Michigan fan, making first trip to PSU w/ 3 teenagers. Hoping

[maelfan]

for a good game but honestly see a 27-0 shutout for PSU.

Looking for some advice on three things if anyone has some thoughts.

Parking, near college avenue or stadium.
Place to watch some football on TV during the day.
Anything else to kill time during the day.

Of course googled stuff but I find actual humans to be more helpful.

Thanks for any available help.

 

[rudedude]

for a good game but honestly see a 27-0 shutout for PSU.

Looking for some advice on three things if anyone has some thoughts.

Parking, near college avenue or stadium.
Place to watch some football on TV during the day.
Anything else to kill time during the day.

Of course googled stuff but I find actual humans to be more helpful.

Thanks for any available help.

1.Parking: Best bet East Halls parking garage. Short walk to stadium and downtown.
2. Downtown: will allow you to kill time and land in a place to watch games. Downtown will be crowded, due to 7:30 kickoff.
3. Champs downtown. Happy Valley Brewing in downstairs. Olde New York restaurant in bar area. Both Happy Valley and Olde New York off of East College Ave. I suggest a reservation for both

 

[interrobang]

Parking at the stadium is very ample, but be warned they'll charge you $40 to park if you don't already have a parking pass. You can get one from the university now, but with the shipping fees, you're better off finding a scalper with some yellow colored passes (general parking).

If you wanted to park in town, there is a game day shuttle for a reasonable price:

https://www.catabus.com/ServiceSchedules/CATABUS/CommunityService/FootballShuttle/index.html

The typical tourist stuff is seeing the lion statue, having ice cream at the creamery (weather is looking nice for a late October game). Note there really isn't anything at the stadium other than tailgating. Most restaurants are a 20-30 minute walk into town, depending on your pace. It's a nice walk though, campus is gorgeous this time of year with the foliage.

Best place downtown with TVs is Champs (not to be confused with the chain Champps). About a 10-15 minute walk from the stadium is a place called Lettermans. Further outside of town is Olde New York or the other Champs location.

As you can imagine with a stadium that size, you'll probably run into a few jackwads (likely drunk) who will find ways to rile up visiting fans, especially teams like Michigan. But you'll find the huge majority very welcoming.

 

[MtNittany]

If you have (or will have) a parking pass, I'd just go park early and walk downtown. Lots of options on College Ave. and the side streets.

 

[Rick76]

Where are you coming from?

 

[maelfan]

1.Parking: Best bet East Halls parking garage. Short walk to stadium and downtown.
2. Downtown: will allow you to kill time and land in a place to watch games. Downtown will be crowded, due to 7:30 kickoff.
3. Champs downtown. Happy Valley Brewing in downstairs. Olde New York restaurant in bar area. Both Happy Valley and Olde New York off of East College Ave. I suggest a reservation for both

Very helpful. Thanks for your time. I presume parking garages fill pretty early but maybe not since garages are not great tailgating spots.

 

[maelfan]

Parking at the stadium is very ample, but be warned they'll charge you $40 to park if you don't already have a parking pass. You can get one from the university now, but with the shipping fees, you're better off finding a scalper with some yellow colored passes (general parking).

If you wanted to park in town, there is a game day shuttle for a reasonable price:

https://www.catabus.com/ServiceSchedules/CATABUS/CommunityService/FootballShuttle/index.html

The typical tourist stuff is seeing the lion statue, having ice cream at the creamery (weather is looking nice for a late October game). Note there really isn't anything at the stadium other than tailgating. Most restaurants are a 20-30 minute walk into town, depending on your pace. It's a nice walk though, campus is gorgeous this time of year with the foliage.

Best place downtown with TVs is Champs (not to be confused with the chain Champps). About a 10-15 minute walk from the stadium is a place called Lettermans. Further outside of town is Olde New York or the other Champs location.

As you can imagine with a stadium that size, you'll probably run into a few jackwads (likely drunk) who will find ways to rile up visiting fans, especially teams like Michigan. But you'll find the huge majority very welcoming.

Great info. Thanks. There are jackwads everywhere but most fans are usually nice.

Been to Columbus several times. Nothing can be that bad.

 

[maelfan]

Where are you coming from?

Detroit area.

 

[doublehaul]

If you need a parking pass, there are usually scalpers near Lettermans on E. College Ave. selling passes and tickets. Also ,there is a parking garage on Pugh St., a block off College Ave downtown.

 

[maelfan]

If you need a parking pass, there are usually scalpers near Lettermans on E. College Ave. selling passes and tickets. Also ,there is a parking garage on Pugh St., a block off College Ave downtown.

Great. I love parking garage idea near campus as we want to spend most of our time there pregame. Hope we can get a spot. Thanks.

 

[83wuzme]

CATA shuttles to the game are good. You can avoid the postgame traffic snarls in the lots around the stadium.
Night games are awful.

