SportsQuest
All games

Week 11, Sat, Nov 14, 3:30 PM local on NBC

Boston College Eaglesat Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame. Fly into ORD.

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What we know about Notre Dame Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

Checked at the source
  • On campus and Eddy Street Commons. Walk to the stadium. The closest rooms, including the AAA Four Diamond hotel on campus, next to the Eddy Street bars.
  • Downtown South Bend. 10-15 min. Free Transpo Game Day Express to McKenna Hall. Express stops at the Aloft, Century Center/Courtyard by Marriott and DoubleTree. Corby's and Fiddler's Hearth are downtown.
  • Mishawaka and Granger. 10-15 min. Drive. More hotel choice. Most hotels in the area are a 10 to 15 minute drive from campus.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Eddy Street Commons, right across the street from campus on the south side. Brothers Bar and Grill and O'Rourke's Public House are both here, and the Linebacker Lounge and Taphouse on the Edge sit on South Bend Avenue nearby.

Getting in from the airport

From a specialist guide
SBN South Bend International, the closest airport, with direct flights to 17 destinations. The South Shore Line electric train runs from the airport to downtown Chicago.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
Transpo Game Day Express. McKenna Hall, across from the Eck Visitors Center. Gold Lot shuttle to Bus shelter at Hesburgh Library. Blue Lot shuttle to East side of Hesburgh Library. Saint Mary's College shuttle to McKenna Hall.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Tailgating is allowed in all game-day fan lots before and after the game: Gold Lot, Blue Lot, Burke North, Burke South, Dorr and the rest. No tailgating during the game. Lots open at 8:00 AM on every home game day, whatever the kickoff time. Overnight parking is banned and cars get towed from 6 AM. Tents 10 x 10 feet or smaller, no stakes. Propane grills with tanks under 20 lbs are fine. No charcoal grills, fire pits, open flames, propane heaters or deep fryers. No kegs, drinking games or large parties. No live bands, DJs or amplified speakers. Keep to one parking space. Saint Mary's College: $80 RV, $40 car. Holy Cross College: $250 bus or RV, $100 campers, $40 car, with a shuttle. Vehicles over 7.5 feet wide or 20 feet long must use RV or bus lots. Notre Dame asks fans to be courteous to everyone, including fans of the visiting team.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic bag, or a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. No backpacks, purses, coolers or strollers.
  • Cashless: Stadium stands are cashless: cards, Apple Pay and Android Pay. Campus dining is cashless too.

Touring the stadium

Checked at the source
Walk the Bob Hinton Tunnel into Notre Dame Stadium on home football Fridays, 10 AM to 3 PM (last tickets 2:30 PM). $10 a person, self-guided. The football building's lobby opens to the public on home football Fridays, 9 AM to 4 PM, with videos on Heisman and award winners. On Marsh Lane, east side of campus. Free food, celebrity interviews, student performances and photo ops at the Eck Visitors Center, 11 AM to 5:30 PM the Friday before a home game.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
Lot shuttles run at least 2 hours after the game, until the lines are gone, so expect a wait. Transpo's free Game Day Express runs back downtown for 2 hours after the game. All lots close 3 hours after the game, Burke 2 hours after.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't bring a bottle of water or a stadium seat: both are banned. Bring an empty non-glass bottle instead and fill it inside.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • Linebacker Lounge

    1631 South Bend Ave, South Bend, IN 46617

    Known as The Backer, the quintessential Notre Dame college bar and a hotspot on game day.

    Away fans: the classic college bar by campus, packed before, during and after the game.

  • Brothers Bar and Grill

    1234 Eddy St, South Bend, IN 46617

    Several TVs, a large patio, a long tap list and food, in the Eddy Street strip that buzzes on game weekends.

    Away fans: busy game-day sports bar with room for both sides.

  • O'Rourke's Public House

    1044 E Angela Blvd, Ste 103, South Bend, IN 46617

    Irish pub with a wide Irish whiskey list, steps from Brothers on Eddy Street.

    Away fans: irish pub on a busy corner by campus.

  • Corby's Irish Pub

    441 East LaSalle Ave., South Bend, IN 46617

    South Bend landmark pub where the bar scenes in Rudy were filmed. Full bar, 16 taps, house pizza, Irish memorabilia and flat screens throughout.

    Away fans: notre Dame fans, students and alumni, plus anyone who wants to see the bar from Rudy.

Sidequests in Notre Dame

In the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Tour75 points

    Walk the stadium tunnel

    Walk the Bob Hinton Tunnel into Notre Dame Stadium on home Fridays. Costs $10, open 10 AM to 3 PM.

    $. The day before

  2. Landmark50 points

    Visit the Grotto

    A copy of the Lourdes grotto, built in 1896. People come here to pray or catch an outdoor Mass.

    Free. The day before

  3. Ritual75 points

    Midnight Drummers' Circle

    Friday at midnight the Basilica bells ring and the drumline hits the Main Building. That is how game day starts.

    Free. 15 hours 30 minutes before kickoff

  4. Photo65 points

    Photo with Touchdown Jesus

    The Word of Life mural faces the stadium, arms raised like a touchdown. Fans gather at the reflecting pool before the team walk.

    Free. 3 hours 20 minutes before kickoff

  5. Ritual90 points

    Line the Victory March

    Two and a half hours before kickoff the team leaves the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The band plays and the bagpipe band leads them to the stadium.

    Free. 2 hours 30 minutes before kickoff

  6. Ritual50 points

    Trumpets at the Dome

    The band's trumpet section plays outside the Main Building under the Golden Dome. Two hours before kickoff, for 15 minutes.

    Free. 2 hours before kickoff

  7. Ritual65 points

    Band concert on the steps of Bond Hall

    The Band of the Fighting Irish plays 30 minutes on the Bond Hall steps, 90 minutes before kickoff. They step off from the Main Building 45 minutes out.

    Free. 1 hour 30 minutes before kickoff

  8. Outing40 points

    Studebaker National Museum

    South Bend's museum holds Studebaker cars, wagons, carriages and military vehicles under one roof.

    $. The day before

Seats and views

Where each part of Notre Dame Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

Lower bowl, end zoneLower bowl, corner, home sideLower bowl, home sidelineLower bowl, corner, home sideLower bowl, end zoneLower bowl, corner, visitor sideLower bowl, visitor sidelineLower bowl, corner, visitor sideUpper bowl and premium seating, end zoneUpper bowl and premium seating, corner, home sideUpper bowl and premium seating, home sidelineUpper bowl and premium seating, corner, home sideUpper bowl and premium seating, end zoneUpper bowl and premium seating, corner, visitor sideUpper bowl and premium seating, visitor sidelineUpper bowl and premium seating, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
Lower bowl1 to 36Upper bowl and premium seating101 to 136, plus premium seating in the Duncan Student CenterTap any part of the stadium to see its view.