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A Visiting Wisconsin Fan's Inquiry


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A big hello to my Corn Husker brethren from Wisconsin. I first want to start out by expressing the absolute pleasure it was to host so many of you at our university this past Fall as well as in the city of Madison. Never in my life have I encountered or experienced such a wonderful, loyal and knowledgeable group of supporters as when Nebraska fans - all 30,000 (or more!) - came up to support their football team. We sure hope that you enjoyed yourselves and that it was a worthy start to the new traditions that we are sure to build between two great Midwestern States that love their only college football programs.

 

Well, just as excited as we were to meet Nebraskans in Madison this last year, I think many (though probably not AS many as Husker Nation) Badger fans will be equally as excited to return the favor and make the inaugural visit to Lincoln this Fall to see your wonderful university and beautiful football stadium. In fact, I'm writing this inquiry because I know I, as well as a group of fellow Badger fans, are very interested in making the trip this Fall for the Badger/Husker game!

 

While we are still very much in the early planning stages of our trip, I'd like to get some good insight from the people who know best- you all! I'll try to keep it simple, but any information that you'd be willing to give to help us out would be greatly appreciated!

 

In all, I'd expect our particular group to be about 15 people. We're all either in college still or recent graduates who would still probably be looking for the "student experience" as it pertains to game day in Lincoln. I'll post some questions and hopefully that will help make things easier:

 

1.) Tailgating:

As I just mentioned, we're a group of about 15-20 college-aged fans who are looking forward to both taking in as much of Nebraska's game day as possible, as well as settling down for several hours before kickoff to meet, eat and drink copious amounts of alcohol at a great location where we would be around the center of action as far as students go. I know this routine differs form place to place- for example if you were in Madison last Fall, you would have noticed that there were not real "tailgate lots" or parking lots where students and other fans often party before kick-off, but rather a series of house parties on campus and beer gartens tucked in and amongst the many bars and restaurants near the stadium. At other places like Michigan State or Iowa, they'll have huge plots of land like parking lots or golf courses sectioned off for people to park their cars and do a more traditional tailgate. What's the routine in Nebraska? Where is the center of action? Do students usually end up at different places than everyone else? Where would you recommend our group setting up to be in the midst of Nebraska game day glory? Are there any kind of special passes or anything that we should start thinking about?

 

2.) Parking/Cars

We'll probably have several cars, but we certainly won't be bringing them all to the tailgate. Where would be a good place to park extra cars within walking distance of the stadium? For the 1 or 2 cars that we'd probably want near our tailgate for supplies and set-up, can you usually just bring them right along to the site? Are there any special passes that we'd need to obtain to get into a good spot?

 

3) Hotels/Nightlife

We're college kids, so we're probably going to be OK with staying pretty much anywhere so long as it's half-way decent and it's semi-close (at least a cab ride's distance) from Nightlife and the Stadium. Any suggestions for something pretty inexpensive that would cater to that? The closer the better.

 

More importantly than that, where should we be for Friday night to take in the night life of UNL and Lincoln? We'd probably be interested in the pretty typical college bars and hotspots of your campus. Even though you might think of some of them as 'douchy' or 'fratty' or 'overcrowded' because you went to school there- as long as it's a happening place and there are lots of drinks and people- we honestly won't care because we're just visiting. For example... I cringe to send people to State Street Brats or Kollege Klub here in Madison because they are packed full of douche bags and sorostitues on any given night, but for visitors and first-timers, they are certainly neat inside and full of energy and so I swallow my pride (and my much more boring local favorite that I wanted to recommend) and send them there because I know that's what they're probably looking forward to. Does that make sense? With that in mind- where are some places we need to go to get our eat and drink on while we are visiting campus?

 

4) Other recommendations

Any other ideas or recommendations or must-sees while we visit? Any advice on tickets or whether it's worth it to try and get student tickets? Where's the visitor section?

 

 

Alright- Thanks for all the help in advance and I'll let you know that we are really excited to come see your city this Fall!

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1. Any place in the Haymarket for drinks and/or food and plus it's within walking distance to the stadium on game day.

A. Lazlo's Pub--they brew some of their own beer in house.

B. The N Zone.

 

2. O St( That's the letter O) from basically 9th to 16th street is where the main bars are where most UNL students hang.

A. Sandy's for a pitcher of Elk Creek. It looks like orange juice but drink a pitcher of it by yourself and you'll see it's not OJ.

