I'll post some tips for you here, anyways...
First off, your hotel is about a half-mile to the stadium, tops. Look at the map on the Days Inn site. The stadium is down in the lower right hand corner, at the NE corner of Bethel and Tillotson.
There are three main parking areas for the stadium. Two on the east side of Tillotson and one on the west side. On the east side of Tillotson, the main lots adjacent to the stadium have a lot of tailgating going on, and are great to walk through to soak up atmosphere, but are for donors and season ticket holders only to park. Just north of that lot, however, is a gravel commuter lot, which sits northwest of the stadium. That is available for general public parking: $5. However, that lot has a lot less tailgating activity going on, as many older alumni park there (who typically go to pre-game events at the nearby Alumni Center) as well as families who come to take their children to the pre-game kids' area or picnic shelters. On the plus side, if you're of student age, the authorities don't really bother with this lot, either.
Across the street to the west is the Bethel Field lot. This is the lot where many students and young alumni tailgate. It is very lively for almost every home game. It is available for $5 per car to the general public. The RV lot is here, too, adjacent to Ball Diamond (BSU's baseball stadium).
If you are unable to get into any of these lots for some reason, there are also two parking areas about 1-2 blocks east of the stadium. Northside Middle School parks cars in their lot for $5 per car. I've never tailgated there, but I'd guess that you have to be subtle about consuming there, because it's a middle school property and Indiana laws are very, very strict about that sort of thing. About another block east from Northside are the main Worthen Arena lots, which are typically a buck or two cheaper. Tailgating here is minimal, as these are overflow lots and are typically used by last-minute arrivals and latecomers, although there is a small group of BSU tailgaters that swear by this location.
As for tips tailgating at BSU, there are a few:
- Except for the main donor lots, general public parking does not open until 3 hours before kickoff. This is a pain in the a$$ rule that was initiated in the wake of a few out-of-control student tailgates three or four years ago, and many BSU alumni have been trying to get the time limit extended to four or five hours (or eliminated altogether), but no luck so far. Sometimes they'll let you in as much as 30 minutes early, but other times they'll wait until three hours-prior on the dot. Depends on who's working the lot that night and the expected crowd. Bottom line: don't expect to get in the lots until at least 3:45 or so for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Cars often line up to get into Bethel Field ahead of time.
- No kegs.
- In the Bethel Field lot, no glass containers. (Safety issue: the field is also used for intramural sports), BSU Police have been known to confiscate glass containers, so I'd keep any beer in bottles covered in your cooler and pour them into plastic cups. Cans and plastic bottles are a-okay. The glass container rule is almost never enforced in the lots on the east side of Tillotson.
-Hard liquor is prohibited, but again, be subtle about it and no one should give you a hassle.
-Feel free to consume adult beverages in abundance, as long as you aren't obviously underage or acting like an idiot. Again, plastic cups are your friend.
-Clean up your tailgate site. Authorities are more likely to hassle a student tailgate that has trash strewn everywhere. The lot attendants have trash bags available.
-Tents 10'x10' and smaller are allowed.
- Sharing food with your neighbors in the parking lots is kind of a BSU tradition, so everyone typically brings a little more than they need.
-Stop by and pay homage to The Sled, which will be parked on the north side of the Alumni Center as you walk in. You'll know it when you see it.
As for post-game options, there are many:
-The Village is just south of campus on University, about a mile from the stadium. There are a number of establishments here for post-game food and libations. Scotty's has upscale-casual food and a selection of 30 or so beers on tap. The Locker Room has basic sandwiches and stuff and a full bar and plenty of BSU ambiance. The Chug is your quintessential college-town watering hole, a little worn around the edges but offering great drinks at fair prices. Motini's is a cool little martini bar above the beloved campus coffeehouse MT Cup.
-Downtown (about a mile from campus and 2-3 miles from your hotel) has a couple of upscale restaurants, which will probably be closing by the time the game ends that night. However, it does have a couple decent bar options, including the Heorot on S. Walnut, home of the largest beer selection in Indiana (seriously, the beer list is a book). Doc's is next door and has live jazz and blues. Down the street is CenterStage, which usually features live rock bands.
-Closer to the stadium is CJ's Sports Bar (about two blocks east of the stadium on Oakwood), which opened last year. Haven't been there yet, but I assume it will be hopping on a football Saturday night.
Hope that helps. Enjoy your trip!
|
/
Tailgating Tips at Ball State (9/10, BG game)
