downtown shuttle. To see the actual routing and specific stop locations check the 2011 Game Day Shuttles schedule.

The South Atherton shuttle run is quite extensive and ends at Hills Shopping Plaza and also a nearby street area and Easterly Elementary School is about a half mile away from Hills Plaza but is walkable to a shuttle stop. Parking spots are offered but be sure to read the website as to where to park. This might be a nice option for visiting fans. Another route is the Downtown Shuttle Route. Current game day fares are located here and current for 2011 for both routes.

NOTE: I went to a game in Sep 09. I did this option. Parked in backside of the Hills Plaza. It worked out well. The parking lot isn't really conducive to good tailgating. It is best if you have a friend who is hosting in a lot near the stadium. The shuttle bus drops you off about a 1/4 mile from the stadium (near the basketball arena). It was well run. A great option instead of paying $40 to park on game day.

A Few More Parking Tips

From PSU fan, psufleish23:

Parking on campus in most lots is free on the weekends after 9 pm Friday. If you can get their early enough on Saturday, you get free parking and it's usually a short walk to the stadium. But, this DOES NOT apply to the parking garages on campus.

A lot of the streets in the Highlands Area (the residential area basically bordered by Beaver Ave, University Drive, Easterly Parkway, and Atherton Street) all say that parking is prohibited from 2am-6am, and it's usually enforced pretty well based on all the yellow envelopes on windshields come Sunday morning. If you come in for the weekend, you can call the State College Police Department before 10pm at 814.234.7510 with your license plate # and the location of your vehicle and they won't ticket it for the weekend.

One last note: Do Not bring a backpack to the stadium...they will not let you in.

Hope this helps.

Last Minute Tailgate Supplies

A couple things make this more of an ordeal than many other schools. Pennsylvania has archaic alcohol laws and doesn't do the consumer any favor. Beer can not be bought in grocery stores or convenient markets. Hard Liquor and Wine is only available the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Stores. Centre County has several shops listed. Beer is not available at PLCB stores. For beer in State College you'll need to go to one of the larger distributors (Pletchers is one and is located near the largest PLCB store) or to a smaller 6-pack bottle or take away shops. The 6-pack shops are always attached to a restaurant - for example Hooter's has one and there is another attached to Sharkies. At the larger distributors you can get only get full cases and kegs (kegs are illegal in the tailgating lots). The smaller shops sell smaller packs but have a limit on the volume of beer purchased and are much more expensive. Wine and liquor are only available at the PLCB stores. So either bring it from home or get severely inconvenienced by finding one of these stores on gameday.

PSU fan "psufleish23" said:

The distributors usually carry all major brands, they generally align themselves with certain brands, giving better prices for that brand than its competitors. For example, Nittany Beverage gives better deals on Miller products, and W.R. Hickey gives better deals on Anheuser-Busch. I'm not sure about Pletcher's alliances, but I've heard they have a better overall selection, including micros. If you're looking for a semi-local beer, PA-brewed Yuengling Lager is a pretty good choice.

Although State College has an ordinance against open alcohol containers, it is relaxed during game day in the tailgate areas around the stadium. Also, they made a new rule a few years ago that prohibits drinking at the tailgate during the game. Once the game starts, cops patrol the lots and this will be enforced.

The closest store for all the other tailgating and food supplies is Mc Lanahans Penn State Room. They sell PSU merchandise and all sorts of tailgating supplies. Note: They don't sell beer, wine or liquor.

McLanahan's--a must for any one looking for PSU Merchandise and Tailgate Supplies.
If you are looking for a regular grocery store State College has several options. State College has a Wegman's Market on the west side. Wegman's is huge and competes with the best grocery chains in the US. Giant has two locations in State College. One on the east side and one on the west side. Weis Super Markets have four stores in the State College Area. Finally, Walmart has two Supercenters. One on the west side and one on the east side. Wegmans, Giant, and Walmart are all open 24 hours. Finally, if you are buying food for your tailgate be sure to pick up some Seltzer's Lebanon Bologna...it is one of those must try local foods.

Money Saving Tip: Weis, Wegmans and Giant all use loyalty cards. Either apply for one online or at customer service and maybe ask someone to scan their card for you to get the discounts.

LODGING

State College boasts over 3000 hotel rooms and they need all of them for football weekends. The key thing is to book early if you want to be close. Here are some of the more popular motels in State College. Of course if you do some detective work you can find some hidden gems like the Nittany Budget Motel on the budget end or the Carnegie House on the higher end. The Hotel State College only offers 11 rooms but can't be beat for location. If you are a Bed and Breakfast fan this link will sure to please. This is the most comprehensive list I found for the listing of all lodging in the State College area.

Te Penn Stater Inn and Conference Center is located on campus and is usually very popular. Occasionally for out of conference opponents you can still find rooms a few weeks out.

Some out of town options: Clearfield, PA is about 45 miles NW located next to I-80. It has a nice assortment of motels. Altoona, PA is about 45 miles SW and also has quite a few motels. Another resource for Altoona showing all types of lodging options. About 70 miles east is Milton/Lewisburg and they offer options for those coming from the east coast. Finally, this guide is good for giving you phone numbers for various "Mom and Pop" Motels.

DINING
Famous Berkey Creamery
Okay let me get this out of the way first before talking about food: you need to go get ice cream at the University's Berkey Creamery (the largest college creamery in the US). They open early and close late on the weekends. Parking is available in the East Deck Parking Garage on Bigler Road located directly behind the Creamery Store and the Food Science building. The first 30 minutes is FREE. Just go you won't be disappointed.

FINE DINING: The Carnegie House, a few miles west, is a lodge but offers meals in a nice setting. The Atherton Hotel boasts the Tarragon Restaurant and a varied menu. The Tavern Restaurant is a long standing tradition and is very popular. Mario and Luigi's offers up the finest in Italian...they have an extensive menu. Spat's Cafe and Speakeasy offers Cajun Food on their varied menu. Zola's Bistro has a varied menu and popular.

CASUAL DINING: The Diner is just that but they offer the Grilled Sticky. Sounds interesting. The Diner is also a popular breakfast place. If you want something different try Korean at the Korean Kimchi Restaurant. Herwig's Austrian Bistro has fine food in a casual,cozy setting. Try Penn State Sub Shop#1 for great subs, cheese steaks and wraps. If you want steak, seafood and don't want to spend a fortune then Hoss's Steak and Sea House is for you. It offers alot of food for the money. Try Kelly's Steak and Seafood...it offers a nice menu at reasonable prices but is more upscale than Hoss's. Barbecue is hard to find in State College but west of town (about 10 miles) is Clem's Wood Fired BBQ. Clems also sell BBQ on the weekend in State College. See Bar Blue (nee: Buelah's) below for another BBQ option. If you are looking for Mexican Food--State College offers the fast food chain Qdoba Mexican Grill. Burritos are their specialty. Chipotle is also in State College if you need a burrito fix. The Rathskeller offers lunches by day and lots of beer and coeds by night. The Saloon is another college bar. Okay where do I go on Sunday morning after a hard night of partying? The Original Waffle Shop is outstanding. Expect a wait on Sunday mornings.

The Newly Renamed Bar Blue (nee: Beulah's BBQ:

Sports Bar Alert Bar Blue serves Kansas City Style BBQ and offers lots of HDTVs to watch your sporting events. It was formerly known as Buelah's. The Arena offers lots of TVs and is a full fledged sports bar--they should be able to find your game. Bill Pickle's Tap Room is Bar/Restaurant that also has TV's. Champs Sports Grill is another larger sports bar. It might be worth a look. One national chain also has a sports bar in State College. Damon's offers their famous ribs as well as a full setup of TVs.

Bars

State College has a ton of bars catering to the younger crowd. Check out your specials here: Bar Guide If you are looking for a slightly older crowd, I heard the Rathskellar, Adam's Apple (at the Tavern), or Allen Street Grille should be to your liking.

SHOPPING
If you have a spouse that doesn't want to go to the game the Nittany Mall should keep them busy. The Woolrich Clothing Store is a must see if you love their outdoor wear. It is located about 45 minutes NE off US 220. Other shopping possibilities are here.

GOLF

Penn State Golf Course--Blue and White Courses

Blue Course--from the official website:

The Blue Course finished renovations in 2006. We added three ponds and lengthened the course over 640 yards. The front nine, par 36, measures 3691 yards off the New Nittany tees. Its layout is quite different than you will find on the back nine. Tee shots require close attention to placement. A rewarding tee shot puts you in position to try your luck at carefully guarded greens. Twenty seven strategically placed green side bunkers on the front nine will challenge your course management skills, and patience. The front nine provides a challenge to the most experienced player by demanding not only length but accuracy.

