TicketsPicture this: It's a Friday night. You are laying out your best gameday outfit and jamming out to "November Rain." You pull out your weather app for a seventh time in the past hour, just to make sure the chance of precipitation didn't increase from 0% to 5%. You're always one to over-prepare. You have your windows open and a cool fall nighttime breeze surrounds you. You know which one that is. It's the first one you feel each year, and it's always followed by an unidentified neighbor's firewood smoke drifting into your sinuses.
You know the time has come. Football starts tomorrow.
Well, let me let you in on a few of my secrets. Call me your game day curator. Your personal concierge. Whatever you call me... I just ask that you don't share these. These are the "best of the best" tips. Why me? Well, I enjoy helping out those that want advice. If you follow even half of this "insiders" list, I suspect you'll have a smooth and enjoyable experience, and you may even discover some of your own tips.
As you jam out to your tunes, here's my declassified guide to pregame:
You know the time has come. Football starts tomorrow.
Well, let me let you in on a few of my secrets. Call me your game day curator. Your personal concierge. Whatever you call me... I just ask that you don't share these. These are the "best of the best" tips. Why me? Well, I enjoy helping out those that want advice. If you follow even half of this "insiders" list, I suspect you'll have a smooth and enjoyable experience, and you may even discover some of your own tips.
As you jam out to your tunes, here's my declassified guide to pregame:
- GAMEDAY UPDATE - Pregame Tip 0: Thanks to a special allowance from Director of Athletics John Cunningham, fans will be permitted to bring up to two regular sized, unopened water bottles into Nippert Stadium for the EKU game. Stay safe and stay hydrated!
- Pregame Tip 1: Download the app. Most importantly, before you even leave your house, download your tickets!
- Pregame Tip 2: Leave the cash at home. We're now cashless across the entire campus so please have your card ready.
- Pregame Tip 3: Arrive early. Most traffic will happen between 60 minutes and 20 minutes prior to kickoff. Park 90 minutes before game time and enjoy campus.
- Pregame Tip 4: Leave the bag in the car. The clear bag policy is found HERE. Personally, I'm a fan of the "cross body" but think it's just a way to say fanny pack.
- Pregame Tip 5: Find a Fast Pass. Get to the grid, show your tickets, get a wristband and avoid the ticket lines at the gates.
- Pregame Tip 6: Tailgate with RevelXP. Purchase a tailgate package and let them do the heavy lifting... literally.
- Pregame Tip 7: ...or give to UCATS or Cincy Reigns and gain access to the ultra-exclusive Director of Athletics Tailgate. It sounds fancy, but really it's Bearcat casual. Every game will feature a different guest for a Q&A session. Once kickoff happens, this area become a beer garden/covered space for the general public.
- Pregame Tip 8: ...or, near The Grid, check out the "On The Green" dining hall for a super discounted pregame meal.
- Pregame Tip 9: If you are on the grid tailgating, find the pallet of ice from Director of Athletics John Cunningham, complimentary for our fans use. First come, first serve!
- Pregame Tip 10: Check out the Cat Walk. This happens 2.5 hours prior to kickoff. Welcome the team to campus as they walk from the bus, through the tailgating area, to Nippert.
- Gameday Tip 1: Don't rush the gates 10 minutes prior to kickoff. This is a rookie mistake. Literally 65% of the stadium tries this and you will be standing in line with them. Instead, enter at the 40-30 minute mark. Gates are less busy at this time and you won't be scrambling and fighting crowds to get to your seat.
- Gameday Tip 2: Don't miss showtime! The adrenaline rush that begins 30 minutes before kickoff is what college football is all about, and we work really hard to make this short window as special as possible. The band winds into the stadium and runs down the south end zone steps, skydivers descend on Carson Field, the intro video plays, and the team runs onto the field through fireballs. You don't want to miss this while you're standing in line at the gates.
- Gameday Tip 3: If you are running behind... Enter through TUC from Bearcat Commons (a permanent gate for the first time this year) or via Gate A (Fifth Third Arena). Gates B, H and J are our most heavily traveled gates, so avoid those to look like an expert.
- Gameday Tip 4: Know where the best restrooms are and know when to go. On the west side of the stadium it's best to go inside TUC near the Catskellar. On the east side go into Fifth Third Arena or use the portables near the tennis courts. It sounds weird, but walk the extra 20-30 yards and you'll miss less football. Generally, the quarter breaks and halftime is when the mad dash happens. To be a pro, avoid that like you avoided the gates just before kickoff. There are 3-4 TV timeouts each quarter. If there's been 4-5 minutes of gameplay with no stoppages, you're probably in for a string of quick TV timeouts. Go then.
- Gameday Tip 5: Know the quickest way to get a drink. It's the Catskellar! Behind Section 125, sneak into the doors to enjoy the most underutilized concession spot in the stadium. It's a secret most fans don't want me sharing.
- Gameday Tip 6: If the word is out about the Catskellar, head over to Stadium View Cafe behind Section 131 in the north end of the stadium. This is where you'll find the Big Cat Pastrami Sandwich and an overhaul to ensure very quick beverage service.
- Gameday Tip 7: Know your food options. Keep the concessions map handy. Vegan food is in Stadium View Cafe. Pizza is also in Stadium View Cafe. Rhinegeist's Cincy Light is everywhere! The best soft pretzels ever are behind Section 111. (Ben's Soft Pretzels!)
- Gameday Tip 8: Get to Stadium View Cafe regardless of whether or not you want vegan or pizza. I've been instructed not to ruin the surprise, but let's just call this your Instagram moment.
- Gameday Tip 9: Keep the kids happy. If you're like me, you have to bring the kids to the game. They'll get bored and you'll want them to let out some energy. You still want to watch the game... so head over to Sheakley Lawn, between UC Baseball Stadium and O'Varsity Way, east of the seating bowl. They can run around, enjoy activities like inflatables and face painters, and we have a spot in front of the Ford Big Screen with your name on it. Kids also love lemonade and cotton candy. Portable vendors between Sections 107-109 generally have the sugar perfect for helping them stay up to late to watch kickoff of the Hawai'i game when you get back home.
- Gameday Tip 10: High five your ushers. They're fans of our fans. They give up their Saturdays to help your experience. They come back every week because our how well our fans treat them. Let's keep up that trend! And if anything goes sideways, find an Usher or Guest Services personnel. They're here to help you and get the proper attention you will require.