Gameday Advice - Parking and Walking with Kids
I know there have been multiple posts like this in the past and, rest assured, I've scoured them over the past 48 hours looking for advice and recommendations (including the Tailgater's Guide under Useful Stuff). I remember a post from a couple years ago that detailed a ton of recommendations for what to do with kids before the game but didn't have much luck finding it using the trusty MGoBlog search bar.
It's been a couple of years since my last game and I'm coming to the NIU game with my wife and two boys (ages 3 and 5) for the first time. As of now, the only semi-concrete plan is to see the band at Revelli 90 minutes before gametime and follow them to the stadium (and I assume just go in and hang out at that point). My thought is that we can possibly park in a structure on campus around 9:30(the one above Skeeps), hit up MDen, check up the cube, run around on Elbel for a bit, then watch the band and go to the game. Otherwise, we could do something similar except parking in a structure around Main, go to that MDen, and walk up that way.
Does anyone have any experience parking in the structures on that side of the stadium and how early I would need to arrive to get a spot? My only reason for thinking of parking in the structures is I know we won't make it much past halftime and will have to be parked somewhere where we can definitely get out of before the end of the game. I'm also really looking forward to any tips, ideas, or experiences any of you have for pregame activities with kids.
As a student I obviously walked and since the mid 2000's I've either parked on the golf course or stayed around Briarwood and joined someone else's tailgate on the golf course/Pioneer so any and all advice on how to survive the trip with my family in tow is greatly appreciated. Go Blue
September 16th, 2021 at 2:37 PM ^
Your kids *might* be on the young side, but hands-on museum is a fun time, though that might be a bit too time intensive before a game.
As for parking I always preferred a structure by campus as well. It's a bit further but usually easier to find a spot and more cost efficient. For noon kicks, I would get there by 10a, but I haven't attended a game since 2018, so YMMV.
September 16th, 2021 at 3:00 PM ^
Great. Thanks for the info. Considered the museum too but that may be a lot to squeeze in (and a lot of walking) before the noon game. Thanks again.
September 16th, 2021 at 2:52 PM ^
You've got a lot of the most important stuff figured out. I've been to lots of games with my two boys (9 and 12 now). This is what I would add:
1. Your boys are so young that it will be a ton of walking for little legs. Especially if you try to do a whole bunch. Plan on carrying one or both for long stretches. This is the most important thing to convey to you.
2. They are going to want to eat during the game.
3. The downtown structure and the Borders one you mentioned usually have spaces up until kick. It's 15 dollars flat rate. They are great, but if you want to do all those walking activities, you might want to pay a bit more to park closer with EZ in and EZ out.
4. I used to like leaving the games (like NIU) early so the kids wouldn't hate the experience from having to sit there all game, but it also gives you the opportunity to hit a restaurant for a beer and watch the second half.
5. Consider a tailgate. Most are kid friendly for a noon kick and the kids will like the people and food.
6. Sunblock.
7. The band may be a bigger deal to them than the game.
8. Try to enjoy yourself as much as possible. They will have more fun if you are having fun.
9. Give your wife time to herself after lugging them around with you all day. You'll need her to want to do this for years to come!!
Go Blue!
September 16th, 2021 at 2:59 PM ^
This sounds like absolutely fantastic advice. I haven't taken kids to a game (yet), but this is the playbook that I would follow.
September 16th, 2021 at 3:02 PM ^
This is fantastic. Thank you
September 17th, 2021 at 12:46 AM ^
Nailed it, perfect advice, Dad
September 16th, 2021 at 3:22 PM ^
If you haven't already purchased tickets to the game, consider buying tickets that are very close to the field. Some people don't like that perspective because of the sight lines, but there are tons of distractions to keep kids interested in the overall experience. This is especially true near the student section or behind the team benches.
September 16th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
Triple check, mark where your car is parked. Wherever you park your car, make sure everyone knows how to find it. Write it down. Take a picture. Draw a map.
It is one thing to walk to the stadium (with great expectations and many distractions) but another to return with child directly to the park car. Fortunately, post-game is around 4:00 PM so you should have plenty of day light.
September 17th, 2021 at 1:30 AM ^
Sounds like you have a story here.
September 16th, 2021 at 3:28 PM ^
You didnt ask IF you should take your kids to the game but I'm going to offer my unsolicited and incredibly valuable advice anyways. Be prepared to be disapointed in how the day turns out.