B. Duffy's Tavern for a fishbowl of any cocktail you choose--best if consumed by three to four people. Drinking one alone? LOL.

C. Iguana's for some Iggy Juice. A deceptively intoxicating grape looking drink.

D. The Watering Hole has great food (and of course beer).

 

3. There's a cigar shop / bar on 12th street (I believe it is a block or two north of O St).

 

4. The Night Before (a gentleman's club) at 13th and P St I believe. This joint had (when I was there) the hottest babes in town.

 

5. Sidetracks Tavern--go on a game day and get there EARLY--as visitors be prepared for some good natured ribbing.

 

6. Misty's Restaurant (66th & Havelock *) for their prime rib.

 

7. Valentino's Pizza at (44th & Vine *)

 

* I believe those are the cross streets...it's been over a decade since I've thought of this stuff.

 

8. Tailgating--I have no information available.

 

9. The Cornhusker Hotel is right downtown and within walking distance of everything. (I'd suggest you book your room as early as possible.)

 

10. Parking usually isn't a concern. If you stay downtown you probably won't need your car until you leave.

 

11. The vistors section of the stadium is located in southwest corner of the stadium.

 

Hope that works out for you and apologies in advance if any information is out of date.

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Welcome!

 

College kids are mostly down in the North Bottoms (A smaller neighborhood with party houses mainly occupied by students just North of the stadium). There you'll find house parties up and down the streets with plenty of people offering there lawns/driveways as parking spaces.

 

A few blocks further North is the Indian Reservation (The Res). It's a wide open grass parking lot that's notorious for tailgating, drinking games, music, etc.

Red Bull came and set up a big tent for the OSU game last year. Music, contests, and tons of free Red Bull. No promises they come again this year, just thought I'd mention it. It's a pretty wild time down there, but I wouldn't spend too much time down in the Bottoms, it's easy to lose track of time. ;)

 

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1. Any place in the Haymarket for drinks and/or food and plus it's within walking distance to the stadium on game day.

A. Lazlo's Pub--they brew some of their own beer in house.

B. The N Zone.

 

2. O St( That's the letter O) from basically 9th to 16th street is where the main bars are where most UNL students hang.

A. Sandy's for a pitcher of Elk Creek. It looks like orange juice but drink a pitcher of it by yourself and you'll see it's not OJ.

B. Duffy's Tavern for a fishbowl of any cocktail you choose--best if consumed by three to four people. Drinking one alone? LOL.

C. Iguana's for some Iggy Juice. A deceptively intoxicating grape looking drink.

D. The Watering Hole has great food (and of course beer).

 

3. There's a cigar shop / bar on 12th street (I believe it is a block or two north of O St).

 

4. The Night Before (a gentleman's club) at 13th and P St I believe. This joint had (when I was there) the hottest babes in town.

 

5. Sidetracks Tavern--go on a game day and get there EARLY--as visitors be prepared for some good natured ribbing.

 

6. Misty's Restaurant (66th & Havelock *) for their prime rib.

 

7. Valentino's Pizza at (44th & Vine *)

 

* I believe those are the cross streets...it's been over a decade since I've thought of this stuff.

 

8. Tailgating--I have no information available.

 

9. The Cornhusker Hotel is right downtown and within walking distance of everything. (I'd suggest you book your room as early as possible.)

 

10. Parking usually isn't a concern. If you stay downtown you probably won't need your car until you leave.

 

11. The vistors section of the stadium is located in southwest corner of the stadium.

 

Hope that works out for you and apologies in advance if any information is out of date.

'SkersRule pretty much broke it down pretty well......I hope you and your friends have a great time visting Memorial Stadium and Lincoln in general. Hopefuly the game outcome will be closer this time around! Welcome to the board as well!

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8. Tailgating--I have no information available.

 

9. The Cornhusker Hotel is right downtown and within walking distance of everything. (I'd suggest you book your room as early as possible.)

There are many lots and areas right around the stadium that tailgates. Just go to any of them, not being an overflaming douche and you'll be taken care of with both food and beer.

The Embassy Suites downtown has Rock the Dock and it is a huge party with a live band. A good time.