The Blue Course back nine awaits your arrival. The back nine, par 36, is a newly constructed nine holes completed in 1994 and new additions in 2006. It measures 3481 yards off the New Nittany tees and provides a quite different experience than the front nine. The back nine not only includes 16 green side bunkers, but adds to the challenge by including 11 strategically placed fairway bunkers. Water hazards on the 14th and the 18th can add pressure to a seemingly easy tee shot. The back nine will provide you with large undulating greens and a links style atmosphere. Bring your "A" game. The Blue Course is the more expensive of the two courses.

White Course--from the official website:

The White Course, renovated in 2005, provides a challenging alternative to the Blue Course. With holes dating back to 1922, the White Course will test even the most skilled player. The front nine, par 36, measuring 3245 yards from the blue tees. The older course provides smaller crowned greens adding to the character and demanding a creative short game. Nearly 40 bunkers on the front side alone force you to manage your game, in your efforts to shoot a low score.

The back nine, par 36, measures 3099 yards and starts your journey with a straight forward par 5. Take advantage of these first few holes and you will be in good shape as you approach the home stretch. Elevation changes and deceptively placed fairway and green side bunkers will challenge your distance control and depth perception. Your finishing hole is a 492 yard, uphill slight dog leg right, that can make a strong case of being one of the toughest finishing holes in the area. The White Course par 3's will prove to be some of the most challenging you have played. This course will test your creativity. When in doubt, bump and run. Greens Fees here.

Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center

This might be the best choice for the Football Fan who also wants to play alot of golf. They offer stay and play packages. Five different tee settings allow you to play easy or play hard. Toftrees - meaning "Home among the trees" - is nestled amid 1500 scenic wooded acres in beautiful Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Toftrees Golf Resort has recently been rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest magazine's "Places to Play" and one of Pennsylvania’s Best Resort/ Public Golf Courses. Toftrees was selected by Meetings and Conventions magazine as one of the Top 75 Golf Conference Center Resorts in the U.S.A.

Finally, a link to a few other golf courses in the area.

Navy Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-07-01T16:44:00.018-05:00

The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is located in Annapolis, MD, 30 miles east of Washington, DC and 30 miles south of Baltimore, MD. Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, is situated at the mouth of the Severn River on the Chesapeake Bay and is known for its sailing (the city is known as “The Sailing Capital of the World”) and historic downtown district. Perhaps the most important piece of information to have up front is that the Navy Marine Corps Stadium where the game will be played is not on the Naval Academy campus. It is actually located about a mile and a half northwest from downtown on Rowe Blvd. Visit the Annapolis Visitor Center website for a slew of information. If you are visiting Annapolis for the first time I highly recommend getting in a day early. A visit to the the Naval Academy is a must. Parking and Visitor info is available in a nice printable map. There is so much to do in the area. I suggest using the Official Maryland or the Washington D.C. Guides.

Midshipmen March On About 30 Minutes Before Kickoff Thanks to DC Pages.

Naval Academy Things to Do List
(Thanks to Scout poster Unrep)

1) Go to "Noon Meal" formation in front of Bancroft Hall in Tecumseh Court.
2) Turn around and see Tecumseh painted up for spirit before the game.
3) Once noon meal formation is over go inside Bancroft and see Memorial Hall. The Annapolis Peace Conference was held there in 2007. Dedicated to fallen Navy and Marine Corps heroes and Academy Alumni. Some neat Naval Artifacts. Sample Mid's room as you enter Bancroft on the right.
4) Tour the Chapel and John Paul Jones Crypt.
5) Naval Academy Museum in Preble Hall has historic artifacts and priceless sailing ship models.
6) Drydock in Dahlgren Hall a good place for a bite to eat and a soda on campus.
7) Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center has a 12 minute movie about "The Academy", exhibits, and gift shop. The visitor center is where you go to start your USNA tour.

Noon Formation--hated by the Mids, loved by all others

FLYING

There are three major airports in the area. The closest to Annapolis is the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (aka BWI or Thurgood Marshall Airport). BWI has Southwest Airlines, AirTran and USA3000 and because of that the airfares are usually very competitive. The other Airports are Reagan National (DCA) in Washington DC and Dulles International (IAD) on the west side of DC. Both DC airports will require considerable more travel time, although cheaper airfare can be found at times. Reagan is literally within about a mile or two from the US Capital. It should be a serious option if you plan on visiting DC. It has several discount air carriers. Washington Dulles (IAD) is the international gateway but is the furthest away. NOTE: DC and Baltimore traffic is atrocious. I would try to avoid traveling by car anytime from 6-9am and 3-7pm during the work week.

GETTING FROM BWI TO ANNAPOLIS

All major car rental companies are represented at BWI. Driving from BWI to Annapolis is very easy. Airport traffic is relatively light for a major airport and the drive to Annapolis is quick and easy. About 30 minutes total travel time, most of which is on limited access highways.

Airport Shuttle
Van transportation from BWI to many destinations in the Annapolis Area. Reservations are recommended (you can reserve a private van or share one with other travelers). Prices generally run about $40 one way for a single person on a shared ride (prices go down with more passengers on a reservation). A reserved van runs about $111 each way

TAXI AND BUS

Taxi service to Annapolis is relatively easy. Make sure you make return reservations as there are not a large number of taxis in the Annapolis area. RMA sedans and Limos also serve BWI. Trip cost is approximately $69 to Annapolis.

Annapolis Transit Buses
Only operates Monday through Friday
Departs BWI at :45 after odd hours
Last bus departs BWI at 5:45pm

TRAIN

Amtrak service is available. You should arrive at Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI) train station. The station is actually a little over a mile from the Airport Terminal but is connected via free shuttles. The airport shuttle offers convenient service for Amtrak patrons to Annapolis. Another option is to rent a car at the train station station.

GETTING TO USNA

Directions to the campus can be found on the Academy’s website:
It’s important to note that there are restrictions on the campus as it is a military base. Unless you have DOD stickers and military ID, you can not drive on the installation and there is no public parking on site (vehicles with handicap placards can park on campus after a vehicle inspection). There are parking decks in downtown Annapolis within short walking distance to the main gate. You must have photo ID if you’re over age 16. Visiting hours are 9am – 5pm. During these hours, there are guided walking tours of the campus which depart from the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center (home to a gift store and Naval Academy museum).

For those driving down from points north of Wilmington, Delaware – if you’re driving down on Friday before the game and want to avoid rush hour traffic around Baltimore, you might consider alternate routes, such as the one found here.

Annapolis has a Great Downtown to Browse

DIRECTIONS TO STADIUM

DIRECTIONS TO THE STADIUM (Courtesy of the Navy Sports Dept)

FROM THE NORTH
• Take I 97 South to US 50 East
• Exit US 50 at Rowe Blvd. (exit #24)
and bear to the right
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial
Stadium is on your right
• Right on Farragut Road gives
access to gates 1&2
• Right on Taylor (second right) gives
access to gates 5&6

FROM WASHINGTON
(WEST)
• Take US 50 East
• Exit US 50 at Rowe Blvd. (exit #24)
and bear to the right
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial
Stadium is on your right
• Right on Farragut Road gives
access to gates 1&2
• Right on Taylor (second right) gives
access to gates 5&6

FROM THE SOUTH
• Take I 95 North to 495 East
• Take I 495 East to 50 East
• Exit US 50 at Rowe Blvd. (exit #24)
and bear to the right
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial
Stadium is on your right
• Right on Farragut Road gives
access to gates 1&2
• Right on Taylor (second right) gives
access to gates 5&6

FROM THE EAST
• Take US 50 West across the Bay
Bridge
•Exit US 50 at Rowe Blvd. (South)
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial
Stadium is on your right
• Right on Farragut Road gives
access to gates 1&2
• Right on Taylor (second right) gives
access to gates 5&6

The stadium is named Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. It was built in 1959 and renovated in 2004. It seats about 35,000.

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

PARKING

The Blue and Gold parking lots at the stadium are all reserved parking spaces. There are single game parking passes, but these go fast and are determined after season parking passes are sold. Check early with the Navy ticket office for availability (1-800-US4-NAVY). There is a parking lot at Germantown Elementary school (here is another google map view) for $20 a car…but get there early! The parking guide also says RV parking is $60. Germantown Lot opens at 10am. This seems late for a noon kickoff. You can find parking info on the Navy website. A printable fan guide with a lot of parking info. RV'ers: Bad news, looks like no overnight parking. In fact I'm not sure if visiting RV's are allowed to park next to the stadium where the Navy RV's park. I suggest you call the Naval Academy to find out where you can park. The closest Campground for your RV is the KOA. For Military RV'ers there is a fam camp you can try. Important: Arrive to the stadium early. The entire brigade marches from the campus to the stadium, culminating in the march on that takes place about 30 minutes before kickoff. If you’ve never seen it, it is a must-attend event.

Stadium Map

There are also shuttle buses from downtown to the stadium for those who park in the decks. There is also a park-and-ride off of Riva Road that has shuttles to the stadium on game day. All the info you need is with Pinnacle Parking.