 

[psuro]

If you get in early enough, you can park on Locust Avenue, which is free - you just have to be there early enough to get a space. Locust is right off University Drive, and it's about a 10 minute walk to get to the stadium. It's also close to downtown, so that you can park, hit up some places to eat/drink and then walk to the stadium.

The other advantage to parking on Locust as opposed to the stadium, is that you won't be stuck trying to get out after the game - it can take well over 1 - 1 1/2 hours if the game is close and the crowd sticks around.

Hope you enjoy everything except the game.

 

[mn78psu83]

If you get in early enough, you can park on Locust Avenue, which is free - you just have to be there early enough to get a space. Locust is right off University Drive, and it's about a 10 minute walk to get to the stadium. It's also close to downtown, so that you can park, hit up some places to eat/drink and then walk to the stadium.

The other advantage to parking on Locust as opposed to the stadium, is that you won't be stuck trying to get out after the game - it can take well over 1 hour if the game is close and the crowd sticks around.

Hope you enjoy everything except the game.

Good advice for a rookie.

 

[maelfan]

If I get a yellow lot pass do I see correctly there are multiple yellow lots?

 

[mn78psu83]

for a good game but honestly see a 27-0 shutout for PSU.

Looking for some advice on three things if anyone has some thoughts.

Parking, near college avenue or stadium.
Place to watch some football on TV during the day.
Anything else to kill time during the day.

Of course googled stuff but I find actual humans to be more helpful.

Thanks for any available help.

You have much to choose from already, so all I have to add is that I hope your trip is enjoyable.

 

[JJTopp99]

Do not skip going to the Berkey Creamery for ice cream. IMO, it is the best ice cream on the entire planet. Of course, there will likely be a long line. Just bear with it. It will be worth the wait. "Death by Chocolate" is one of my favorites. You can view the flavors on-line: http://creamery.psu.edu/

 

[Rick76]

Detroit area.

OK. You shouldn't have too much trouble traveling east on I-80 in PA. Google maps will route you to get off around Clearfield and onto Rte 322 through Philipsburg. On game days, this is a bad idea. Best thing to do is to keep going on I-80 until you reach the Bellefonte/I-99 exit and then go right into State College/University Park/Beaver Stadium.

Note that traffic after night games is a nightmare. It will take you at least 45 minutes to get out of traffic and back onto I-80.

 

[mn78psu83]

If I get a yellow lot pass do I see correctly there are multiple yellow lots?

Yes.
LINK: Beaver Stadium Parking

 

[Rick76]

I'll agree that if you can park downtown and walk up to the stadium, that's optimum. After the game you walk about 20 minutes to the parking garage/lot downtown and by that time much of the traffic eases.

 

[Hartzie]

for a good game but honestly see a 27-0 shutout for PSU.

Looking for some advice on three things if anyone has some thoughts.

Parking, near college avenue or stadium.
Place to watch some football on TV during the day.
Anything else to kill time during the day.

Of course googled stuff but I find actual humans to be more helpful.

Thanks for any available help.

I hope you are treated better than my family, with two teenagers, were on our last trip to Ann Arbor.

 

[interrobang]

Note that traffic after night games is a nightmare. It will take you at least 45 minutes to get out of traffic and back onto I-80.

Not if you exit via Fox Hollow road and take back ways to 80 through Bellefonte and Milesburg.

 

[NelsonMunce]

concerning parking......yes , avoid the lots. As someone posted earlier, the East Halls parking deck is good (right behind the Creamery)....gotta enter from Park Road. I also recommend the HUB parking deck or the Eisenhower Auditorium deck (both in the heart of campus, short walk to downtown and not a bad walk to the stadium) .....the key is to get there early

 

[psuro]

concerning parking......yes , avoid the lots. As someone posted earlier, the East Halls parking deck is good (right behind the Creamery)....gotta enter from Park Road. I also recommend the HUB parking deck or the Eisenhower Auditorium deck (both in the heart of campus, short walk to downtown and not a bad walk to the stadium) .....the key is to get there early

He should probably leave now.

 

[Colorado Man]

for a good game but honestly see a 27-0 shutout for PSU.

Looking for some advice on three things if anyone has some thoughts.

Parking, near college avenue or stadium.
Place to watch some football on TV during the day.
Anything else to kill time during the day.

Of course googled stuff but I find actual humans to be more helpful.

Thanks for any available help.

As a UoM fan I can't believe you really feel that will be the final score. Nice try at anti bulletin board material.

 

[AldenT]

for a good game but honestly see a 27-0 shutout for PSU.

Looking for some advice on three things if anyone has some thoughts.

Parking, near college avenue or stadium.
Place to watch some football on TV during the day.
Anything else to kill time during the day.

Of course googled stuff but I find actual humans to be more helpful.

Thanks for any available help.

Lots of good advice in here; hope you all have a great trip. You all are more than welcome at our tailgate, we'll be going all day....