 

As for hotels. You are not going to want the Cornhusker$$$ or Embassy or Holiday Inn right downtown. They jack up their nightly rates big time and usually require a three night stay.

Hotels by the Airport don't gouge their prices that bad and are an easy five minute drive to the stadium and festivities around it. Lincoln is not that hard of a town to get around in. Just follow any car with a Husker Flag on it and you'lll probably end up at your destination.

 

In closing tailgating is good, hotels downtown will cost ya a good chunk of change, Lincoln is easy to navigate, and after ya lose you'll probably get some pity beers :D

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I hope our fans choose not to treat you the way that they were treated in Madison, for starters. I dont expect that to be the case, but I wouldn't go about acting douchey.

 

If you want a college scene for tailgating, go to the res. Its 20 bucks a car so I would park the majority of your cars somewhere else and cram as many as you can. Even if you cant get a spot, just walking there is always a good time. If you want to park your car there, I suggest getting there early as spots fill up quick. The bottoms are okay but I think you would probably enjoy the atmosphere better at the res, more open, party atmosphere.As far as other tailgating, under the bridge west of the stadium is good, but it is permit only, but you will have a good time just walking over there. The tailgating scene is really all over, which makes Lincoln somewhat unique. Put your drinks in cups if you are going to be on campus, it is dry, but they wont say anything to you if it is in a cup.

 

Friday night I would recommend O st bars, just follow the crowd. If your anything like me and my buddies, you will enjoy D'Leons when you are smashed. Find a way to one of the many locations after a long night downtown and get a chicken burrito, good stuff.

 

As far as tickets, it is up to you on what kindof gamble you want to take. Student tickets require validation on gameday, which is like 55 bucks, on top of whatever the student charges you. It can be a pain in the ass to have to wait in line to validate a ticket though. Idk how wiscy works, but say you find a student selling their ticket for $40, you will pay them for the ticket then have to go to the validation line and pay 55 to make it so you can get in. Student tickets are also GA seating so expect to be there early. With that many people you might be better off just looking for tickets online. if the student tickets do interest you however, look up the husker ticket exchange on facebook, there are always students selling tickets. If both teams are doing well expect them to be steep. Usually by friday tho, the supply exceeds demand and the prices plummet. So pick your poison in that regard.

 

Hope you guys get it all figured out, GBR

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I hope our fans choose not to treat you the way that they were treated in Madison, for starters. I dont expect that to be the case, but I wouldn't go about acting douchey.

 

If you want a college scene for tailgating, go to the res. Its 20 bucks a car so I would park the majority of your cars somewhere else and cram as many as you can. Even if you cant get a spot, just walking there is always a good time. If you want to park your car there, I suggest getting there early as spots fill up quick. The bottoms are okay but I think you would probably enjoy the atmosphere better at the res, more open, party atmosphere.As far as other tailgating, under the bridge west of the stadium is good, but it is permit only, but you will have a good time just walking over there. The tailgating scene is really all over, which makes Lincoln somewhat unique. Put your drinks in cups if you are going to be on campus, it is dry, but they wont say anything to you if it is in a cup.

 

Friday night I would recommend O st bars, just follow the crowd. If your anything like me and my buddies, you will enjoy D'Leons when you are smashed. Find a way to one of the many locations after a long night downtown and get a chicken burrito, good stuff.

 

As far as tickets, it is up to you on what kindof gamble you want to take. Student tickets require validation on gameday, which is like 55 bucks, on top of whatever the student charges you. It can be a pain in the ass to have to wait in line to validate a ticket though. Idk how wiscy works, but say you find a student selling their ticket for $40, you will pay them for the ticket then have to go to the validation line and pay 55 to make it so you can get in. Student tickets are also GA seating so expect to be there early. With that many people you might be better off just looking for tickets online. if the student tickets do interest you however, look up the husker ticket exchange on facebook, there are always students selling tickets. If both teams are doing well expect them to be steep. Usually by friday tho, the supply exceeds demand and the prices plummet. So pick your poison in that regard.

 

Hope you guys get it all figured out, GBR

 

Nice mention of D'Leons, but I'd go with a Nebraska or Arizona burrito. Sooooooo gooooooood.

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1. Any place in the Haymarket for drinks and/or food and plus it's within walking distance to the stadium on game day.

