Info about FedEx Field for the Maryland Game

[DC_Subway_Alum]

Greetings fellow Irish fans,

I expect quite a few of you will be attending the ND/UMD game at FedEx Field on 11/12/11. As a lifelong Redskins Season Ticket Holder, I thought I would post some tips about attending games at FedEx as the experience can be an absolute nightmare if you are unfamiliar with traffic patterns and parking.

The best and most simple advice I can give is leave for the game as early as humanly possible, and plan to stay late afterward for a postgame victory tailgate. The traffic around FedEx Field is the worst I have ever encountered at a football stadium during the hour before kickoff and the hour after the game ends. If you are getting off the Beltway (about 2 miles from the stadium) after 6 pm, it will seriously take an extra hour to find a parking spot and get to your seat, that's how bad it is.

I would highly recommended entering the parking lots via Arena Drive or Morgan Boulevard (especially if you are arriving close to kickoff). Brightseat Rd./Redskins Rd. (north of the stadium) has the worst traffic of all the parking lot entrances.

For those planning on arriving early and tailgating, I just spoke with someone on the phone in the Redskins ticket office and this is what he told me:

All parking lots will open at 3:30pm, 4 hours before kickoff just like Redskins games. If you are parking in the RV lot, they will try and let you in before 3:30 so those big vehicles will not interfere with the flow of traffic.

There will be no color lots for the game, the person I spoke with said a "first come first serve" policy is in effect. He said if you show up at 3:30, you will pretty much have free reign as to where to park. As the lots fill up and it gets closer to kickoff, parking attendants will direct you to the less crowded lots.

I will bump this as it gets closer to the game, also feel free to ask me any other questions about tailgating, parking, seat location, etc. I consider myself a FedEx Field guru!

Hail to the Redskins and Go Irish!

 

[NDinL.A.]

Bump.

I was just alerted to this thread by the OP. Being a new member, sometimes posts need to be approved by mods as a way to combat spam threads. We (the mods) never saw this thread, so it was never approved and it just sat in cyberspace, sad and alone. But there is some great info in it...check it out.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

Any good places to stay in the area?

 

[InKellyITrust]

I'm taking the metro in from Shady Grove. Getting in and out of FedEx Field is terrible. Also, there are no restaurants around FedEx field so make sure you bring food to tailgate if you're planning on eating before the game.

 

[aonufer]

ND/MD - Parking @ Fedex and Friday Night

ND/MD - Parking @ Fedex and Friday Night

Thanks for the info about the parking at Fedex. Couple of follow-up questions:

1. Are parking passes required? I'm under the impression that they are not required for the ND/MD game as they would be for a Redskins game.

2. I have some friends in from out of town for the game. I was wondering if there were any formal or semi-formal gatherings of Notre Dame fans on Friday night after the pep rally.

I'm crossing my fingers that the Irish of South Florida/Michigan/USC stay home and the Irish of Purdue/Air Force/Navy show up.

Go Irish.

 

[DC_Subway_Alum]

Any good places to stay in the area?

The hotels at National Harbor are very popular with NFL fans as they are a quick 20 minute drive away from the Stadium:

National Harbor - Hotels

The Gaylord National is the official hotel of the Redskins. I believe opposing NFL teams also stay at the National Harbor when they play the Skins.

Thanks for the info about the parking at Fedex. Couple of follow-up questions:

1. Are parking passes required? I'm under the impression that they are not required for the ND/MD game as they would be for a Redskins game.

2. I have some friends in from out of town for the game. I was wondering if there were any formal or semi-formal gatherings of Notre Dame fans on Friday night after the pep rally.

I'm crossing my fingers that the Irish of South Florida/Michigan/USC stay home and the Irish of Purdue/Air Force/Navy show up.

Go Irish.

1. Parking is free and there are no parking passes, spots will be given on a first come, first served basis. However, the parking attendants will probably get pissed if you get there at 3:30 and take up a bunch of extra spaces close to the stadium with your grill, tent, canopy, etc. At Skins games they direct the people who have large tailgate setups towards the back of the lots near the treeline. I imagine they will try to do the same thing on Saturday.

Once again, the best advice I can give is to COME EARLY and STAY LATE!

2. See this schedule of events for the weekend:

7th Home Game - Washington D.C. // Game Day // University of Notre Dame

Friday, 6:00pm-6:45pm – Pep Rally on the National Mall

The Notre Dame Football Pep Rally will be held on the National Mall Friday night. Come out and cheer on Coach Kelly and a few players from the 2011 Team as they get ready to beat Maryland on Saturday.

Saturday, 10:00am-11:00am – Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral

Come join us at St. Matthew’s Cathedral as Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C., celebrates mass in Washington D.C. on game day morning at 10:00am.
The mass is free and open to the public.

12:00pm-12:45pm – ND Marching Band Concert at the Capitol

In the spirit of replicating a home game experience, the Notre Dame Band will bring their traditional gameday Bond Hall Band Concert to a new location: The U.S. Capitol Lawn. The concert begins at noon, but be sure to come out early to take in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

7:30pm – Notre Dame vs. Maryland at FedEx Field

 

[Guest]

Quick Question. Do you know if Alcohol will be served inside Fedex for the game. I know its not sold during a normal college game. I was wondering if Fed-Ex will sell it anyway?