Downtown Parking Available on Gameday

Tailgating

Tailgating is awesome here. The lots open at 7am at the season pass lots next to the stadium. Expect more civilized tailgating with expansive spreads. If you are a burger and beer guy you shouldn't feel out of place though. One thing different is you won't see a bunch of drunk coeds or local knuckleheads spoiling the day.

Your 2011 Gameday Guide is here . It lists all the info you need to know to enjoy your visit to the stadium.

TAILGATE SUPPLIES:

Not a lot of places real close by. The closest is Grauls Market. Wine, Hard and Beer Liquor can be found through a google search. Maryland law leaves it up to the individual Counties in regards to what type of establishments can and cannot sell beer, wine and liquor (the good news is you can find beer and wine in grocery stores and convenience stores in the Eastern Shore counties). The state totally leaves it up to the counties. There are plenty of convenience stores in the state that sell beer, it just depends on the licensing process in that particular county. The closest liquor store is located in a drugstore next to Grauls Market. Mills Fine Wine and Spirits is located between the stadium and the Naval Academy. It offers a great selection of wine and spirits.

Scalping

From what I could tell Maryland allows you to resell tickets to football games but limits the amount to basically face value. The best spot to find extra tickets is at the tailgates. I have always found Service Academy Fans very gracious and will sell extra tickets to opponents. I would troll the tailgate lots before game time. As game time approaches you can find tickets leading to the stadium.

If you run into a professional scalper as opposed to a fan. A few tried and true techniques to get the best price buying I have used: 1. Know what a legit ticket looks like 2. Buy from your own fan base first 3. The smaller the group the smaller the price--single tickets are cheapest 4. Prices usually peak 1-2 hours before kickoff--inside an hour the closer to game time the cheaper the ticket, right after kickoff they plummet to near nothing 5. A fan walking to the stadium in with a group of friends and still holding extra tickets to sell will usually dump them for a cheap price (they do not want to miss the game and often they are doing a favor for a buddy to sell them) usually you'll spot them holding a finger or two out to their side or over their head or saying selling one, etc... 6. If you have to deal with a professional scalper--NEVER give him what he asks, have a seating chart with you, check to make sure all tickets are really together and for that game, offer him lower and be prepared to walk away, after you turn and walk away more than half the time in my experience they'll give in and take your offer, if you can afford to wait...wait inside 20 minutes to kickoff as see the prices drop (assess the situation for the number of tickets available, how many you need before employing that strategy) 7. Don't be embarrassed to go back to a scalper to buy ticket(s) 10 minutes after you said no to his previous offer 8. Don't fall for their tactics to make you feel like you're ripping them off by only offering $20 a ticket, etc...they love to play games with your self-image and ego.

Seating Chart--click to enlarge

Lodging

There are 3 distinct types of lodging available in Annapolis: the “luxury” hotels in downtown Annapolis, Bed and Breakfasts in downtown, and your standard hotels outside of the historic area. Here is a nice overview map of where everything is located.

Luxury Hotels

There are two hotels in downtown Annapolis – the Lowe’s Annapolis and The Annapolis Mariott Waterfront. Both hotels are within walking distance of downtown and the stadium. Both will cost you $300+ a night (not including parking). The Westin isn't on the Water but is centrally located near everything. O'Callaghan Hotel is also close by and isn't your usual US cookie cutter motel. Both hotels are located on West Street within walking distance of USNA, City Dock, and the stadium. They also offer shuttle service for guests. Several Historic Inns can be found in Annapolis. These are generally smaller hotels but usually pamper you like the best luxury chains. Check out the Maryland Inn, Governor Calvert House, and the Robert Johnson House.

Bed and Breakfasts

Probably for the older fan who doesn’t plan on being drunk and rowdy late at night. These B&B's are all owned and operated by single families, and none have more than 5 rooms. Most cost anywhere from $100-$200 less than the downtown hotels. Most don’t allow children or pets and have two night minimums on the weekends. These tend to fill up early in the fall, so advance reservations are highly recommended.

The Flag House Inn is one of the more recognized B&B’s in Annapolis, not just because of it’s location, but because the owners fly the state or country flag of each of the visitors. The owners, Bill and Charlotte Schmickle, had a son graduate from the Naval Academy in 1999, and Bill spent time as an adjunct professor at the Academy. Bill also spent many years as the chairman of the Annapolis Historical Preservation Society. The combination of close ties to the Academy and the city give them a unique insight into all things Annapolis.

Flag House Inn--One of Annapolis' many B+B's

Standard Lodging

There are numerous chain hotels in the Annapolis Mall area (about 2-3 miles from the stadium). A comprehensive list can be found at the visitor’s center website. Google also shows about 10 of the properties. For those eligible to stay (Military) at the Navy Lodge you need to call early.

DINING

Annapolis is known for fine dining especially seafood and steaks. Before we explore Annapolis fine dining I'll recommend a few casual dining places. For Breakfast and lunch try Chick & Ruth's Delly (close to the Naval Academy). Another quaint lunch joint is the Cafe Normandie. Five Guys is a growing chain of burger joints. They are noted for big greasy burgers, hot dogs, lots of fries and free peanuts. Note: Order half the amount of fries you think you'll eat...trust me. When you get your fries expect to get twice as much as you ordered. Looking for Pizza, Strombolis and Wings; try Pizzaboli. California Pizza Kitchen is a national chain but they do a good job in delivering numerous specialty pizzas. They are located at the Annapolis Mall. The Mexican Cafe generally has good reviews for Mexican Food. Finally, a solid Brew Pub is the Ram's Head Tavern.

Annapolis delivers a pair of nationally known restaurants. Ruth's Chris, and the Chart House are both here. Some of the best local fine dining can be found at: Lewnes Steakhouse, Carrol's Creek Waterfront (surf and turf), Carrapaccio's (Tuscan), O'Leary's Seafood, Middleton Tavern (Historic, a short walk from Gate 1), Butcher's Block (a unique store/restaurant), Galway Bay (Irish), for ribs try Adam's Rib, and the Lemongrass (Thai)

We've Got Crabs! Maryland is famous for their crabs. Crab cakes is something you should try before leaving. Several restaurants come recommended: Buddy's Crabs (short walk from the Naval Academy Gate #1), Cantler's across the bridge to the north, Mike's Crab House a couple miles to the southwest and Harris Crab House on the other side of the bridge going over to the eastern shore.

Mike's Crab House--click to enlarge

Sports Bars
Annapolis has several sports bars that offer TVs for watching football before or after the game. The West End Grill offers an upscale look but still maintains a sports bar resume with 11 plasma screens. Hero's offers satellite TVs with a Fire Dept Theme. It is just north of the stadium. Wild Willie's (nee: Sharky's) is a sports bar/pool hall/music. It turns into full fledged bar at 9 pm on Saturdays. About Five miles SW of downtown is the Original Steak House & Sports Theatre in Edgewater. I'm sure how many TV's they have but they might be worth a call.

LIBATIONS
Scout poster Gaetano01 suggests several places downtown for evening drinks.

1) O'Briens Oyster Bar: almost always live music on the weekends, decent food and oysters
2) McGarvey's Saloon: aviator motif
3) Dock St Bar and Grill: live music upstairs
4) Federal House: a middie favorite.
5) Ram's Head Tavern: live music
6) Middleton's Tavern: Have a drink where George Washington did.
7) Armadillo's: next to Dock St; can watch Mids bolting for the pedestrian gate before liberty expires, or bolting for a good place to jump the wall (Gate 0). Finally a website listing many other bars.

SHOPPING

If you are taking along a spouse who isn't interested in watching the game, the Annapolis Mall is large with a great mix of stores. A nice upscale lifestyle center is at Annapolis Harbour Center. Finally, another new lifestyle center is the impressive Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole. It has a ton of great stores and desirable restaurants.

GOLF

Maryland's mild climate allows you to play golf throughout the football season. The first few courses listed are for golfers of all skill levels on a budget.

Eisenhower Golf Course:
Crafted by renowned architect Ed Ault from more than 220 acres of splendidly wooded landscape, Eisenhower's meandering terrain takes golfers through forestland, around one of Maryland's finest lakes, and alongside numerous creeks and swales. Eisenhower's championship layout boasts bent grass greens and plush fairways, welcoming golfers of all abilities. Golfers have long enjoyed playing Eisenhower Golf Course, Anne Arundel County's first public golf course. Since Eisenhower's opening in 1969, the 6,659-yard course has provided a fun and challenging golf experience for tens of thousands of area golfers.

Eisenhower Golf Course

Bay Hills Golf Club
Bay Hills Golf Club was designed in 1969 by renowned golf course architect Ed Ault. The scenic 18 hole golf course finds its beauty in its wooded rolling terrain. Players must place a premium on strategy and shot placement to conquer the six doglegs, 52 bunkers, and water which comes into play on 10 of the 18 holes. The Zoysia grass fairways at Bay Hills gives it a distinct lush condition. Bay Hills layout and conditioning gives players of all skill levels a challenging fun golf experience.

