WHEN IS GAMEDAY?
Saturday September 9, 2017 (8am-1:30am CST)
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE BUS+TAILGATE PASSES?
8am – 10:30am CST: Check-in w/ID (see ‘Check-In / Ticket Pick-Up’)
9am – 11am CST: Pregame party w/mimosas & bloody marys
11am – 11:45am CST: Buses board and begin departing Chicago
2pm – 3pm EST: Arrive in South Bend
2:30pm – 7:30pm EST: Tented tailgate party w/bottomless beer, catered gameday meal, live entertainment until kickoff.
7:30pm – 11:30pm EST (with game tickets): UGA vs. NOTRE DAME, Go Dawgs!
7:30pm – 11:30pm EST (without game tickets): Game viewing begins on-site at the tailgate (bottomless beer ends, cash bars + food available for purchase).
11:30pm – 12:30am EST: Begin loading and departure from South Bend.
WHERE IS THE PREGAME / BUS DEPARTURE LOCATION IN CHICAGO?
The Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
WHERE IS THE TAILGATE / BUS DROP-OFF LOCATION IN SOUTH BEND?
Holy Cross College (South Campus under the giant tents)
1441 N. Michigan Street
South Bend, IN 46617
HOW WILL BUS DEPARTURES WORK?
Everyone will be assigned a bus number (and receive a corresponding wristband) in Chicago and depart accordingly. Coming back from South Bend, buses will be filled first come, first served as soon as the game ends to get everyone back to Chicago as efficiently as possible. Everything will need to be taken off the bus upon arrival in South Bend as the buses will be locked throughout the day.
CAN I BRING ALCOHOL ON THE BUS?
Yes, but no large coolers or glass of any kind will be permitted.
CAN I BRING MY COOLER / ALCOHOL INTO THE TAILGATE?
No, unfortunately the state of Indiana and the catering company we are contracting through do not allow outside beverages to be brought in. Coolers can be left outside the fenced tailgate perimeter.
WILL THERE BE RESTROOMS ON THE BUS & AT THE TAILGATE?
Yes, all buses are equipped with a lavatory on board and numerous port-a-lets will be on-site at the tailgate as well.
WILL THERE BE SEATING AT THE TAILGATE?
Yes, there will be numerous large tables with seating throughout the day.
WILL THERE BE SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE DAY?
Yes, private security as well as off-duty police officers have been hired in Chicago + South Bend to ensure everyone’s safety.
WHAT FOOD WILL BE SERVED?
The catered gameday meal will include pulled pork, hamburgers, boneless chicken wings, cheese toquitos, pasta salad, baked beans, vegetables and brownies. Food will be served ~2:30 (on bus arrival) – 4pm EST.
Additional food will be available for purchase on-site during the game viewing and Eddy Street Commons (a couple blocks away) has a variety of food options available as well.
WHAT ALCOHOL WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE TAILGATE?
Bottomless Bud Light + Shock Top beers will be served up until kickoff. Throughout the entirety of the day + game viewing, liquor / mixers and craft beer gardens will be available for purchase.
WILL THERE BE ANY CREDIT / CASH RESTRICTIONS?
Yes. Credit cards will be accepted at all bars. There will be no cash sales at bars but we will have a table set-up for cash drink ticket purchases.
HOW DO WE GET TO CAMPUS FROM THE TAILGATE?
Campus starts a short half mile from the tailgate location. The best route is to walk north out of the tailgate, cross N. Michigan St. at Dorr Road by the entrance to Holy Cross College and continue along Dorr Rd. until you enter campus.
You can view an interactive map here: https://map.nd.edu/ (Dawg Days tailgate is located at the Southwest corner of this map, just south of the Dorr Rd./N.Michigan St. intersection).
Additionally, Dawg Days will be providing limited shuttle service to the library on campus near the stadium 3 hours prior to the game and 1 hour after.
DOES THIS INCLUDE A GAME TICKET?
We wish! Since we know a lot of people looking forward to the trip won’t have game tickets, we’ll have TVs throughout and play the game at the tailgate.
CAN ANYONE JOIN THIS EVENT?
No, this is exclusive to Dawg Days Bus+Tailgate attendees and a 21+ event.
