South Bend 1st time

[PANDFAN]

If it’s at the right time, I’d be down to meet up with you guys as well. You still have my number from the group text with Freeman?

Wooly never did... Saw Flutie here

 

[woolybug25]

If it’s at the right time, I’d be down to meet up with you guys as well. You still have my number from the group text with Freeman?

Dropped my phone in the river and didn’t have it backed up in the cloud. PM me!

Wooly never did... Saw Flutie here

You around tomorrow?

 

[NDShark]

Have fun dude. I've seen a lot of great advice and recommendations so far. It sounds like you're set up for success. One benefit of keeping a car close assuming you aren't headed to a tailgate is that you'd be able to bring a cooler around and walk through tailgates drinking. Always a good experience and you don't know who you'll meet. Then, you can just drop the cooler off before the game starts. I'm jealous I'm not making it out this year.

 

[PANDFAN]

Dropped my phone in the river and didn’t have it backed up in the cloud. PM me!



You around tomorrow?

Yeah.. met all the running backs and talked with denson and also Amar Bilal at orourkes. Walked campus and now at brothers drinking again

 

[woolybug25]

Yeah.. met all the running backs and talked with denson and also Amar Bilal at orourkes. Walked campus and now at brothers drinking again

I was literally upstairs from you. Shoot me your number via pm.

 

[connor_in]

Dropped my phone in the river and didn’t have it backed up in the cloud. PM me!

 

[PANDFAN]

I will be at brothers drinking with my wife before game if anyone wants to meet up.. Just pm me

 

[PANDFAN]

Actually at oroukes now

 

[zelezo vlk]

Have fun Panda!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[SonofOahu]

Actually at oroukes now

Panda, if you go to the bookstore (or airport) they sell this caramel-corn type item. South Bend Chocolate Company makes it, and it's co-branded with Notre Dame. I don't remember what the actual product name is, I just call it "crack." Get some.

 

[Valpodoc85]

How was it?

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Hope you had an awesome time!!!! South Bend is special and the games are incredible. You got to experience an awesome game and I could not be more happier for you!!!!

 

[PANDFAN]

my experience was beyond amazing!!!

night 1 was getting into south bend on thursday--sitting and drinking at oroukes until the BK radio show---met all the running backs and got my pic w/ them, denson and also asmar bilal
they were extremely cool...we walked the campus at night, stopped at the grotto and then headed back to the hotel

day 2- began at oroukes and then headed over to campus...headed to the gug right away and on the way met Brandon wimbush , stopped and got pic and autograph with him...he had 2 ND PR guys with him who were extremely nice
...just as i got done w/ my pic and experience w/ brandon a minute later jack swarbick comes walking right by me...i stop and get a pic with him and he talked to my wife and i for a couple of minutes..inquiring how everyone has treated us, where we were from, i told him it was my anniversary present and then wished us a happy anniversary---he was extremely nice

we then went into the gug, took tour of the tunnel onto the field, went into the basilica, grotto, bookstore...headed back to oroukes and brothers for drinks and dinner and then went back to joyce center for pep rally...got 2 row seats there...saw mark edwards, stopped and got a pic w/ reggie brooks as he was just hanging out...he was also extremely cool...we went to the linebacker--what a shit hole...thought this was something i needed to do while there but it was trash(wish didnt waste time heading there)

game day-got free parking 2 streets away from campus so this was awesome...went to oroukes for beers and then went to the players walk..got in close and was able to get the entire walk filmed as we were at the front of line..headed back to oroukes until around 3pm...the only bad part of the experience thus far was how long it took to get into the stadium, plus a bunch of idiots pushing, butting in line etc....

my in game experience---it was cold but my happiness overcame any temperature...my wife not so much...but she braved it out...there was a huuuge section of the student section missing..at least prob 4 rows of seating maybe more....everyone stood for every 3rd down within my view...it was constant clapping, yelling etc so i didn't have anyone telling me to sit or anything like that...it seemed like the team just wasn't ready to roll at the beginning but then got it going...tons of def holding against our wr's that weren't called....the fans around us all stayed until later in 4th quarter they began heading out...i stayed until the bitter end to get a video of the alma mater...i was able to get back to my hotel easily....and then began drinking and celebrating the game as the bars were jammed pack.

 

[Valpodoc85]

good times. that's a full weekend
the empty seats in the student section has been new since the stadium upgrade this year. It also looks empty when the band is on the field. Will be cold for the Wake and Navy games. Go Irish!

 

[zelezo vlk]

good times. that's a full weekend
the empty seats in the student section has been new since the stadium upgrade this year. It also looks empty when the band is on the field. Will be cold for the Wake and Navy games. Go Irish!