United States Naval Academy Golf Course, is located in Annapolis. If you get a chance to play you should go. It is open to Military and their guests. Prices are below market.

Upscale Golf

South River

South River i being converted to a private course however it looks like you can still play in 2008. Diverse and well-manicured, Atlantic Golf at South River is an 18-hole shot makers challenge designed by Brian Ault and nestled in the South River Colony community, conveniently located just outside of Annapolis, Maryland.

Renditions

Internationally acclaimed, Renditions salutes the great championships, champions and courses of golf’s Grand Slam. Each of Renditions eighteen holes is a replica of a hole from a golf course that has hosted one or more of golf’s four major championships: The Masters, The U.S. Open, The British Open and The PGA Championship, plus a hole from The Players Championship, golf’s "fifth major."

Open to the public, Renditions is an award-winning development that offers a unique opportunity to “walk in the pro’s shoes" for a day and play replicas of holes that are historically significant to golf.

Queenstown Harbour

Welcome to Queenstown Harbor, one of the foremost golf experiences just outside Washington, D.C. Here, 36 holes of championship golf on two unique layouts, amid spectacular Chesapeake Bay waterfront beauty and contemporary style, combine for an unforgettable round at Maryland’s premier golf destination. Superior service, including our premium forecaddies, makes Queenstown Harbor the perfect play. The Courses Experience two stunning 18-hole tracks.

Queenstown Harbour

Compass Pointe

Golfers are celebrating the opening of Compass Pointe - Anne Arundel County's newest and only 36 hole public golf facility. - where they can enjoy a premium golf experience at an affordable price. Compass Pointe's 36-holes of championship caliber golf was designed by award-winning architect Lindsay Ervin. The "four nines" - North, South, East and West - cover more than 800 acres of diverse woodland, and provide a wide variety of golf terrains and challenges for golfers of all skill levels.

I'd like to thank Navy Alumnus Andy Schmickle '99, Unrep, Gaetano01, Witt94 and several other Scout Board Posters for helping me with this guide. Their help was invaluable.

The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark. While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible. Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, Rivals.com or its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.

Memphis Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-07-01T10:07:00.026-05:00

This is one of a series of tailgating guides for C-USA football schools written by Syracuse fan and tailgate aficionado TexanMark. If you have any feedback or additional information you think belongs in this guide, please drop an email message to Mark by clicking here.

World Famous Beale Street click to enlarge
Photo Source: Memphis Wallpaper

First Things first: GETTING THERE

Memphis is near the geographical center of Conference USA. UAB, USM, Tulsa, Tulane and SMU are all within 6-7 hours of Memphis and afford a fairly easy drive for a weekend visit. Memphis International is a major hub for Delta Airlines. Airtran airline offers some affordability to select cities. Another option is to travel through Little Rock Airport(LIT) about two hours away. Southwest serves the Arkansas capital. Amtrak offers New Orleans to Chicago area fans a nice alternative on the City of New Orleans train route. Memphis is one America's great destinations. There is so much to do. The City of Memphis and the State of Tennessee both offer travel websites. Just a sampler of things to do in Memphis: Elvis and Graceland, Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis Zoo, Mud Island River Park, Pink Palace Family of Museums, Memphis Queen Riverboat, Stax and Sun Studio Tours, Memphis Rock n Soul Museum, and lastly, World Famous Beale Street.

Those who like to gamble and have the time should drive about 20 miles south of downtown to the Casinos of Tunica, MS. The Tunica River Park is worthy of the drive to Tunica even if you don't gamble. If so inclined you can make this your base of operations for your stay as it is an easy drive to the Liberty Bowl.

Due to popular demand some Memphis fans gave me a few more places to visit during your stay (many of these are kid friendly): Chucalissa Museum and Archaeological site, Fire Museum of Memphis, Metal Museum, National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Redbirds Baseball, if your Football Game overlaps when the NBA is in town you should check out the Memphis Grizzlies next to Beale St., Peabody Place--shopping and entertainment district, Childrens Museum of Memphis (steps away from the Liberty Bowl), and finally a link for more Parent/Child Activities. Finally, the Mid-South Fair permanently relocated to northern Mississippi in 2009. It used to be on site at the Liberty Bowl for years.

The University of Memphis is actually about two miles east of the 62,000 seat Liberty Bowl (Memphis' Stadium). The Liberty Bowl is located on the Mid-South Fairgrounds about five miles southeast of downtown. So for the ones paying attention in class that means the University of Memphis Campus is about seven miles east of downtown.

The Liberty Bowl Seating Chart Click to enlarge

Directionsfrom the Liberty Bowl Website

Suggested Driving Routes to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

From the South:

From Hwy 78/Lamar, go westbound to Airways, turn right (north) on Airways to Fairgrounds parking.

From Hwy 78/Lamar go westbound to Pendleton, turn right (north) on Pendleton to Southern, turn left (west) on Southern to Fairgrounds parking.

From I-240 take Airways (north) to Fairgrounds parking.

From the East:

From I-240, go north on Getwell, turn left (west) on Park, turn right (north) on Highland, turn left (west) on Southern to Hollywood to stadium.

From I-240, go north on Getwell, turn right (east) on Park, turn left (north) on Goodlett, turn left (west) on Contral to Hollywood and and stadium parking.

From I-240, go north on Perkins, turn left (west) on Poplar, turn left (south) on Hollywood to stadium.

From the North:

Take I-240 or I-40 to Sam Cooper Blvd., go west on Sam Cooper to Hollywood, turn left (south) on Hollywood to the stadium.

Take I-240 or I-40 to Sam Cooper Blvd., go west on Sam Cooper to East Parkway to Fairgrounds parking.

From the West:

From I-55 (south), take I-240 (north) to Lamar (Midtown), turn right (east) on lamar to Central, turn left on Central and conitinue eastbound to Hollywood and stadium parking.

From I-40 (Miss. River Bridge), take I-240 (south) to Madison Avenue exit, turn left (east) on Madison to East Parkway, turn right (south) on East Parkway to Fairgrounds parking.

Please Note: Fans are advised to use Southern Avenue as an alternate route to Central Avenue.

Tailgating and Parking:

Memphis fans love tailgating and it shows in the parking lots surrounding the Liberty Bowl. The normal southern traditions of RVs and BBQ is all around. A new addition to 2010 (Tiger Lane) has been a huge hit and helped the game day ambiance.

Tiger Lane

A $15M project to install grass, trees, and electrical outlets to enhance tailgating was installed during the summer on 2010. You have to be a member of the Highland Hundred to buy a parking spot on Tiger Lane. If you don't have a spot you can still walk down and enjoy the scene.

Tiger Lane--Artist Rendition

Tiger Lane Layout with Parking Lots

Some of the parking information below is from Trips Tigers and fellow Memphis Fans at the NCAABBS Memphis Internet Forum--Thanks. Both websites are awesome with information about the Tigers. Visiting fans should be able to find a lot which allows them a great chance to tailgate in close proximity to their other visiting fans if you plan ahead. I suggest some of the lots north of the stadium (i.e. Board of Education, Tobey Park, etc...) Like anything: the earlier you arrive the better the choices you have. If you arrive 3-4 hours before kickoff you should have many lots available and less traffic.

Parking Lots Near the Stadium click to enlarge
NOTE: This map has East to the top (Blue Lot 10 is to the North)

Best parking for Memphis fans who want to be close and expect to attend most/all games is to join the Highland Hundred. Your membership allows parking/tailgating along Liberty Lane or the Blue 15 lot. This year(2011) they are allowing you to buy an unlimited amount of slots regardless of donation level. Tailgating is fabulous here--so if you are a Memphis Fan or a lucky guest, this is the best Memphis has to offer.

For Visiting Fans of the Opponent: The gates are open for almost all lots and if you arrive in an RV the day before I suggest you park near the Mid-South Coliseum (Tan Lot 13). If you are unsure of things--walk over to the Highland Hundred Area (Blue Lot 15) and the Fans will tell you the "scoop".

Memphis Fan NTMB states: "As of last year, Blue Lot 10 was grass surface, game day cash parking. I know, because I had friends use it often this last year. I believe Blue Lot 14 was a cash lot as well.

All of the Purple "Lots" are one big grassy area, and there were signs that said (and a parking services supervisor told me directly, when asked about it) NO PARKING-NO TAILGATING ON GRASS." However, it looks like fans are bringing in tailgate canopies and setting up under the canopy of trees in the Purple Lots. Memphis fan TigerJeb states, "Last season they allowed people to take tents under the trees in the purple lot and tailgate (no charcoal grills or open flame allowed). you parked in the clear grass field where the old paved west coliseum lot once was and physically toted your gear up under the trees."

