Notre Dame Tailgate - The Irish Mecca

Notre Dame Tailgate – The Irish Mecca

While there are many venues in sport that are in the category of ‘must see’, Notre Dame shows up on every list. Some make the lists due to the uniqueness of the surroundings, while some make it on pure history. Notre Dame can use both of these reasons to have fans of the Irish (and even rival fans) from all over the country flock to the campus for Fall Saturdays. Tucked away in the northwest corner of Indiana where it is close enough yet far enough away from Chicago and Indianapolis, the Irish have given South Bend a purpose.

My first impressions upon my arrival is how the surrounding strip of hotels and complementary retail and restaurants at the intersection of I-80 and State Road 933 are in business solely for about 7 Fall Saturdays of the year. Unless you want to stay in Mishawaka or downtown South Bend, it is recommended to get your hotel booked far in advance and as soon as you buy the tickets. Also don’t be surprised when the hotel prices are inflated triple the regular amount.

The campus is very exclusive and void of any other industry, homes, or franchise retail and is reserved for peaked architecture education buildings, religious landmarks, seasonal student living, and parking for football. Unique landmarks are all over campus and include the golden dome, the touchdown Jesus mural overlooking the stadium, the Basilica, and the Grotto. Mass is held frequently throughout the weekend if you need to pray for a win, forgive a loss, or ask your god to allow enough propane to keep the grill going.




The tailgating scene is one of reservation and exclusivity as well. The stadium and athletic grounds are surrounded by parking lots reserved for pass holders. The white lot, which is about a mile north of the stadium, hosts the general public and RVs. The sounds of bagpipes frequently fill the air and the cornhole bean bag toss is a popular game of choice, while the smell of grilled pork products and potatoes provide the Irish cuisine. Shuttles are one form of transportation to and from the stadium due to the distance. There are also plenty of other smaller tailgating gatherings along the bar district east of the stadium at Vaness and South Bend Avenue, which is about a 15-20 minute walk to the stadium. The going rate for a parking spot is $20 in either location, and the white lot requires the area to vacate up to 3 hours after the game ends. The Main Street pub has a great parking value where your $20 gives you a spot for the whole day, and includes a $20 voucher inside the bar towards your bill including food or drink which have some very reasonable prices, full bar, and is surrounded by large and medium sized screens containing all of the day’s action. The pub also offers a video cornhole bean bag toss to continue the competitive spirit. Legends Bar is a stones-throw from the stadium, which opens its doors at 8am on gameday and is surrounded by Notre Dame history has a great Legends microbrew. Prices at Legends are a little steep for a limited menu, but the location and atmosphere make it worth it.


Whether you walk or take the transportation, make sure to arrive at your gate at least a half an hour before kickoff as the gate entry process isn’t the most efficient.

When you enter the stadium you are greeted with National Championship banners hanging high. When you see the field in full view, you immediately envision all of the history that has occurred on the field in front of you. The fan base characterizes respect for a historic program and its tradition, high expectations, and little patience if the product isn’t meeting those expectations. Nonetheless, the band is constantly playing the Notre Dame Victory March, The Irish march where fans are pumping their arms a la the Fighting Irish Icon, some Irish folk songs, and the Alma Matter which ends every game while the fans grab their brethren next to them and sway to their proud song. After every touchdown, select students are literally bouncing among the crowd in almost a backwards pushup from their supporting neighbors.


After the game, you can continue to get your tailgate resumed until 3 hours after when the lot is to be cleared out, or you can head out to the bar district to catch the rest of the day’s action. Aside from the Main Street Pub, the Linebacker Lounge, Coach’s, and Between the Buns offer good bar fare, and viewing options for the rest of the games.
The next day be sure to walk the campus and catch many of the unique landmarks throughout Notre Dame that were noted above, including Mass, which you will find no trouble finding a time for. Be sure to catch the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown South Bend which does a great job of capturing as much history of the game that you can cram into one building. From history on the field to history in the Museum, Notre Dame really is a must see venue for a weekend road trip.