Thanks for any info you have!

GO IRISH!!

 

[palinurus]

I may make a trip up there. Thanks for taking the time to post the great advice. It will sure help the novice, like me.

 

[NDinL.A.]

The hotels at National Harbor are very popular with NFL fans as they are a quick 20 minute drive away from the Stadium:

National Harbor - Hotels

The Gaylord National is the official hotel of the Redskins. I believe opposing NFL teams also stay at the National Harbor when they play the Skins.



1. Parking is free and there are no parking passes, spots will be given on a first come, first served basis. However, the parking attendants will probably get pissed if you get there at 3:30 and take up a bunch of extra spaces close to the stadium with your grill, tent, canopy, etc. At Skins games they direct the people who have large tailgate setups towards the back of the lots near the treeline. I imagine they will try to do the same thing on Saturday.

Once again, the best advice I can give is to COME EARLY and STAY LATE!

2. See this schedule of events for the weekend:

7th Home Game - Washington D.C. // Game Day // University of Notre Dame

Friday, 6:00pm-6:45pm – Pep Rally on the National Mall

The Notre Dame Football Pep Rally will be held on the National Mall Friday night. Come out and cheer on Coach Kelly and a few players from the 2011 Team as they get ready to beat Maryland on Saturday.

Saturday, 10:00am-11:00am – Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral

Come join us at St. Matthew’s Cathedral as Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C., celebrates mass in Washington D.C. on game day morning at 10:00am.
The mass is free and open to the public.

12:00pm-12:45pm – ND Marching Band Concert at the Capitol

In the spirit of replicating a home game experience, the Notre Dame Band will bring their traditional gameday Bond Hall Band Concert to a new location: The U.S. Capitol Lawn. The concert begins at noon, but be sure to come out early to take in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

7:30pm – Notre Dame vs. Maryland at FedEx Field

Because this post had a link and the poster has less than 10 posts, this post did not appear until approved by a mod. I'm quoting it because there is a lot of good info there...

 

[IrishLax]

Quick Question. Do you know if Alcohol will be served inside Fedex for the game. I know its not sold during a normal college game. I was wondering if Fed-Ex will sell it anyway?

Thanks for any info you have!

GO IRISH!!

Yes, I believe they will. They did at Yankee stadium last year fwiw.

I'll be there and everything DC_Subway_Alum said is 100% spot on correct. Great Post!!

 

[Domina Nostra]

I'll be there as well.

 

[Veer option]

Dang it, I should have prepared better to go to this game.

 

[DC_Subway_Alum]

Quick Question. Do you know if Alcohol will be served inside Fedex for the game. I know its not sold during a normal college game. I was wondering if Fed-Ex will sell it anyway?

Thanks for any info you have!

GO IRISH!!

Yes, alcohol will be served inside the stadium. $9 for a 16 oz. domestic aluminum bottle or a 12 oz. import draft.

 

[DC_Subway_Alum]

I was wondering if there were any formal or semi-formal gatherings of Notre Dame fans on Friday night after the pep rally.

Go Irish.

The most famous Irish bar in downtown DC is "The Dubliner" (4 F Street NW). Next door to "The Dubliner" is "Kelly's Irish Times" which has a younger and rowdier crowd. Another option is "Fado" (808 7th Street NW).

I'd wager there will be a decent contingent of Irish fans at all of these places on Friday night.

 

[DCirishfan]

Does anyone want to be me and my brother's DD for the game I am offering BFF.

 

[DC_Subway_Alum]

Hope to see lots of Irish fans there tomorrow!

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Yes, alcohol will be served inside the stadium. $9 for a 16 oz. domestic aluminum bottle or a 12 oz. import draft.

sh!t..... That's almost enough for you to hit the wagon and swear off the Devil's juice....

(even though I'd probably be in line about 15 times paying for it. I did say almost. )

 

[NDty9]

Drove from NY.. In DC now. We got a party bus going tomm.!! Can't waitttt! LET'S GO IRISH

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Drove from NY.. In DC now. We got a party bus going tomm.!! Can't waitttt! LET'S GO IRISH

Give 'em hell. Go Irish!!!

 

[palinurus]

Hope to see lots of Irish fans there tomorrow!

Just wanted to thank you again for the good info. We drove up there for the game and followed your lead re traffic. (You had it right, too; what a nightmare getting in and out, for those that came late and left right after.) Got there very early, stayed late -- double tailgate, with a tail kicking of Maryland in between. Again, the advice was much appreciated.

 

[NDPhilly]

Wasn't impressed with Fedex field at all. Outside looked nice but inside was completely mismatched with Red and the Fedex colors of Purple and Green. Concourse was ok. Didn't even get in line to scan our tickets. We just walked by and held them up which was good. Parking situation was pretty bad.

 

[IrishLax]

After last night's game, all I can say is ND stadium desperately needs box seats. The old people can get them and socialize in a temperature controlled climate while more energetic ND fans can take their spots in the lower bowl and get loud.

The way things went in the box I was in, my girlfriend and I and three other "kids" were the only people sitting in the seating part and actually watching the game in the second half. All of the oldies were happy to just sit back and socialize and get wasty faced. Most of them left at the start of the 4th quarter. This is such an easy and obvious solution to the current problem with ND's stadium atmosphere and needs to be seriously considered by the administration.