From the Liberty Bowl site: "For visiting RV'ers use Tan Lot 13. It has no hookups but you are able to park the night before and leave the day after the game.

ADA Parking (Guests with Disabilities Lot Access) The main ADA parking lot is in Red Lot 3 and can be accessed via Access 3, off South Hollywood. NO Tailgating is allowed in these areas, and they are first come, first served. All guests parking in these areas much have a valid ADA placard or permanent tag that is visible at all times from the front windshield of the vehicle."

General Parking: Game day general parking on LBMS property can be accessed via Access 7 (Central and Early Maxwell), Access 11 (Southern Ave. and Early Maxwell), and Access 10 (off East Parkway South). General parking is first come first served, CASH ONLY. Parking lots open up for General Parking at 8:00am (CST) on each game day. All general parking and tailgating guidelines apply otherwise.

Off Site Lots For Visiting Fans:
The following lots offer you the best chance for tailgating together as a group if you don't use Blue Lot 10 or the Tan Lot 13 at the Liberty Bowl:

Christian Brothers University located about 1/3 mile north of the stadium across Central Avenue. COST $ 5-10 a game (season pass available) This lot is good for a quick exit (onto Central then to Parkway Ave). Some limited grassy spots available for tailgating...some bathrooms and a snackbar on campus.

Frank Tobey Park 1/3 mile north of stadium across from Central Ave. Cost is free--don't park on the grass. Bathrooms might be open (great if your tailgating with a bunch of guys but possibly no bathrooms could be an issue--check with the females in your party first LOL). HINTs: During heavy traffic best to enter from the east off of some side streets. Memphis students love to tailgate in Tobey Park.

Shelby County Board of Education 1/2 mile north of stadium across Central Avenue. Gameday Parking $5 Restrooms may be (same issue as the park)available at Tobey Park located just to the southeast. Parking Location: 160 S Hollywood St.

Lastly, Lots just SE and SW of the Central/Hollywood Intersection. Some private lots south of the old Walgreens. Porta potties are reported to be available. Expect to pay about $10.

NOTE: During peak times it is best to avoid S. Hollywood Ave (turns into a one way street on gameday) between Central and Southern Avenues.

NOTE: Parking for the Liberty Bowl Game in Late December is here. They have a more extensive map and thier parking plan is slightly different.

ELVIS LOVES TAILGATES AND THE TIGERS--click to enlarge (Thanks MissJ)

TAILGATE SUPPLIES:

Did you forget something? You dummy, however there are a few places within a mile or two to help you out. Bottomline: Central Avenue will be busy, so it is best to avoid it. Check out the Google map here to give you some ideas. There isn't a WalMart nearby but a Kroger is located about 2 miles northeast of the Liberty Bowl near the University.

Ticket Scalping and You:

I am not a legal expert and I recommend you check with local authorities before buying or reselling on the street. Memphis fans told me it is illegal to buy/sell on the Stadium Grounds but okay off the premises. Best place to buy: parking lots and sidewalks, another area is along Central Avenue and South Hollywood.

Hint: For Tiger Fans Only--hangout in your Tiger Gear near Gate 1--for the lesser games you can usually get a ticket from a fan for free who has extras. For others currently it is a buyers market and you should expect tickets for under face value.

A few tried and true techniques to get the best price buying: 1. Know what a legit ticket looks like 2. Buy from your own fan base first 3. The smaller the group the smaller the price--single tickets are cheapest 4. Prices usually peak 1-2 hours before kickoff--inside an hour the closer to game time the cheaper the ticket, right after kickoff they plummet to near nothing 5. A fan walking to the stadium in with a group of friends and still holding extra tickets to sell will usually dump them for a cheap price (they do not want to miss the game and often they are doing a favor for a buddy to sell them) usually you'll spot them holding a finger or two out to their side or over their head or saying selling one, etc... 6. If you have to deal with a professional scalper--NEVER give him what he asks, have a seating chart with you, check to make sure all tickets are really together and for that game, offer him lower and be prepared to walk away, after you turn and walk away more than half the time in my experience they'll give in and take your offer, if you can afford to wait...wait inside 20 minutes to kickoff as see the prices drop (assess the situation for the number of tickets available, how many you need before employing that strategy) 7. Don't be embarrassed to go back to a scalper to buy ticket(s) 10 minutes after you said no to his previous offer 8. Don't fall for their tactics to make you feel like you're ripping them off by "only offering $20 a ticket", etc...they love to play games with your self-image and ego.

LODGING:

Memphis being a geographic crossroads, regional/national business center and toursit town offers a large amount of lodging options. The bad news is there are no lodging options real close to the Liberty Bowl.

CLOSEST: The closest motel, the Holiday Inn is next to the University. It has great reviews.

DOWNTOWN/BEALE ST:

If you decide to stay near Beale Street these hotels come recommended: The new Westin is very convenient to the FedEX Forum and Beale Street, The Peabody is famous for the ducks, the Hampton Inn and Suites and the Holiday Inn Select all are close to the action. A new recommendation near Beale for the Budget Minded Traveler, the newly renovated Vista Inn Motel. The motel has generally recieve good reviews.

Peabody Ducks

If you want to stay Downtown (a few blocks north of the Beale Street Area Hotels) try these places: The Madison is a classic historic Hotel, Springhill Suites by Marriott, and the Residence Inn. I personally stayed at the Comfort Inn Downtown and had an excellent room and they had a very good breakfast. Finally, an overview map showing downtown lodging. Finally, if you are on a budget you can try looking in the outlying suburbs. West Memphis, Arkansas has a ton of motels for the budget traveler. The eastern suburbs also offer alot of options. Finally this guide offers you many different small "Mom and Pop" type motels. I can't vouch for any of them but they'll give you some options.

Memphis Trolley

The Memphis Trolley offers you a convenient run between Beale St/FedEX/Baseball Stadium area and the hotels downtown. You can stay downtown and run down to Beale Street area and not not worry about parking. Multi-Day, All passes, etc... can be bought at the North End Terminal Center. A single passenger ride is $1.

MEMPHIS AIRPORT AREA

The airport is only about four miles south of the Liberty Bowl. There are alot of motel options there. It is possible for those flying in for a quick trip to stay near the airport and get a cab to the game.

DINING/SPORTS BARS:

Memphis with its location as a geographic and cultural crossroads offers an outstanding array of food choices. A nice compilation of the best of Memphis is here and it is also here.

Gus's Fried Chicken has a reputation nationally for some of the best chicken you can eat--period! It is located a few blocks west of FedEX Forum. Try Frank Grisanti for upscale Italian downtown. Italian Food at a more moderate price try Pete and Sam's Restaurant on Park Ave near the Memphis Campus. Another lower priced choice is Brooklyn Bridge out in the eastern suburb of Germantown. How about a great brew pub with a nice food menu? Try Boscos and see why natives rave about it. Another place with an outstanding collection of beer is the Flying Saucer downtown. Looking for a good Pizza? Try Exlines, located all over Memphis. For a New York Style Pizza try Little Italy in mid-town. Craving a good burger try Huey's or Tops (located all over Memphis--see BBQ section). If you are downtown and really hungry for a burger, try Kooky Canuck aka Big Foot Lodge. If you can finish the 4 lb burger in 60 minutes it is free! Another excellent restaurant downtown is the Mesquite Chop House. They are know for good steaks and a fantastic Sunday Brunch. The South is known for Catfish--if you want this try Flying Fish downtown or the Soul Fish located about a mile of the stadium. For steak try Buckley's (one close by on Popular Ave--good value) or Jim's Place Grille, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar or , Folk's Folly on the east side of town.
Jim's Place Grille Home of Fine Food and Drinks
In Peabody Place you can find a meat lovers paradise, Texas de Brazil. A Brazilian (churrascaria) Steakhouse. Finally, Blues City Cafe and Rum Boogie come recommended by the locals as the two Beale Street places they like. Cortona is a new Italian Restaurant that opened in 2011 near the Liberty Bowl (midtown) and has drawn great reviews. Another new Italian place opened in the Chickasaw Plaza by long time Memphis Restauranteur Ronnie Grisanti.

BARBEQUE:

Memphis is world famous for Barbeque. One can argue which Barbeque is better: Memphis, Texas, Carolinas, Kansas City, etc...One fact stands clear: Memphis Barbeque shouldn't be missed!

Downtown/Beale Street Area:
Neely's has great food in the "Historical District" of Memphis, between the Medical Center and downtown, Charles Vergo's Rendezvous (for Ribs), Leonard's Barbeque Downtown (A very good BBQ Buffet). A few other local restaurants on Beale Street that come recommend:

Near Downtown/Midtown:
Jim Neely's Interstate BBQ has some great ribs and sandwiches and his some say his secret sauce is the difference, Payne's Barbecue is located in an old store front...don't fear...your taste buds won't mind! Memphis fan TigerKeep raves:

There is a little joint that is special to Memphis called Payne's. It is at mcclean and lamar in an old service station that has been converted to bbq joint (all the best are like this). The pork is sliced or chopped, not pulled as most great bbq. However, the sliced pork sandwich with a combination hot and mild (sweet) sauce is a little bit of heaven. There are fried pies and deep fried smoked sausage sandwiches with slaw. If you want a unique Memphis experience definitely try Payne's.