Just the way I like it!

 

[GowerND11]

good times. that's a full weekend
the empty seats in the student section has been new since the stadium upgrade this year. It also looks empty when the band is on the field. Will be cold for the Wake and Navy games. Go Irish!

Any reason why the student section isn't filling up?

 

[koonja]

my experience was beyond amazing!!!

night 1 was getting into south bend on thursday--sitting and drinking at oroukes until the BK radio show---met all the running backs and got my pic w/ them, denson and also asmar bilal
they were extremely cool...we walked the campus at night, stopped at the grotto and then headed back to the hotel

day 2- began at oroukes and then headed over to campus...headed to the gug right away and on the way met Brandon wimbush , stopped and got pic and autograph with him...he had 2 ND PR guys with him who were extremely nice
...just as i got done w/ my pic and experience w/ brandon a minute later jack swarbick comes walking right by me...i stop and get a pic with him and he talked to my wife and i for a couple of minutes..inquiring how everyone has treated us, where we were from, i told him it was my anniversary present and then wished us a happy anniversary---he was extremely nice

we then went into the gug, took tour of the tunnel onto the field, went into the basilica, grotto, bookstore...headed back to oroukes and brothers for drinks and dinner and then went back to joyce center for pep rally...got 2 row seats there...saw mark edwards, stopped and got a pic w/ reggie brooks as he was just hanging out...he was also extremely cool...we went to the linebacker--what a shit hole...thought this was something i needed to do while there but it was trash(wish didnt waste time heading there)

game day-got free parking 2 streets away from campus so this was awesome...went to oroukes for beers and then went to the players walk..got in close and was able to get the entire walk filmed as we were at the front of line..headed back to oroukes until around 3pm...the only bad part of the experience thus far was how long it took to get into the stadium, plus a bunch of idiots pushing, butting in line etc....

my in game experience---it was cold but my happiness overcame any temperature...my wife not so much...but she braved it out...there was a huuuge section of the student section missing..at least prob 4 rows of seating maybe more....everyone stood for every 3rd down within my view...it was constant clapping, yelling etc so i didn't have anyone telling me to sit or anything like that...it seemed like the team just wasn't ready to roll at the beginning but then got it going...tons of def holding against our wr's that weren't called....the fans around us all stayed until later in 4th quarter they began heading out...i stayed until the bitter end to get a video of the alma mater...i was able to get back to my hotel easily....and then began drinking and celebrating the game as the bars were jammed pack.

Sounds like it went perfectly! I think the students huddle together closely, and it appears it's not packed. Is that true?

Sounds like you got the celebrity VIP access. Happy for you man!

 

[Valpodoc85]

Any reason why the student section isn't filling up?

Dunno, seems to be new since the upgrade. Suspect it reflects a tighter ticket policy and general student crowding. Used to be the students couldn't sit for the game, too many and not enough seats.

 

[PANDFAN]

just looked at pics i took...4 completely empty rows in student section

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Glad you had fun PA. It is truly a special place and a great experience.

 

[Irish#1]

Sounds like the only way it could have been better, is if BK would have asked you to dress. The best part, no matter how many games you go to, it's pretty special every time. Start planning your return trip.

 

[SonofOahu]

...we went to the linebacker--what a shit hole...thought this was something i needed to do while there but it was trash(wish didnt waste time heading there)

HAHAHAHA!!!

Now you know, brother. One of us! One of us! One of us!

Yeah, I hated that place, too. Still go there, every time I go back, though.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Sounds like it went perfectly! I think the students huddle together closely, and it appears it's not packed. Is that true?

Sounds like you got the celebrity VIP access. Happy for you man!

I think the empty rows for the student section has been happening for cold games for a few years now. In either 2013 or 2014 they changed the student section seating from assigned to general admission, so students tend to try to pack the lower rows leaving some of the more, shall we say, "rowdy", students to spread out up top. When it gets cold some of the non-diehard fans tend not to go to the games and the people up top do huddle together more, so its kind of a compounding effect that makes it look empty.

 

[loomis41973]

Sounds like a great time was had.


Linebacker should have been torn down 20 years ago.

