(07-30-2013 03:48 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  You should have taken a little side trip over to Butler University and visited Hinkle Gymnasium. Awesome place.

Hinkle should be on every college basketball junkie's bucket list. They've modernized it a bit since Hoosiers was filmed there ( reducing from 15,000 to next years capacity of 9100), mainly with chairbacks. When I saw it, it was all wooden bleachers and absolutely massive. Just a really cool, throwback atmosphere.

(07-30-2013 05:14 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(07-30-2013 03:48 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  You should have taken a little side trip over to Butler University and visited Hinkle Gymnasium. Awesome place.

Hinkle should be on every college basketball junkie's bucket list. They've modernized it a bit since Hoosiers was filmed there ( reducing from 15,000 to next years capacity of 9100), mainly with chairbacks. When I saw it, it was all wooden bleachers and absolutely massive. Just a really cool, throwback atmosphere.

Sat in their for my step-daughter's graduation. Unfortunately, never got to see a game. Beautiful campus.

Flights from Reagan to Akron have been procured.

Cent, Tat, and Pitz are in from Friday - Sunday.

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  I'm heading up to the JMU-Akron game with a few buddies and staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

After a discussion with the ticket office, visitors can tailgate in the following lots: 7, 14, 15, 27, and 34. He also referenced the parking map (http://www.gozips.com/tickets/2013-14/parking_map). The lots are $10.00 and I'm waiting to hear back from the ticket office when the lots will open.

(07-01-2013 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

I would suggest you not do this. While Akron's downtown area is recovering from decades of rust belt economic downturn, and is now turning into something of an oversized college town with bars and restaurants popping up all over to serve the university students, the hotel is a remnant of a worse time and basically owes its continues existence to luring visitors that want to stay downtown but don't know any better. It's unfortunate that it's the only hotel in the downtown area, but you're way better off staying in a nearby suburb.With the amount of interstates in the area, it's easy to drive to downtown and the university in 10-15 minutes.

UAkronKid, are you saying not to stay downtown because of thugs and crime? Or are you saying not to stay downtown because there are drunk college kids making noise? If it's the latter, I don't mind that. I'm coming to Akron to root for Dukes with two friends, and we'd like to be within walking distance to bars. But if it's a dangerous area, we can just do what everyone else is doing and cab it from a hotel 10 miles out.

i refuse - put me in the middle of the action. I want to experience all that the zips have to offer downtown

(08-05-2013 11:11 AM)TheDudeWithTheJMUTat Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  I'm heading up to the JMU-Akron game with a few buddies and staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

After a discussion with the ticket office, visitors can tailgate in the following lots: 7, 14, 15, 27, and 34. He also referenced the parking map (http://www.gozips.com/tickets/2013-14/parking_map). The lots are $10.00 and I'm waiting to hear back from the ticket office when the lots will open.

(07-01-2013 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

I would suggest you not do this. While Akron's downtown area is recovering from decades of rust belt economic downturn, and is now turning into something of an oversized college town with bars and restaurants popping up all over to serve the university students, the hotel is a remnant of a worse time and basically owes its continues existence to luring visitors that want to stay downtown but don't know any better. It's unfortunate that it's the only hotel in the downtown area, but you're way better off staying in a nearby suburb.With the amount of interstates in the area, it's easy to drive to downtown and the university in 10-15 minutes.

UAkronKid, are you saying not to stay downtown because of thugs and crime? Or are you saying not to stay downtown because there are drunk college kids making noise? If it's the latter, I don't mind that. I'm coming to Akron to root for Dukes with two friends, and we'd like to be within walking distance to bars. But if it's a dangerous area, we can just do what everyone else is doing and cab it from a hotel 10 miles out.

I'm saying don't stay downtown because the hotel is terrible. If you're fine with that, great. There are plans to open up two more hotels in the downtown area, but they won't be built for a few more years.