The Cozy Corner has alot of fans...try the cornish game hen. The Bar-B-Q Shop is considered by many locals to have the best BBQ (pulled pork sandwiches are especially good) around. The Shop is also noted for a great selection of BBQ stuff to purchase under the Dancing Pigs label.

University/Liberty Bowl Area:
Top's Barbeque has great BBQ Sandwiches and has locations all over Memphis. Memphis fans prefer the restaurant just south of campus. Top's is very appropriate for a quick BBQ sandwich meal and most Memphis folk have a soft spot for the chain. Central Barbeque is a relatively new place but has a bunch of fans. It is conveniently located near the Liberty Bowl.

East Side:
Corky's has gone into franchising throughout the southeast. It has its fans for its excellent BBQ. If you are out in the eastern suburbs try the Commissary Barbeque in Germantown.

HUNGRY, YET? (Commissary BBQ)

SPORTS BARS: On game day if you have some time to kill--try Newby's near the Campus. It is a great live music venue but it converts into a sports bar (they allow smoking) during Saturday afternoons. At night is is a great night club with regional/national acts. There is a Buffalo Wild Wings east of the Liberty Bowl (Popular Ave) close to the campus. If you have never been to one they offer Chicken Wings as well as burgers, salads, etc...The good news is they have ESPN Gameplan, CBS College Sports, Versus and numerous TVs so you should be able to watch as much college football as you can handle. Lastly, the Bobcat on Popular near the campus offers TVs on game day although the website says it opens at 4pm. About 7 blocks south of Beale St. is Max's Sports Bar (formerly Calhoun's) and is a favorite among the locals. It's a friendly hole-in-the wall with the best bartenders in town and a great host, Max. Rabid Tiger fans gather there for all the games. TJ Mulligan's has several locations around town and carry football games on Saturday and Sunday. About two miles east of the University is a neat locally owned sport bar called the Brookhaven Pub. They offer all the college TV (like Gameplan)packages...it looks great. Hungry for Wings with your sports? Try Ching's Wings near the University. Finally, a decent sports bar website for places around the US.

SHOPPING (for the non football watching spouse)
Chickasaw Oak's Plaza and LaurelWood Shopping Center have enough to keep her busy for several hours and are close to the stadium. If she is looking for a large Mall try WolfChase Galleria in Bartlett/Cordova Area and Oak Court Mall. Oak Court Mall is an upscale, two-level center featuring Italian marble, skylighting, and original bronze sculptures. Our most unique architectural feature is the famous rolling marble ball that is powered exclusively by water at the 4400 block of Popular. If your spouse is staying downtown for the game Peabody Place will offer some shopping but it is having occupancy issues and won't have too much. Finally, a very unique store in the Beale Street area. It is a place guys will enjoy as much as the ladies. A. Schwab Dry Goods Store is a local institution. Finally, a Pro Bass is in Memphis.

GOLF

Memphis offers a wide range of golfing options and due to its southern location you should have golf weather through the end of the season.

Local Munis for the quick round--hackers welcomed
The Links at Audubon is a very popular course in the city. It is located next to the campus and only about two miles from the Liberty Bowl. The website said,

Playing at over 6,400 yards and featuring small greens averaging less than 3,000 square feet, come prepared with your "A" iron game if you want to challenge par.

Check out the reviews. The Links at Galloway is another muni very close to the University and is a good value.

Another interesting course Glen Eagles Golf Course is actually at the old local Naval Air Station (NAS Memphis) in the northern suburb of Millington. The course is well maintained and isn't usually crowded. Another gem in Millington is Orgill Park Golf Course. It is definitely worth checking out.

Orgill Park Golf Course

Cherokee Valley Golf Course

Nice Public Courses for the Better Golfer
Three in the southern suburb of Olive Branch, MS standout (just over the stateline). The Plantation and Cherokee Valley Golf Courses afford a round and cart for under $50. The Cherokee website says:

Nestled among gently rolling hills, Cherokee Valley Golf Club extends a challenging game to golfers of all skill levels. Eleven lakes and 78 bunkers may seem to intimidate, but wide fairways and clean roughs are very forgiving. The 18 hole par 72 course ranges from 6751 yards at the rear tees to 4422 at the forward tees.

The Wedgewood Golfers Club offers several layouts for golfers of all skill levels and is a nice value. The serious golfer should consider Olive Branch for your golf fix.

The Wedgewood's Clubhouse

Quail Ridge offers some hills uncommon to Memphis in the northest suburb of Bartlett. It is a great value and offers some specials. It was voted the best public course in Memphis by the readers of the local newspaper.

Mirimichi Golf Course is opening July 2009. It promises to be a great challenge. It is about 15 mins north of Downtown.

Finally, the Tournament Players Course at Southwind offers the total experience for the well connected golfer as it is private. It is located in the southeastern suburb of Germantown. If you get the chance to play (by invitation) it should be a great experience. One other Private course worthy of mention is the Colonial Country Club located in the northeastern suburb of Cordova. Like the TPC you shouldn't turn down a chance to play.

The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark. While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible. Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, Rivals.com or its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.

Return to TexanMark's Tailgate Guides Main Page

...........................................

Louisville Tailgate and Visitors Guide '11

2011-07-01T09:38:00.011-05:00

Louisville Skyline After The Yum Center Click to enlarge

This is one of a series of tailgating guides for Big East football schools written by Syracuse fan and tailgate aficionado TexanMark. If you have any feedback or additional information you think belongs in this guide, please add a comment below or drop an email message to Mark by clicking here.

First Things First: GETTING THERE
Louisville is the most western city in the Big East (among Football schools). Airline travel though is fairly easy. The airport is very close to the stadium. In fact some of the motels you might stay at also serve the airport. Check Southwest Airlines first. A few more discount airlines have recently been added.
Driving to Louisville is a bit more problematic. Realistically only Cincinnati (1 3/4 hrs), Pittsburgh and West Virginia (both about 6-7 hours) are drivable over most weekends. All the other schools are at least 12 hours but are doable especially if you have three or four full days for a mini-vacation. Note: Amtrak doesn't run through Louisville.
It looks like a fun place to visit with Churchill Downs horse racing (live racing in November), a Six Flags amusement park (NOTE for 2011: the park is closed but a new owner is trying to be found.), the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center (KFEC) and an entertainment district nearby called 4th Street Live. Of course, you can also take tours of many local distilleries. Baseball fans might want to check out the Louisville Slugger Museum. Boxing fans should check out the Muhammed Ali Center. Military Buffs and Gold Lovers should set aside time to see Ft. Knox about 45 mins south. History and Theater Lovers should check out Frazier Arms History Museum and Actors Theatre.

Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day

The stadium is located a short walk south of the main campus. The main campus (Belknap) can be viewed via interactive link. Another nice link for an overview of a lot of info important to visitors. Finally, the athletics website has their own take on a visitors guide.

Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in 2010--artist rendition

Driving to the stadium is fairly easy. It is located just west of I-65 a few miles south of downtown. All sorts of great info about the stadium and various policies is here.

Parking/Game Day Tailgating/Ticket Buying

The official website gives you basic driving instructions from coming from all Cardinal Directions (pun intended). Like most stadiums the closest in spots are reserved for season pass holders and “high rollers”. The stadium’s official website says: “On most game days, one of the best options is to park at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center (KFEC). To avoid traffic to the prepaid lots, those parking at the KFEC should access Gate 1 of the fairgrounds off the Watterson Expressway (I-264). Follow Ring Road (Champion's Way) to the right and park in the lots north of old Cardinal Stadium, then walk across Crittenden Drive Drive at the traffic light and down Central Avenue to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Please avoid jaywalking across Crittenden Drive. Parking at the KFEC is $8. There is also substantial surface parking west of the stadium across the railroad tracks between Churchill Downs and PJCS.” Tailgating is allowed in all parking lots except parking garages. Most lots open five hours before kickoff but locals have told me KEFC opens up at 6 AM. KFEC is huge and allows you to really spread out as there are no assigned spots. Also another option to beat the traffic into KFEC is to enter through Gate 6 off the Preston Highway. The best spot for RV’ers is to park at the (KFEC) Fairgrounds. Current cost was stated at $50 with full hook ups ($30 for primitive-no hook up) at the link. This looks like the best RV situation for any place in the Big East. If you want to park on the main Belknap Campus forget about it unless you have a permit (car or RV). Another place to park is Churchill Downs when the horses aren't racing.
Another few places you can try is the Holy Name Catholic Church for tailgating. They apparently let you park and tailgate. It might be worth checking out if you want to avoid a lot of the traffic around the stadium. The website hosted by the 502 crew states:

There are also parking spaces available for $10 in the Boy Scout lots on Central Ave between Floyd and Crittenden Dr. You MUST approach these lots from Crittenden Dr. Boy Scout lots are open to the west of the stadium, at the corner of 4th and Central Ave. You MUST Approach these lots from the west side of the stadium (4th St / Taylor Blvd). Farther west (and off the map below) are neighborhood parking and the Churchill Downs parking lots. Prices vary.