 

[arrowryan]

my experience was beyond amazing!!!

night 1 was getting into south bend on thursday--sitting and drinking at oroukes until the BK radio show---met all the running backs and got my pic w/ them, denson and also asmar bilal
they were extremely cool...we walked the campus at night, stopped at the grotto and then headed back to the hotel

day 2- began at oroukes and then headed over to campus...headed to the gug right away and on the way met Brandon wimbush , stopped and got pic and autograph with him...he had 2 ND PR guys with him who were extremely nice
...just as i got done w/ my pic and experience w/ brandon a minute later jack swarbick comes walking right by me...i stop and get a pic with him and he talked to my wife and i for a couple of minutes..inquiring how everyone has treated us, where we were from, i told him it was my anniversary present and then wished us a happy anniversary---he was extremely nice

we then went into the gug, took tour of the tunnel onto the field, went into the basilica, grotto, bookstore...headed back to oroukes and brothers for drinks and dinner and then went back to joyce center for pep rally...got 2 row seats there...saw mark edwards, stopped and got a pic w/ reggie brooks as he was just hanging out...he was also extremely cool...we went to the linebacker--what a shit hole...thought this was something i needed to do while there but it was trash(wish didnt waste time heading there)
game day-got free parking 2 streets away from campus so this was awesome...went to oroukes for beers and then went to the players walk..got in close and was able to get the entire walk filmed as we were at the front of line..headed back to oroukes until around 3pm...the only bad part of the experience thus far was how long it took to get into the stadium, plus a bunch of idiots pushing, butting in line etc....

my in game experience---it was cold but my happiness overcame any temperature...my wife not so much...but she braved it out...there was a huuuge section of the student section missing..at least prob 4 rows of seating maybe more....everyone stood for every 3rd down within my view...it was constant clapping, yelling etc so i didn't have anyone telling me to sit or anything like that...it seemed like the team just wasn't ready to roll at the beginning but then got it going...tons of def holding against our wr's that weren't called....the fans around us all stayed until later in 4th quarter they began heading out...i stayed until the bitter end to get a video of the alma mater...i was able to get back to my hotel easily....and then began drinking and celebrating the game as the bars were jammed pack.

Glad you had a good time and, from what I read, it looks like you did everything that a first time visitor should have done.

How did you like the renovations, turf, and jumbotron? From the outside, the stadium looks huge! I think all of the changes they have made to the stadium have been perfect so far.

Your opinion on the backer cracks me up! I can see how someone would not like the backer, but ask any ND, SMC, or Holy Cross alum and a majority of them will tell you that they love that place. Its not like Brothers where they have a huge bar and a lot of room for people to stand/sit. The Backer is unique because there isn't another bar in South Bend quite like it (maybe Corby's, but not really). The good thing about The Backer is that the first drink is free and for some reason everyone loves it when they play All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey haha. I personally really like the backer.

 

[Valpodoc85]

The linebacker is not a great place to take the wife. Like CBGB's without the Ramones

 

[PANDFAN]

Glad you had a good time and, from what I read, it looks like you did everything that a first time visitor should have done.

How did you like the renovations, turf, and jumbotron? From the outside, the stadium looks huge! I think all of the changes they have made to the stadium have been perfect so far.

Your opinion on the backer cracks me up! I can see how someone would not like the backer, but ask any ND, SMC, or Holy Cross alum and a majority of them will tell you that they love that place. Its not like Brothers where they have a huge bar and a lot of room for people to stand/sit. The Backer is unique because there isn't another bar in South Bend quite like it (maybe Corby's, but not really). The good thing about The Backer is that the first drink is free and for some reason everyone loves it when they play All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey haha. I personally really like the backer.

After spending 10.00 to get in the crack house I didn't get any free drink...damn! There were more cops and security people than actual people in it.. It was just lame to me...I like a bigger crowd but also where people are generally friendly...idk maybe if it wasn't my first time but I just thought it would be more to it... We have enough dive bars around where I live..I want to take in some cool places and this wasn't one... Everything about the campus, stadium and field were unreal...

 

[BGIF]

I think the empty rows for the student section has been happening for cold games for a few years now. In either 2013 or 2014 they changed the student section seating from assigned to general admission, so students tend to try to pack the lower rows leaving some of the more, shall we say, "rowdy", students to spread out up top. When it gets cold some of the non-diehard fans tend not to go to the games and the people up top do huddle together more, so its kind of a compounding effect that makes it look empty.

Huddling together was a design feature when Rock built the place. One of the reasons so many fans don't stand during the game is because their seat might disappear if others alongside them sit down first.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Huddling together was a design feature when Rock built the place. One of the reasons so many fans don't stand during the game is because their seat might disappear if others alongside them sit down first.

I just thought of this: I wonder how the extra two inches per seat has effected the student section spacing. If they gave them more space with an extra section or something and they keep gathering towards the bottom, it could leave the top rows open even more.

 

[PANDFAN]

so to cap off my great visit, yesterday i was contacted by the marketing dept for ND licensing and they are going to use my photo of my wife and I in front of the dome for their social media platforms