Graduate running back Stephen Carr and junior quarterback Jack Tuttle celebrate Carr’s touchdown Oct. 16, 2021, at Memorial Stadium.
IDS FILE PHOTO BY KAMARON FARVER
How to prepare for IU game days By Ellie Albin
ealbin@iu.edu | @EllieAlbin1
Game days are big at IU: packed parking lots, football tailgates, students walking to the stadiums and, obviously, a sea of cream and crimson spirit wear. But every cheering fan that packs into IU’s stadiums goes into game day with a plan. Review the list below to make sure you’ve checked all the boxes for a perfect day out and about at IU’s biggest sporting venues. Buying tickets: Tickets for the 2022-23 football and basketball seasons are on sale now. To buy a student combo pack –– meaning tickets to seven home football games and up to 16 home men’s basketball games –– the price is $425. This can be charged to a student’s bursar. Football season tickets can also be bought without the basketball combo. The
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price for football season tickets is $105. When arriving at games, students should make sure they have both their tickets and student ID ready to show at the gates. Besides football and men’s basketball, though, all sporting events are free for students with their ID. Finding an outfit: It’s easy to find IU gear on and around campus. With places like the IU Varsity Shop, Tracks, the IMU bookstore, Greetings, The Indiana Shop and T.I.S. College Bookstore just footsteps away from campus, finding cream and crimson jerseys, shirts and other gear is simple. It’s important to dress accordingly for different seasons, too. Shorts, tank tops, sunscreen and sunglasses are vital to surviving the heat of the first few football games, but jackets and pants quickly become necessary once October rolls around. And, if you plan on waiting in line outside Assembly Hall to
grab the best general admission seats during basketball season, hats and heavy coats help with the multi-hour wait. Game food: While many people like to tailgate before games, there are many options in Bloomington if you’d rather dine-in somewhere. Restaurants such as BuffaLouie’s –– whose walls are covered in IU memorabilia –– Mother Bear’s Pizza or Nick’s English Hut offer food good enough to fuel you up for any big game. Traffic and parking: Traffic can get pretty hectic on game days at IU, especially during football and basketball seasons. It is recommended that you buy a parking pass from the IU Athletics Ticket Offices prior to your arrival at IU’s sporting venues. The IU Athletics Ticket Offices also recommends buying a seasonal parking pass for games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. If
paying for parking at a single game, though, it should be noted that only cash is accepted at the gate. In addition to planning in advance, be patient when waiting in traffic. Police are often directing traffic outside the stadiums, so pay attention to their signals and wait your turn. Permitted items: Most of the rules at Memorial Stadium are standard when compared to stadiums across the nation. However, you may not know that they have a clear bag policy, meaning you can only bring in clear plastic bags, a one-gallon freezer bag or a clutch with or without a handle. Items such as backpacks, computer bags, camera cases and more are prohibited. Assembly Hall follows these same guidelines. With this info in mind, you’re bound to have a great time at any IU sporting event and soak in the whole experience.
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