(08-05-2013 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(08-05-2013 11:11 AM)TheDudeWithTheJMUTat Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  I'm heading up to the JMU-Akron game with a few buddies and staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

After a discussion with the ticket office, visitors can tailgate in the following lots: 7, 14, 15, 27, and 34. He also referenced the parking map (http://www.gozips.com/tickets/2013-14/parking_map). The lots are $10.00 and I'm waiting to hear back from the ticket office when the lots will open.

(07-01-2013 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

I would suggest you not do this. While Akron's downtown area is recovering from decades of rust belt economic downturn, and is now turning into something of an oversized college town with bars and restaurants popping up all over to serve the university students, the hotel is a remnant of a worse time and basically owes its continues existence to luring visitors that want to stay downtown but don't know any better. It's unfortunate that it's the only hotel in the downtown area, but you're way better off staying in a nearby suburb.With the amount of interstates in the area, it's easy to drive to downtown and the university in 10-15 minutes.

UAkronKid, are you saying not to stay downtown because of thugs and crime? Or are you saying not to stay downtown because there are drunk college kids making noise? If it's the latter, I don't mind that. I'm coming to Akron to root for Dukes with two friends, and we'd like to be within walking distance to bars. But if it's a dangerous area, we can just do what everyone else is doing and cab it from a hotel 10 miles out.

I'm saying don't stay downtown because the hotel is terrible. If you're fine with that, great. There are plans to open up two more hotels in the downtown area, but they won't be built for a few more years.

Oh okay. Yeah, we have really low standards. I once slept on a beer pong table placed outside in the snow. We'll be fine. Thanks for the info though!

uhh what are you talking about, these rooms look awesome!

http://www.akroncitycenterhotel.com/page...rooms.html

they even feature a 25" remote control color TV! The LUXURY

Special offers are coming soon!
http://www.akroncitycenterhotel.com/page...cials.html

(08-06-2013 07:25 AM)Centdukesfan Wrote:  uhh what are you talking about, these rooms look awesome!

http://www.akroncitycenterhotel.com/page...rooms.html

they even feature a 25" remote control color TV! The LUXURY

Special offers are coming soon!
http://www.akroncitycenterhotel.com/page...cials.html

Somehow that website looks like it was made in the 70s. Kind of impressive, actually.

(08-05-2013 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(08-05-2013 11:11 AM)TheDudeWithTheJMUTat Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  I'm heading up to the JMU-Akron game with a few buddies and staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

After a discussion with the ticket office, visitors can tailgate in the following lots: 7, 14, 15, 27, and 34. He also referenced the parking map (http://www.gozips.com/tickets/2013-14/parking_map). The lots are $10.00 and I'm waiting to hear back from the ticket office when the lots will open.

(07-01-2013 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

I would suggest you not do this. While Akron's downtown area is recovering from decades of rust belt economic downturn, and is now turning into something of an oversized college town with bars and restaurants popping up all over to serve the university students, the hotel is a remnant of a worse time and basically owes its continues existence to luring visitors that want to stay downtown but don't know any better. It's unfortunate that it's the only hotel in the downtown area, but you're way better off staying in a nearby suburb.With the amount of interstates in the area, it's easy to drive to downtown and the university in 10-15 minutes.

UAkronKid, are you saying not to stay downtown because of thugs and crime? Or are you saying not to stay downtown because there are drunk college kids making noise? If it's the latter, I don't mind that. I'm coming to Akron to root for Dukes with two friends, and we'd like to be within walking distance to bars. But if it's a dangerous area, we can just do what everyone else is doing and cab it from a hotel 10 miles out.

I'm saying don't stay downtown because the hotel is terrible. If you're fine with that, great. There are plans to open up two more hotels in the downtown area, but they won't be built for a few more years.

Gotchya. Is this the only hotel in the near the bars/campus? This isn't me being lazy...i'm really bad at googling hotels. I always end up 15 blocks away from where I wanted to be haha.

Edit: It loos like the Ramada Plaza, City Center, and Quaker Square in are the main options, and only the City Center has room for that weekend. If you haven't gotten your rooms yet, I would get on it.