The Boy Scout lots usually open 8 hours before kickoff (or so we've been told).

New for 2010 more tailgate lots!: Churchill Park (not to be confused with Churchill Downs Parking). It is located at the end of Byrne Ave (2 blocks east of Floyd St. Trees line the park and lots of grassy fields. It costs $10 to park there and looks like a great spot to tailgate and is only about a 5 minute walk to the stadium. This could be a great area for visitors who arrive early. I have been told if the gate is locked...just drive around it and set up. A person will come by later and collect your money. Obviously you should have a group who can get along with Cardinal fans. Another parking option closeby is Churchill Park School located off Boxley Ave near Crittenden Drive. The cost is $10 but raucous tailgating is not encouraged here (you need to be more discreet with your adult beverages)...it is more laid back but offers a very short walk to the game. The school does bring in Porta-Potties and the money goes to the school. Finally the parking lot behind the Coit Cleaners at 2730 Crittenden Drive (across the street from the Cracker Barrel and just north of the Cardinal Hall of Fame Restaurant) is offered at $10 a car. The nice thing here is they have indoor bathrooms and if you bring a dish you can share food with others. They welcome decently behaved Visiting fans.

KEFC and Boy Scout Parking Lots (Good Bet For Visitors)--click to enlarge
Thanks to the 502 Crew for the map

Stadium Expansion Set to open for the 2010 season is an expansion to over 56,000 seats. It comes off the end of the Coach Kragthorpe era...most agreed after 2009 a change was needed. Charlie Strong was hired and Cardinal Nation is excited again.

Seating Map for 2010

The official university website has a Loge section seating viewer for you...click on the loge section you have tickets and you'll get a detailed seating chart.

Ticket Buying
Tickets are very hard to come by for Louisville Football about 3-7 years ago. The stadium was sold out with a waiting list. Capacity was about 42,000. Now with expansion to 56,000 it would've been a bad scene looking at 30,000 in a 56,000 seat stadium but Coach K was fired. You could get tickets for below face value in 2009. If the stadium isn't sold-out for 2010 you should still expect to find some bargains. A strong start will help re-energize the fan base.

Much more info on the stadium is provided by the school...Best news for beer drinkers: the stadium sells beer and even mixed drinks until the middle of the 3rd quarter.

Where to find tickets? Scalping is best done in the tailgate lots. The best spot is recommended by Louisville fan "snickerling".

The "tunnel" is the overpass of Central Avenue. Central Avenue serves as a natural divider between the Bronze Lot (big money donors) and the Green Lot (Most season ticket holders). The tunnel is due south of the stadium. It's about a 350 foot walk from the mouth of the tunnel to the nearest gate (Gate 1). Incidentally, that gate is the WORST for getting in. The crush of people trying to get in that gate is the largest... and the wait to enter is the longest. I'd recommend trying other gates for entry... even if they are farther from your actual seat.

I've never seen anyone hassled by law enforcement for attempting to sell tickets prior to the game. And yes... most persons looking to unload their tickets know to congregate at the "tunnel." An added advantage of having the bulk of "ticket scalpers" grouped together... competition drives the price down. If you don't like the price someone is selling theirs for, you can walk another two feet and find another person willing to sell their tickets. Granted, the growing success of the team is mirrored in the shrinking number of scalpers present each game.

Now a little disclaimer from the official stadium website:

Unauthorized Ticket Sales--Resale of tickets to a sporting event for more than the face value of the ticket is prohibited by law, as is the resale of any tickets to any event on PJCS property. The University of Louisville does not authorize selling individual or season tickets for more than face value. The U of L Athletic Department reserves the right to revoke the ticket privileges, including season ticket renewals, of an customer who scalps tickets. Please no reselling of tickets on PJCS grounds.

A few tried and true techniques to get the best price buying: 1. Know what a legit ticket looks like 2. Buy from your own fan base first 3. The smaller the group the smaller the price--single tickets are cheapest 4. Prices usually peak 1-2 hours before kickoff--inside an hour the closer to game time the cheaper the ticket, right after kickoff they plummet to near nothing 5. A fan walking to the stadium in with a group of friends and still holding extra tickets to sell will usually dump them for a cheap price (they do not want to miss the game and often they are doing a favor for a buddy to sell them) usually you'll spot them holding a finger or two out to their side or over their head or saying selling one, etc... 6. If you have to deal with a professional scalper--NEVER give him what he asks, have a seating chart with you, check to make sure all tickets are really together and for that game, offer him lower and be prepared to walk away, after you turn and walk away more than half the time in my experience they'll give in and take your offer, if you can afford to wait...wait inside 20 minutes to kickoff as see the prices drop (assess the situation for the number of tickets available, how many you need before employing that strategy) 7. Don't be embarrassed to go back to a scalper to buy ticket(s) 10 minutes after you said no to his previous offer 8. Don't fall for their tactics to make you feel like you're ripping them off by "only offering $20 a ticket", etc...they love to play games with your self-image and ego.

The Tunnel (Thanks to snickerling)

TAILGATE SUPPLIES

If you need game day gear the official athletics website would be happy to sell you some. If you need some last minute tailgate supplies I would try the Kroger Super Market first. It is at 3165 South 2nd Street and their phone number is: (502) 368-6153‎. It is located just SW of the stadium. Another option is to check out one of the numerous Walmarts throughout Louisville.

LODGING:
Louisville boasts nearly 17,000 rooms, which are a lot of rooms for a metro area the population of Louisville. It looks like you have two main options (Downtown or the Airport Area):

If you want to stay downtown, there are several downtown hotels to consider:

Hyatt Regency Louisville/320 W. Jefferson Street/Ph # 502-587-3434
Brown Hotel/335 W. Broadway/1-888-888-5252

The Opulent Seelbach Hilton Hotel

Galt House Hotel & Suites/4th Street at the River/Ph # 502-589-5200/Next door to the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Pedway connecting Kentucky International Convention Center and Galt House Hotel & Suites.
Marriott Hotel Downtown/280 West Jefferson Street/Ph # 502-617-5045
Seelbach Hilton/500 S. 4th Street/ Ph # 502-585-3200
The 21C Museum Hotel is one of the unique places to stay in the US...if you like to travel large it is a must do. 700 W Main St. Louisville, KY 40202 | 502.217.6300 or toll free 877.217.6400

Additionally, the Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn and Ramada Inn also offer downtown properties. To find them try using this Louisville website offers a nice search function to find all the hotels in the downtown area or any other area in the metro.

If you want to stay near the Airport or Stadium: the University provides a page with close by accommodations.
Louisville fan “Maize” suggests trying some of these places for lodging; all of these recommendations are close to Freedom Hall/Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Remember the Airport is extremely close to Freedom Hall-(0.5 Miles) and just 1.5 to 2.0 Miles from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. If you are flying in you might just decide to not a get a rental car and rely on courtesy shuttles, cabs or walking.

Here is a google map showing lots of motels along Phillips Ave on the south side of KFEC.
Country Inn and Suites Airport/Kentucky Fair & Expo Center Freedom Hall/2850 Crittenden Drive Ph # 502-753-5555
Courtyard by Marriott Airport/819 Phillips Lane Ph # 502--368-5678
Crown Plaza Hotel (nee: Executive West Hotel)/830 Phillips Lane Ph # 502-367-2251 Across the street from KFEC & Freedom Hall.
Hilton Garden Inn/1530 Crittenden Drive Ph # 502-637-2424
The Super 8 also has a property close to the stadium and one close to the airport. This link offers a neat inactive map centered on the Super 8 nearer to the stadium. You can find the other motels on the map.

