Going to the Illinois away game, need suggestions for bars, tailgate spots, etc.
I'm attending my first away M game this year, as 3 friends and I are hitting the road and going to Illinois to watch us take on the Illini. As I've never been to Champaign, do they have a solid downtown/bar-type area, where 4 M undergrads (but old enough to hit the bars) could enjoy themselves, either before or after the game? Similarly, where would be a good spot to tailgate/park? We are thinking of getting a hotel room, and partying the night away after the game, whether we drink in joy or sorrow, and leaving Sunday morning following the game. Thanks for any help!
October 17th, 2011 at 3:00 AM ^
Champaign sucks, FYI. But have fun, anyway!
October 17th, 2011 at 3:41 AM ^
in Champaign. I think the max age to get in is 24, although I'm not sure on that. Just pregame hard before you go. I'm pretty sure the bar scence is legit there too so you always have that option.
October 17th, 2011 at 5:03 AM ^
(I left Champaign in 2007 so some info may be a bit old...)
For tailgating- best spots IMO are around Assembly Hall (Basketball stadium) just south of the football stadium. Pretty accessible and lots of open spots.
For pre-gaming, I always liked the Campustown bars around Green Street. Both Legends and Murphy's are solid- good atmosphere and decent food. The Clybourn (Green and 6th) is pretty good also. Some people like Kam's and C.O. Daniels- but both are full of underage students who can't hold their liquor, and both have a the lingering smell of vomit omnipresent.
For post-gaming, the same Campustown bars are great, and downtown Champaign is pretty fun too.
October 17th, 2011 at 7:17 AM ^
Only one suggestion: Stay away from Illinois fans. They are worse than MSU fans.
October 17th, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
Aside from "MUCK FICHIGAN" t-shirts, Illinois fans weren't that bad when I went in '09. Several even gave me restaurant recommendations for nearby towns on the way back.
October 17th, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
Whew I almost forgot we still have half a season left to play.
October 17th, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
Two friends and I parked in a campus lot that they designate for game-day cash payers (as opposed to season-ticket-holder lots) maybe six blocks southwest of Memorial Stadium in '09. I recommend a visit to Illinois' athletics web site (I think fightingillini.cstv.com) and printing out some football parking maps before you go.
October 17th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
only worse because they don't know much about football. WAY worse than Sparty fans.
October 18th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
I'm going up to Champaign with a bunch of friends from the Nashville area (IL amum, Michigan transplants) for the weekend. I'd love for this thread to be posted the week of the game so it receives some replies.