 

[Agoodnap]

for a good game but honestly see a 27-0 shutout for PSU.

Looking for some advice on three things if anyone has some thoughts.

Parking, near college avenue or stadium.
Place to watch some football on TV during the day.
Anything else to kill time during the day.

Of course googled stuff but I find actual humans to be more helpful.

Thanks for any available help.

Tell us more please.

When will you arrive?

We assume since you're coming from Detroit you'll be coming in from I-80. Correct?

Where are you staying after the game?

Is everyone in good shape? Can you each walk about 10 miles in a day and survive? It's a very large campus and town is kinda of far walk from Beaver Stadium.

Young teens or older? If young you want to avoid the student lots.

Do you have a gift for gab? If so, the main lots around the stadium will have large tailgates and you'll be welcome at most. Just walk up and introduce yourselves and most times you'll be offered food and drink in exchange for conversation/debate.

 

[JWB389]

Great. I love parking garage idea near campus as we want to spend most of our time there pregame. Hope we can get a spot. Thanks.

You shouldn't have a problem getting in the garage.

 

[Doctori]

In case that walking to and from the stadium is too much for you and the kids...park in one of the stadium lots or campus parking garages, then hit the Berkey Creamery...then stop by my tailgate area in the RED lot pkng spaces 1275-1277...we always have room for visiting team fans.

 

[christoph]

I second the idea of getting a yellow pass, parking, then walking downtown. With kids it takes the guesswork out of it. You are parked where the car stays all game and then you can just wander. Parking after downtown not a big deal but could be further away(multiple yellow lots). Plus you will have to find and pay for parking downtown first.

 

[fastlax16]

You may have trouble at many of the places to watch games downtown with teens as a lot of them require ID to get in. You may want to call ahead to check. One bar wouldn't let a 75 year old woman in because she didn't have an ID.

 

[BobPSU92]

As a UoM fan I can't believe you really feel that will be the final score. Nice try at anti bulletin board material.

He's driving 400 miles to Penn State and is expecting um to be shutout? O.K.

 

[BobPSU92]

CHUMLEY'S.

 

[psuro]

You may have trouble at many of the places to watch games downtown with teens as a lot of them require ID to get in. You may want to call ahead to check. One bar wouldn't let a 75 year old woman in because she didn't have an ID.

She did not look a day over 71.

 

[fastlax16]

She did not look a day over 71.

I might have been generous with 75. It was one of the more ridiculous moments I've witnessed. Common sense isn't common .

 

[maelfan]

As a UoM fan I can't believe you really feel that will be the final score. Nice try at anti bulletin board material.

I can be a rabid, loyal fan and a realist at the same time. UM is hanging on by a thread. This will be ugly.

 

[maelfan]

Tell us more please.

When will you arrive?

We assume since you're coming from Detroit you'll be coming in from I-80. Correct?

Where are you staying after the game?

Is everyone in good shape? Can you each walk about 10 miles in a day and survive? It's a very large campus and town is kinda of far walk from Beaver Stadium.

Young teens or older? If young you want to avoid the student lots.

Do you have a gift for gab? If so, the main lots around the stadium will have large tailgates and you'll be welcome at most. Just walk up and introduce yourselves and most times you'll be offered food and drink in exchange for conversation/debate.

You're funny. Enjoy the game.

 

[maelfan]

In case that walking to and from the stadium is too much for you and the kids...park in one of the stadium lots or campus parking garages, then hit the Berkey Creamery...then stop by my tailgate area in the RED lot pkng spaces 1275-1277...we always have room for visiting team fans.

Very nice of you to offer. Enjoy the game.

 

[maelfan]

He's driving 400 miles to Penn State and is expecting um to be shutout? O.K.

I go to 8-10 UM games per year. Been about everywhere besides PSU. Near, far, top ten UM team or below .500

Life is short, not sure why my prediction should affect my decision to do something that I think will be a great time regardless of the games outcome. But that's just me. We all view life and how to spend time differently. Thanks.

 

[demlion]

for a good game but honestly see a 27-0 shutout for PSU.

Looking for some advice on three things if anyone has some thoughts.

Parking, near college avenue or stadium.
Place to watch some football on TV during the day.
Anything else to kill time during the day.

Of course googled stuff but I find actual as tgere for the Nebraska game humans to be more helpful.

Thanks for any available help.

Did not read the whole thread, but if there is no chance of rain you are going to see a MADHOUSE. Great game to take teenagers with you. I was there for nebraska about 15 years ago when attendance was over 110k.

Unless UM dominates from opening kickoff, you will hear some LOUD Cheering. I say this knowing you have been in some very big crowds, but these crazed drunkards will be frighteningly loud on big PSU plays.

 

[maelfan]

I hope you are treated better than my family, with two teenagers, were on our last trip to Ann Arbor.

I hope so too. Seen people treat opposing fans horribly in Ann Arbor but also at every other road venue I've been to.