SHOPPING:
There are several major malls in Louisville; most of them are located out in the suburbs. However, the Derbt City Antique Mall is near Papa John and might keep your non football watching spouse happy for several hours. The Summit lifestyle center is the latest trend in retailing but it is about 35 mins from the stadium. UL fan "mielrisco" recommends

Bardstown Road or Frankfort Avenue in "The Highlands" (see below for more info) as having several unique boutiques and restaurants that would make for a much more entertaining visit. (than the Summit)

DINING:
Close by
If you want the local college scene check out: Granville Inn/1601 S. 3rd Street It is just off campus and the oldest after game U of L Hangout known for great burgers and lots of coeds. The most well known sports bar and restaurant in Louisville is the Cardinal Hall of Fame Cafe. It is located about ¼ mile east of Papa John next to the Fairgrounds. Be sure to click on the link for the video at the official web site. Another close by restaurant is the Cracker Barrel located just north of the Cardinal HOF Cafe. Another unique restaurant is Lynn's Paradise Cafe which is about a mile north of the stadium. The place looks neat and should be popular with young and old alike. About 15 mins southwest of Louisville along the Ohio River is Mike Linnig's. They serve up good, cheap eats (specialty is fish/seafood) in a fabulous outdoor setting by the Ohio River. If you want Barbecue check out Bootleg Bar-B-Q. The prices are reasonable and they are noted for their Hot n' Sticky Wings...be advised you need to call three hours ahead. Mark's Feed Store also has a great reputation. Jucy's (pronounced juicy) Smokehouse Bar-B-Q looks interesting and also has a great reputation. For great pizza try Impellizzeri's Pizza, it come highly recommended.

Mike Linnig's From the Street

Awesome restaurant reviews here. A good website for finding a place to eat is here: You should look in the Downtown and Airport sections for places closest to Papa John. Bardstown and Frankforts areas are other great choices.

Downtown areas are best near 4th Street.
Three come recommended for originality: Makers Mark Bourbon House + Lounge , Red Star Tavern and Vincenzo's/150 S. 5th Street/Ph # 502-580-1350/Reservation Required. Of course, there are others like Hard Rock and TGIF. Finally, at 4th Street Live is the Sports and Social Club. A really cool place to watch games at before or after your game.

Louisville fan, "CardinalZen" recommends these establishments around the downtown area:
Bistro 301, Saffron's (Persian), and Proof on Main.
Stevie Ray's Blues Bar does not serve food so it is 21+ and BBC Tap Room is a nice brew pub
The Jazz Factory
Bluegrass Brewing Company and Cafe Kilimanjaro

The Highlands--Louisville's Cool Spot to Be. It is a three mile stretch along Baxter and Bardstown Road. If you have access to a vehicle: the 900 block of Baxter is a nice place to start.
Suggestions in the 900 block:
Wicks Pizza Parlor + Pub (Baxter) - decent bar - great pizza
O’Shea’s (Baxter) – Irish Pub
Molly Malone’s (Baxter) -Irish Pub pricier- nice outdoor area
Cumberland Brewery offers seasonal beers and a good menu.
Flanagan's Gourmet Pizza + Ale house (Baxter) - smaller place - very very popular - great food and big beer selection
Za's Pizza has many who feel it has the best pizza in Louisville. Ofcourse others swear by Papalino's NY Style Pizza.
Louisville fan "L-yes" suggests:

Ramsi's Cafe on the World is one of my favorite places to eat, it's offers a
wide variety of ethnic food. Editor's note: Ramsi's looks like a great place for Sunday Brunch. The Bristol Bar and Grille is right up
the street for more traditional American fare and across from Ramsi's is the
Avalon which is upscale contemporary American cuisine. The Avalon
has a great outdoor patio area with live jazz most weekend nights. There
are many locally owned restaurants like the ones I've mentioned up and down
Bardstown/Baxter. For pizza and a beer Wick's Pizza really can't be
beat, Bearno's is also pretty good. All are within walking distance of one
another. Another great area in the city proper is East Market
Street, there is a collection of restaurant/art galleries there with great upscale
food and nice bars like Artemisia Restaurant. If
you're in town on a Friday night and it's the first Friday of the month the
Market Street district is hopping in September and October.

Finally, the Frankfort Avenue area (just east of downtown) boasts a huge collection of independently owned restaurants in a vibrant, charming, friendly historic corridor.
Things to Do:

Distillery Tours:
The closest one of these four is the Jim Beam Tour and might be a good place to start.
Woodford Reserve (formerly Labrot & Graham Distillery)- 1 hour drive towards Lexington. Located in the beautiful horse country around Versailles! Maker's Mark: 1 1/4 hour drive. Very Good tour
Wild Turkey: Less than an hour southeast, easy to find. If you want to spend a day cruising several check out the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Maker's Mark Still House

Finally, the Old Louisville Guide gives you links galore on your visit with a slant toward the old historic Louisville district.

Belle of Louisville Steamboat

CASINOS
There is a Harrah's property across the river to the west of Louisville. If offers all the typical casino amenities.

GOLF:

Louisville Fan and Native Chris Lindy's Suggested Courses:

City of Louisville:

Right in the heart of Louisville, your best courses are Charlie Vettiner, Indian Springs, and Quail Chase. Vettiner is part of LouisvilleCharlie Vettiner’s municipal parks, a challenging layout due to the fact that there are some wild holes on the course and a LOT of elevation changes. The tee shot on #7 is probably the toughest in the city. OB on the right and junk on the left. Trees line both sides of a very narrow fairway for what is an uphill tee shot. Hole #10 may actually be tougher than 9. Another muni in Louisville is Seneca Park. Seneca Golf Course has been rated the sixth toughest course in Kentucky and voted "Best of Louisville" for several years running as well as Golf Digest "08-09 Best Places to Play". It is a steal at around $13-15 a round.

Indian Springs is a controversial choice and one that other Louisville golfers would possibly disagree with me about. It and Quail Chase are not city owned, but people complain about the residential developments overhanging the golf course at Indian Springs. I agree that the houses impede if you are wild off the tee, but really they are nothing more than a bad backdrop for an otherwise GREAT golf course. The par 3's there are among the best collection of any Louisville public (#6 & #11 are the best) and there is plenty to challenge you throughout the round.

Indian Springs Golf Club

Quail Chase is also a public course in town, but not connected with the city parks. There are 3 9-hole courses at the facility, which is well-kept if nothing else. I am not personally a big fan of the place because it is much more expensive than Vettiner and really doesn't offer anything those courses can't. The par-5 8th hole (East course) is a tricky one, where a lake guards the right side for the last half of the hole.

Greater Louisville Metro Area:

Outside of Louisville, I think there are more options and ones that honestly are better if you'd like to avoid the muni scene and get a little more for those extra dollars you will drop on non-city owned courses. Old Capital (Corydon, IN), Covered Bridge (Sellersburg, IN), Chariot Run--see below (Laconia, IN), Nevel Meade (Prospect, KY), My Old Kentucky Home--see below (Bardstown, KY), Weissinger Hills--see below (Shelbyville, KY), the new Champions Pointe--see below (Henryville, IN) and the soon-to-be-opened Heritage Hill (Shepherdsville, KY) are all very good to great tracks with a variety of challenges to them. I have also heard great things about Valley View, where Fuzzy Zoeller honed his game as a youngster growing up in Southern Indiana.

Valley View Golf Club

The most exciting of these is currently Heritage Hill, which was designed by former Nicklaus protégé Doug Beach and is schedule to open in August, 2007. The locals are already raving about this course if they have been fortunate enough to play and eagerly awaiting its public debut if they have not. From the photos on the course’s website, this could quickly become Louisville’s best area course.

If you're a gambler, Chariot Run may be the place for you to get in your 18 holes. It pushes the 45 minutes a little bit in that the course, owned by Caesars Indiana, is WAY past the casino itself. This is another course that I was not a huge fan of when I played it, but mostly because the greens were too hard and didn't receive shots well. It's a great layout, though, and would perhaps be right up there on my list with another chance at better conditions.

My Old Kentucky Home is the best local state parks course, also about a 45-minute drive from Louisville, but actually not even in the Top 5 of all state parks courses. The other great thing about Kentucky golf is what the state does with its parks. Trying to encourage people to get away from the big cities and put money into the smaller KY communities, the government has built and remodeled several parks courses into championship-quality layouts. My Old KY Home is not one of the Signature Series (the REALLY nice ones), but it's still a fun course that is well-kept and reasonably priced. Hole #16 might be the most difficult par 3 in the entire area.

Finally, Weissinger Hills in Shelbyville. This is another course that not many people know about since it is away from the city and not high on the day trip list for most people. Situated on an old horse farm, the course winds through several patches of trees, old fields, and a bit of water during the round. There isn't anything particularly spectacular about the course, but #10 might impress you and the conditions are good. For more information, you can always click the links for the courses that have websites or check out Golf Kentucky Links for their reviews. This is a nice site devoted to looking at ALL the KY courses as well as some of the more recognizable tracks just across the river.

Editor's Note: We thank Chris for his insights regarding golf in the Louisville area. Please note that he has an excellent web site devoted to University of Louisville athletics called Cardinal Empire. Please check it out.
I hope this helps. I'd like to thank Louisville fans Maize, Wilkie and Chris Wiley who helped with this guide. TexanMark

The opinions expressed in this guide are those of TexanMark. While every effort has been made to ensure all the information presented is accurate and current, it would be wise to verify things when possible. Please note that this guide is not endorsed by Scout.com, Rivals.com or its site publishers, administrators and/or moderators.

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