Rules for tailgating at penn state?

Submitted by Helloheisman on

I have tried to read up on tailgating rules in Happy Valley, and am trying to be a good guest by following them. All the while trying to prove my family wrong with the thought that me and my friends will get arrested sometime during our visit. We are taking a RV and getting there friday night and I've been told they are a bit more lienent with the RV folks. We are also bringing a keg as it would be a cheaper and easier way to keep beer around. But I am still left with a few questions that I cannot find the answers to online...

 

1. Do they allow propane fire pits?

2. Do they allow kegs if you are in the RV area?

If you have any extra advice you can fill me in with it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Cock D

October 17th, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^

1) Propane grills are OK, charcoal are not; Have not heard anything specific on firepits, but would imagine they may be OK.

2) Kegs are a no-no.  I suppose if you kept it in the RV, it may not be an issue, but you'd do so at your own peril.

If you go away from the keg, note that bottles are not permitted in grass parking areas (which the RV lot was, as long as I can remember).  If you want to play it safe - cans.

Have fun!

dothepose

October 17th, 2010 at 8:02 PM ^

You are awesome for asking this. We are going to the game as well and I'm trying to make sure we make the most of this. I do not even know where a good area to park is, looking for something equivalent to the golf course. Where your seats at?

P.S. My friends think I'm going to end up arrested as well at this game. I've told them my goal is to be banned from Happy Valley, of course while not embarssing the maize and blue.

MacombWolverine

October 17th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^

I imagine you want to have fun and all, but Michigan and Penn State are two very respectable programs. The PSU fans have always been the nicest in the Big Ten (in my opinion, and remember I said fans not frat boys attending the game)

but seriously stay classy for the Maize and Blue.

VAWolverine

October 17th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^

to every M-PSU game in State College since the series started in 1993. Fans were respectable until 2006. We have been verbally abused pretty good both in 2006 & 2008. Some PSU students have even verbally taunted my kids. We have something special planned for them this year if that happens.

goblue7612

October 17th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^

Two of us are making the trip as well. We've neglected to make hotel reservations, so this may end up with us making the six hour trip back starting at midnight or sleeping on a park bench in Happy Valley.

dothepose

October 17th, 2010 at 8:25 PM ^

Oh yeah, finding a hotel will be tough. We had to get one in Lamar, which is 30 minutes away from State College, and we looked back in August. Our seats are in section NKU, row 91, but I got them thru Mgoblue so we only paid face value.

I don't plan on getting in any fights or being obvnoxious with any PSU fans, I have no hatred towards them. They can just see me getting drunk and falling down the stairs and then getting arrested for passing out on the steps of an academic building. I will be curtious and respectful.

Haxel Rose

October 17th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^

Just rent a utility/molester van from the local Uhaul, throw an air mattress in the back, and park on a neighborhood street. Then you can get shithoused and stumble back to the van at 3 a.m. Keep in mind it's Halloween weekend, so you will indeed be shithoused.

Return the van the next day, good to go. $30 beats $130 for a hotel 30 miles away

goblue7612

October 17th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^

I might need to try this plan farfetched as it may sound, and bring an ungodly number of blankets. Probably should reserve the van soon before other Mgobloggers see this idea. Have you actually done this before?

BlueinLansing

October 17th, 2010 at 8:36 PM ^

Leave early, very very very early.  Then after you've set the time you feel like you should leave, give yourself at least 2 more hours.

 

In fact since you have an RV, look into arriving  Friday night.

jcgold

October 17th, 2010 at 11:58 PM ^

I'm making my first trip to state college for this one.  Considering that I only have a charcoal grill, where would you recommend eating pre-game?  I'd prefer somewhere that is both delicious and not filled with d-bags.

Hal_Victor

October 18th, 2010 at 12:57 AM ^

I've been to Penn State six times for games (Michigan: '97, '99, '01, '06, and going this year; Iowa: '07, '09).  For the past three years, we've parked/tailgated at a PSU lot just west of the intersection of E. Park Avenue and Orchard Road (just north of the stadium, Bing or Google it).  It's a big grassy lot, perfect for tailgating, and easy enough walk into town to spend some pre-game time at the Rathskeller (108 S. Pugh Street in S.C. http://site.theskeller.com/).  The E. Park Ave./Orchard lot is good if you're coming in to State College from the north.  That's where we'll be.