I took all three of my now adult children to games when they were about your kids age and I can tell you that neither the kid nor their parent had much fun.
1. As noted above there is a LOT of walking and they will get tired. And when kids get tired they get cranky
2. They will get bored to death. They dont understand the game and will want to do something else (or leave) much earlier than you will.
3. Also as noted above they will want to eat and drink something frequently and the down and distance is of little concern to them. Nor is the sheer volume of people you'll have to get past to get them something. And if your row is anything like my old row there is nothing that your fellow fans like more than getting up several times to let you and your children get past to go get a hotdog. Then a coke. Then some popcorn because at their age you cant leave them alone while you go get the stuff.
4. Not noted above is that they will also need to go to the bathroom with some regularity. And will want to use the actual toilets, not the urinals) which is an adventure in itself. And add these trips down your row to the food & beverage journey's above.
5. They will learn fun new words and phrases like "Fucking referees" and "Go to Fucking Hell player X" and the ever popular "Eat shit zebras. Motherfucking cheating ass fucking refs stealing the fucking game." And my personal favorite "YOU COCKSUCKERS!!!". And if you play your cards just write they'll get to see several people insanely drunk and doing god knows what.
6. They will probably want to leave early (as will you) and will be asking you frequently "can we go now?" throughout the game.
Years ago I did a glider ride over St Helena because it seemed like the coolest and most romantic thing ever. But instead it was unbearably hot, we made endless tight turns to gain altitude which made both of us a bit airsick and I was counting down the minutes until I could get out of the damn glider. It was miserable experience - not what I was expecting at all.
Taking small children into Michigan stadium on game day is like that glider ride.
September 16th, 2021 at 3:44 PM ^
Haha much appreciated. I'm hopefully going into it with the proper (low) expectations and am looking to just survive the day. Already have tickets and a hotel for Friday so we're committed. I think that it's inevitable that I'm looking at a rather sizable contribution to the University via the concession stands.
After reading your and PeterKlima's posts, I'm now leaning towards skipping MDen and the Cube, parking somewhere near Elbel (Fingerle?), arriving around 9:45-10, and just going to watch the band warm up before heading into the stadium.
September 16th, 2021 at 4:39 PM ^
That's a better plan. There are (it seems like) four dozen M-Dens at the stadium if you really want to go there.
September 17th, 2021 at 6:51 AM ^
Fingerle is closed school bought it for development.
Consider where your seats are and park where you can exit quickly and get somewhere to watch the back end of the game. The nice thing about tailgates is they usually have the kinds of foods kids will fill up on (hot dogs, sweets) without issue.
Taking my daughter (7) tomorrow for her first time. When we took my nephew 2 years ago they got in early (I did mgoradio the night before so I stayed at my cousin's house in town), parked downtown, got breakfast at broken egg, showed him a little campus, then got back in the car and used a Victors Lot pass. He made it to the end of haltime.
September 16th, 2021 at 4:53 PM ^
My dad took me to a game when I was 3. I sat upside down in his lap the whole game. We left at halftime and watched the second half at the McDonalds by Meijer when it was new and shiny. My dad watched the game there and I had a great time bouncing around the PlayPlace. But when I asked him when we could go back in the stadium and he told me we couldn’t, I bawled my eyes out.
September 16th, 2021 at 6:04 PM ^
Great points!
1. You should have thought out a backpack or other suspension system, since the kids will need to be packed out. Unless you have hired mountain guides like they do on a trek up Mt. Everest, you'll be doing it. Better have done your leg day training and cardio.
2. Forget enjoying the game or watching the game. The only real fun is seeing how the kids interact with the situation.
3. Getting seats near field is a novel idea - terrible to watch the game unless the play is heading your way but the kids get to watch and see all sort of things - like the cheer leaders, pom pom girls, dance team, and the band.
4. Distraction, food, and figuring out how to get to the bathroom.
5. Sunblock and sunhat - if it is bright sunny day and you are in an exposed situation, be ready.
6. When the kids are like 7-10 years old - okay, now we're talking football!
7. When they are tiny and can barely remember the details just make sure they have a positive experience, and have fun when they laugh at something surprising or become interested in something. They'll grow fast and soon enough will be surly and not paying any attention to what you are doing.
September 16th, 2021 at 8:53 PM ^
Excellent points… we’re pretty close so definitely going to just keep them occupied with stuff to look at and snacks while trying to keep a side eye on the actual game.
