Like many of you, I have been to countless games, seen many ups and downs, and know what to expect.......
But I always get the questions when bringing either a newborn Hokie to a game or a Die-hard fan that's never been to a game.
Let's open the doors and floodgates for those who don't know the ends and out to a full-blown Virginia Tech Hokie game day experience.
Looking for everyone to give insights to parking, travel, food, times, events, tailgates, little secrets that you learned over time to amp up your experience and share with someone that would not know.
Basically, anything that you can think of that would answer any question a new Hokie would ask. I think this will most likely get very interesting to see different aspects of everyone's special game day routines.
Bring it....
Go Hokies!!!
Comments
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFBStreams/
Why does no real librarian look like this?
Cuz most real librarians aren't Margot Robbie...
Math checks out here
1. Leaving Lane headed toward I 81 after a night game is one of the most brutal experiences on earth. Plan accordingly.
Getting out of there after the ND game was an absolute nightmare. Had you told me that I would have lived out my days in that parking lot, I probably would've believed you.
That was the worst I've ever experienced.
FTFY, bud.
I honestly don't understand why there isn't more postgame tailgating, regardless of kickoff time.
Heading up from Charlotte. What time do the very limited public lots fill up for a Thursday night tilt?
I believe they open at 4. I suspect they'd fill by 5 to 5:30?
I don't think there's really ever been an issue getting to the public lot on Prices Fork Rd as early as you want. Noon should be fine. Just park in the back. My friends and I definitely got there earlier than we should have two years ago against Miami.
Find a place to park before the game begins.... follow below. Pretty simple really.
via GIPHY
A well served Hokie consoling a GT fan after the game
Chinballs are not actual testicles, despite having a stinky taint.
Get there earlier than you think you need to. Parking during weekday games is a zoo. Would not recommend parking anywhere that would require you to leave via Prices Fork/Southgate. There's a church that has parking for games right off Tom's Creek, making for a much easier escape.
Food really depends on whether or not you're tailgating. Lots of great options downtown, regardless of what kind of food you're looking for. For me, if it's a noon game, I get brunch and a few mojitos at Boudreaux's. If it's a 330, I'll do brunch, then wander/drink/stock up at Campus Emporium, then hit up Rivermill for loaded tots/ Sycamore deli for a Tugboat/ Souvlaki for souvlaki, then grab a RAIL at TOTS. If it's a Saturday night game, I'll do all the other things I mentioned, plus go to Hokie House for a burger around 5 or 6. Have yet to go to a Thursday game out of an HT uniform, so I'm not sure what the best move is for that.
Hokie Village is an okay way to kill some time before the game. Get a few free coozies and such.
Hahn Horticulture Gardens are worth walking through, especially this time of year.
Parking for weekday night games you will have to compete with students leaving/still in class, fans all driving in at the same time, and regular Blacksburg rush hour which will go from 20 minutes to a full hour or so. Avoid North side of campus at all costs (academic side, Prices Fork, etc.).
Also, pro tip for the drinkers: if you're wandering around campus/downtown with some discreetly camouflaged booze but don't want to take it into a restaurant or bar, or just wanna set it down, you can stash it in a locker at the University Bookstore. Just need to have a quarter.
^^ this right here is next-level boozing knowledge
Needs more legs
EDIT: I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE UP TO 4 LEGS DAMMIT
You ain't special, HOAT.You get two at most.Excuse me. I mean, you're special, just like everyone else. And you can only give half of the legs you possess IRL.
Ah, good point. Two legs is fair.
I agree this is some next level shit, but if it's already discreetly camouflaged, why would you need to stash it?
Just saying.
If you are coming from Stadium Woods/Center St. always go to the East Stands entrance. If you are in the line for Southeast entrance (left of North stands), walk up the hill behind East and you won't have a line or chaos (I had a friend who was turned away @ Southeast because two different ticket takers scanned his ticket. The second one told him it had already been scanned, which duh, and they wouldn't let him in).