As for kegs - haven't seen them for years at the general tailgates, not sure about the RVs.  Firepit/Charcoal - it's done but officially against the rules, we bring a propane grill.

CullenCrucified

October 18th, 2010 at 12:53 AM ^

I am looking into getting tickets for the game, but stubhub has not come down as fast as I thought with the way their season is going. I have never been to State College and we canceled our hotel reservations in Altoona as we weren't sure if we were going to go. We were planning on parking somewhere and getting a few hours sleep and taking off, but I can only hope we could find a empty street with non-party goers. Any info on tickets, parking and whatever else would be appreciated.

Stuey04

October 18th, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^

There are 8 of us going to this game. We also rented an RV. We found an RV camping area about 15 min from the stadium. It has full showers and electric hookups. We are leaving Friday night and are also looking for RV parking/tailgating for the game. Obviously we would like to tailgate with as many Mich fans as possible. Since the game is a night game I am assuming/hoping if we get to the stadium early enough we shouldn’t have an issue finding a place. If people are interested in trying to group up that would be cool too. The more allies the better

millermax10

October 26th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^

I have never tailgated at Penn State before, but it seems like a fun place to do just that. I'm sure I speek for many of us when I say there's really nothing I'd prefer to do on a crisp fall day then bringing over a mini fridge filled with food and drinks and enjoying some football on the tube before a big game.

DCwolv

October 27th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^

I'm driving up solo from DC Saturday morning and looking to tailgate. I know the alumni assoc has one but that doesn't start until 5. If anyone has room for 1 more Michigan alum it'd be greatly appreciated. I can chip in and provide additional food/beverage as well. Respond here or email me at [email protected]

J-Wil

October 27th, 2010 at 2:27 PM ^

where I'm going to be, but feel free to E-Mail me at Jaydawg210@aol. I'll be with about 6 other guys. We're all in our mid 20's. Some PSU fans, and some Michigan fans. We'll have a girll,beer, and will be playing bag toss all day. Will be a fun time.

temptation

October 27th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^

Regarding places to stay:  Check craigslist and apartment/house rentals.  There are many people who rent out their houses/basements/vacation homes for the weekend exclusively for visiting football fans.  Haven't seen this trend anywhere else but it's pretty popular here.

 

Places to eat?  This ain't Ann Arbor, that's for sure.  Pretty middle of the road stuff here.  There is a Damon's "close" to the stadium (about as far as the Big House is to Colonial lanes on S. Industrial) the other downtown stuff is a little further.  I would go somewhere on N/S Atherton to eat.  One of my favorite spots that has some decent food is the Ale House at Toftree's golf course (not on Atherton).  No rowdy herds of undergrads here.  Up the road there is also a bus that provides shuttle service to the games.  If you can find a space you can park on the side of the road for free and hop on the shuttle.  Here's a link for the Ale house and Shuttle service respectively:

http://www.americanalehouse.net/

http://www.transportation.psu.edu/footballexpress/

Fans? Yeah, they can be a little "rough" but not as bad as OSU fans in Colombus.  There was an incident last year of PSU fans throwing full cans of beer at OSU fans but this seemed to be an interfraternity issue.  Always good to have a smartphone handy to capture things should they get out of hand.  In general, you'll get verbal taunts (Ann Arbor is a w**** type stuff, that's about it though).

Other alcohol rules: No drinking during the game (including in the stadium of course) but also out in the tailgate areas.  They're pretty strict on this stuff.  An RV may be more difficult to regulate, however.

 

They're nervous here and I love it. 

 

Enjoy your time here and of course, GO BLUE!!!

aanowako20

October 28th, 2010 at 3:49 PM ^

Heading to PA tomorrow. Staying with family tomorrow night, and plan on getting to the tailgate lot no later than 10am. We will be setting up in one of the yellow lots(hopefuly closer to the stadium with us getting there so early). I will post a lot number when we get there if other Michigan fans would like to park there as well.

On the subject of what some people are wearing, I encourage everyone to wear maize. Beaver stadium will be mostly in white, and there is nothing better than seeing that visitors section stand out(Ohio State and Wisconsin fans always go with the red colors, and they always standout in a "white-out" game). Been to State College once before('08) and had a blast tailgating. Hoping for the same experience this year with one exception, a Michigan win.

GO BLUE!