Definitely going to be looking for the offense and defense every snap videos next week to actually watch the game
September 16th, 2021 at 8:53 PM ^
Excellent points… we’re pretty close so definitely going to just keep them occupied with stuff to look at and snacks while trying to keep a side eye on the actual game.
Definitely going to be looking for the offense and defense every snap videos next week to actually watch the game
September 16th, 2021 at 3:59 PM ^
What's worked with me on my kids is bringing a bunch of candy, getting them into the cheers, and making sure to include them in the celebrations. My oldest daughter (7) has loved going to the games since she was 4, and even though she'll get bored at parts of it, always wants to stay until the end (plus setting up that as an expectation from the beginning helped).
September 16th, 2021 at 5:09 PM ^
I seem to remember reading in similar posts that popcorn is a good snack for little kids.
September 16th, 2021 at 5:28 PM ^
If your kids are only 3 and 5, then the closer you can park, the better, and I would probably even line up things to do along a fairly direct route from the parking to the stadium so as to minimize the amount of time they spend on their feet - we always tried to plan the route when the kids were little if we were going to do something before the game. Now that mine are in high school, they'll walk and like it, damnit, but it's definitely harder on little legs.
The garages around central campus are, give or take some footage depending on location, about 3/4 mile straight line (maybe a mile and some change of walking) from the stadium, so if you have kids in tow, consider that you won't make the 15 minutes per mile that you or I might be able to make too.
September 16th, 2021 at 8:46 PM ^
Haha yeah, I think we’ll be closer to a 30 min/mile pace. Appreciate the insight
September 16th, 2021 at 6:46 PM ^
As a parent of boys 3 and 5 when we lived in Ann Arbor, I wonder if you might be looking at too many activities or maybe too much walking.
Having lots of things for kids to do is good. Walking them around a lot can make everyone cranky. Remember, they’re in effect walking twice as much as you, proportionate to their little legs.
September 16th, 2021 at 8:44 PM ^
Thanks for the insight. I think you’re right.
I’m just going to park closer to Elbel and then follow the band down Hoover to the stadium.
September 17th, 2021 at 1:42 PM ^
There won’t be parking around Elbel. My recommendation would be to park for about $30-40 in an EZ in EZ out between Pauline and Stadium they’ll have spots since it’s NIU and it’s a short walk to the stadium. There is no street parking in that area because the residents put their cars on the street the night before. If you don’t want to pay, head north from there towards Wurster park, those side streets should have spots since it’s NIU. If all else fails there’s a neighborhood (Eberwhite) NW of 7th and Pauline that is never full until game time, it’s about 4-5 blocks further than the EZin EZout lots.
Good luck, have fun and Go Blue!
September 16th, 2021 at 7:07 PM ^
Duh deleting this because I forgot you can now watch the play on the scoreboard if you can't see over the person in front of you.
September 16th, 2021 at 7:24 PM ^
Honestly, I think your kids will be able to handle the walk to the game. I usually park at Arbor Bridge Church and had my daughter (then 4) walk all the way there and she was fine. Walking there was not the issue.
As for after the game, be prepared to carry them both back. It’s a long day with a lot of excitement.
September 16th, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
If you have binoculars bring them, but remember NO BAGS in the stadium. I took my niece and nephew to a game and when they got bored they played a game of I spy with them. They where a few years older then your kids but they still got bored.
If you are buying food at the game, eat your food on the grassy parts inside the stadium and make it like a picnic. They have fantastic kettle corn
If you don't leave early, you can show your tickets at Cliff Keen and get into the volleyball game for free. The game starts at 4.
September 16th, 2021 at 8:42 PM ^
Great tips. Thanks
September 16th, 2021 at 10:36 PM ^
This post is fantastic and timely; thanks for everyone's contributions. Attempting to bring my 4-year-old this weekend.
Anybody have experience trying to bring a Tula or similar kid carrier into the stadium? It's like a piece of clothing so I am thinking it is OK.
September 17th, 2021 at 1:23 PM ^
Yes that’s ok, I’ve been bringing a kid since she was 2 and brought one for her to nap in during the game the first season. One other piece of advice for everyone with younger kids is bring cargo shorts and put a couple small snack bags (peanuts, Crackers, fruit snacks, etc…) in the pockets. They don’t check pockets and it will hold you over long enough to get through a drive.