(08-06-2013 01:07 PM)TheDudeWithTheJMUTat Wrote:  

(08-05-2013 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(08-05-2013 11:11 AM)TheDudeWithTheJMUTat Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  I'm heading up to the JMU-Akron game with a few buddies and staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

After a discussion with the ticket office, visitors can tailgate in the following lots: 7, 14, 15, 27, and 34. He also referenced the parking map (http://www.gozips.com/tickets/2013-14/parking_map). The lots are $10.00 and I'm waiting to hear back from the ticket office when the lots will open.

(07-01-2013 04:52 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(07-01-2013 12:35 PM)jmuduukes2011 Wrote:  staying at the Akron City Centre Hotel (20 W Mill St, Akron, OH 44308) which is a 10 minute drive to the stadium.

I would suggest you not do this. While Akron's downtown area is recovering from decades of rust belt economic downturn, and is now turning into something of an oversized college town with bars and restaurants popping up all over to serve the university students, the hotel is a remnant of a worse time and basically owes its continues existence to luring visitors that want to stay downtown but don't know any better. It's unfortunate that it's the only hotel in the downtown area, but you're way better off staying in a nearby suburb.With the amount of interstates in the area, it's easy to drive to downtown and the university in 10-15 minutes.

UAkronKid, are you saying not to stay downtown because of thugs and crime? Or are you saying not to stay downtown because there are drunk college kids making noise? If it's the latter, I don't mind that. I'm coming to Akron to root for Dukes with two friends, and we'd like to be within walking distance to bars. But if it's a dangerous area, we can just do what everyone else is doing and cab it from a hotel 10 miles out.

I'm saying don't stay downtown because the hotel is terrible. If you're fine with that, great. There are plans to open up two more hotels in the downtown area, but they won't be built for a few more years.

Gotchya. Is this the only hotel in the near the bars/campus? This isn't me being lazy...i'm really bad at googling hotels. I always end up 15 blocks away from where I wanted to be haha.

Edit: It loos like the Ramada Plaza, City Center, and Quaker Square in are the main options, and only the City Center has room for that weekend. If you haven't gotten your rooms yet, I would get on it.

The City Center is the only one that actually exists.

City Center used to be a Ramada, until they dropped the brand. Quaker Square used to be a hotel but was bought by the university and converted to a residence hall.

What's the best tailgating option/location for visiting fans?

It would have to be one of the blue lots, since they're open parking that allows tailgating.

Akron fans tailgate primarily in Lot 9 and Lot 9B.

None of the other lots are really near the stadium. They're all about a 1000 yard walk away. Lot 34, by far, has the most room. Lot 27 is the only other one with any real room, and it's usually just full of residential students' cars. I don't expect anything to be too crowded, though.

(08-07-2013 10:50 AM)Pitz Wrote:  What's the best tailgating option/location for visiting fans?

So it sounds like lot 34 is going to be our best option.

Jim Tressel to be next President of Akron?

(08-09-2013 03:46 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Jim Tressel to be next President of Akron?

Maybe. Akron's current president isn't leaving for another year. A lot can happen in a year.

Weather for the game looks to be low 80's and sunny.

Leave Thursday, (Hey we're retired!). Arrive at hotel before dinner time, interview locals for restaurant recommendations. Pick one and eat. Friday go to the Rock N Roll HOF. Look at Cleveland waterfront. consider going to the Indians Mets game. Saturday morning Football HOF. Afternoon arrive early at the Duke Club tailgate, brag about how much fun we had already. Get into stadium humming Start Wearing Purple and then root like hell! Return Sunday, hoping to be basking in a victory glow and "what if ing" the future games.

(09-02-2013 06:58 PM)jmuroadwarrior Wrote:  Interview locals for restaurant recommendations. Pick one and eat.

I'll tell you what they'll say. It's what they always recommend. Swenson's Drive In burgers, and Luigi's Italian Restaurant. Bring cash for Luigi's, they don't accept credit cards. They'll tell you to get a Galley Boy burger and a shake at Swenson's, and a pizza at Luigi's.

That's all anybody ever recommends to visitors.