508 CENTER ST APT 11 REPRESENT
Forget using the wireless network during the game. Its absolutely full. Verizon and ATT have DAS cells around and/or within Lane, but they are all fully loaded during game. A DAS extends existing cell radio coverage, but does not add more network processing, thereby adding coverage but not increasing capacity. Texting will get thru faster, so if u must, then text. Ive tried to send pics in 1st qtr, and it didnt complete until the 4th qtr. Best bet is to just wait to send large files. Enjoy the game!
Beer, bourbon and bbq.
Always have extra clothing for the late October through November games. Blacksburg is always 42 degrees colder than the rest of Virginia.
Has anyone ever taken Roanoke Road (the back roads) back to Roanoke after a game?
I am curious if this would be a good alternate route to sitting on South Gate/Airport/Main Street after the game.
I wouldn't recommend... (jk... I have never tried)
I actually did think about that... but I think GT is smart enough not to take their semi that route since they need to head South
Looking forward to more of this photo when we beat UVA again this year. I'm hoping someone's committed enough to post signs/pics of this along that route
Pretty sure this was Mt. Tabor Rd. When you say Roanoke Rd, I'm assuming you mean going up Harding to Catawba Rd which turns into Blacksburg Rd before you hit Rt. 311 just north of The Homeplace. We take that way quite a few times a year just to take a break from 81. It's not bad. Sometimes this will save you a ton of time. They aren't lying when they say watch for deer. I will likely be taking it home tonight because I have to be at work at 8:30 tomorrow morning and can't afford to get stuck on 460 or 81. FYI, they do set DUI checkpoints on it sometimes.
I might try it out, and steer clear of any deer.
I have a 9 month long designated driver, so I'm ok in that regard. Who said having a kid wasn't fun...?
Read this too fast and thought you said you had a 9 month old designated driver.
That would probably still be safer than letting SaladHokie behind the wheel though.
Luckily, our team is so bad, I was able to leave Blacksburg prior to the 3rd quarter ending, getting home by I-81 before 11pm...
I have done that several times, albeit a long time ago. Usually took about the same amount of time, to be honest, but it feels better to know you are making progress. Really need to watch out for deer if you go that way, or could be a lot longer. Not sure I ever went that way after a night game without seeing them by or in the road. Had one jump over the hood of the car and scare the @!$@#$^%&^ out of me. Just glad he (nice buck) cleared it.
I've had to do that after a wreck closed all four lanes of 81 and jammed up 11 and every road through Salem. I'd gone to ROA to pick up one of my wife's bridesmaids and the schedule was already tight, so I had to make some pretty drastic route decisions to get back.
It is faster than the logjam that is 460 and 81. However, it is pretty challenging at midnight 30. There are curves and deer. Last time I tried it, the LOLUVa equipment truck went off the road ahead of me and I had to turn back, but normally it's a good choice.
How about from s. main street, taking a left on to Ellett (603) and flowing that to den hill rd. then continuing on to north fork rd. and that leads straight into 81 which works for me. But has anyone ever driven that way? time saver or no. I may try this way on the way down because i cant leave Lynchburg till 5pm and i don't want to get stuck in the usual traffic right in Blacksburg on 81. Thoughts?
I think I went that way after the ND game. I just followed GPS, so I'm not totally sure. According to Google, taking that detour saved me 1 hour+
I just know how it gets with traffic on 81 especially when you get to blackburg and close to. This way i figure you can constantly be moving at a reasonable pace and it takes me straight to where i need to park (lionsclub parking).
traffic on that route isn't bad because after you drive it once at 12:30 after an emotional night game, you usually don't want to do it again. Very twisty curvy, but you will keep moving. This used to be the best kept secret for avoiding move in/game day traffic to get to blacksburg back before they built the bypass. Hell, some people would even claim it's still faster, but they must be driving a much nicer handling car than mine to pull that crap off.