A. Lazlo's Pub--they brew some of their own beer in house.

B. The N Zone.

 

2. O St( That's the letter O) from basically 9th to 16th street is where the main bars are where most UNL students hang.

A. Sandy's for a pitcher of Elk Creek. It looks like orange juice but drink a pitcher of it by yourself and you'll see it's not OJ.

B. Duffy's Tavern for a fishbowl of any cocktail you choose--best if consumed by three to four people. Drinking one alone? LOL.

C. Iguana's for some Iggy Juice. A deceptively intoxicating grape looking drink.

D. The Watering Hole has great food (and of course beer).

 

3. There's a cigar shop / bar on 12th street (I believe it is a block or two north of O St).

 

4. The Night Before (a gentleman's club) at 13th and P St I believe. This joint had (when I was there) the hottest babes in town.

 

5. Sidetracks Tavern--go on a game day and get there EARLY--as visitors be prepared for some good natured ribbing.

 

6. Misty's Restaurant (66th & Havelock *) for their prime rib.

 

7. Valentino's Pizza at (44th & Vine *)

 

* I believe those are the cross streets...it's been over a decade since I've thought of this stuff.

 

8. Tailgating--I have no information available.

 

9. The Cornhusker Hotel is right downtown and within walking distance of everything. (I'd suggest you book your room as early as possible.)

 

10. Parking usually isn't a concern. If you stay downtown you probably won't need your car until you leave.

 

11. The vistors section of the stadium is located in southwest corner of the stadium.

 

Hope that works out for you and apologies in advance if any information is out of date.

 

There is a Misty's Steakhouse at 11th & P in Downtown.

 

Also the Sidetrack Tavern space just went up for lease, so I don't expect it to be there next season. The Sidetrack Band has moved to a bar they own themselves now, called the Single Barrel. It is across P street from Embassy Suites.

 

I would recommend booking a hotel room in Downtown, and probably do it sooner than later. You could spend the weekend without driving that way. You have three choices: The Cornhusker Hotel, Village Inn, or Embassy Suites. You will be paying more to do this, but I think it would be worth it.

 

Embassy Suites is about as in the middle of everything as you can get. It is a few blocks from the Haymarket, the stadium, and the college bars. I recommend booking that ASAP. They also have a popular tailgate party. Wall to wall people on the entire main level and a band out side in the loading dock area. All free but pricey beers. Still a good time.

 

For Friday night, walk to 14th and O street and take you pick. You can bar hop around the couple of blocks there and should not have much trouble finding one you like.

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Your absolute best bet is the big building on the southwest corner of 14th and Hwy 2. Make sure you're really drunk and wearing all of your Badger gear. They make their own special drinks there and will hook you up with some nice, cheap not-so-sterile tattoos if you're into that sort of thing. Don't let the razor wire scare you, and watch your corn hole. Enjoy!

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Thanks for all the great feedback so far- definitely appreciate it.

 

How's the cab situation in Lincoln? Are they pretty plentiful? How are the rates? I'm trying to decide between paying for a cheaper hotel that is further away from the action and having to take cabs back and forth or paying more and staying in a hotel that is closer to the stadium and then not having to deal with cabs if they are bad like some cities. (East Lansing was a mess ... we had to wait an hour and a half at bar time because the entire city apparently had "run out" of cabs).

 

Also- for tailgating at "The Res" or "The Haymarket" you can just pull in there early on gameday and park anywhere? Do you pay right then and there, or is there a pass that I have to buy ahead of time?

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At the res you pull up to the lot and pay there. Haymarket Park I think you can also pull up and pay there, but dont quote me on that. I know that at least half of that lot is permit only. Make sure you dont confuse the actual Haymarket to Haymarket Park. The park is the baseball field. The actual Haymarket is an area in downtown Lincoln with a bunch of restaurants, bars, shops, etc. There is no pull up tailgating down there that I am aware of.

 

My recommendation would definitely be the res, or if you can somehow get your hands on a permit to one of the lots near the bridge west of the stadium. The res is a good party spot and will probably provide you with the least amount of trouble as far as getting a spot.

 

I dont use the cabs in Lincoln so I wouldn't know first hand, but Ive heard it sucks. Similar to East Lansing from what it sounds like.

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