re: Wisconsin - who's going?

No hook up for me but I’m definitely waiting until closer in to buy game tickets. They’re as expensive as they’ll get right now.

You shoulda used my “Ballin on a Budget” company

I’m thinking of going to the Packers too

Does anyone know where the visitor sections are at Camp Randall? I can't tell if we're stuck in the two opposite upper corners or if we're in the lower corners or both. I haven't found a seating chart that shows the visitor sections.

Thanks!

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FYI - there are no lower bowl visitor seats

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Thanks for the info.

Hey everyone! Couple people on the Travel board asked a few questions about Madison, which I helped answer. Here is a link to the thread, which I recommend reading through. Will try not to repeat anything, but figured I'd toss in a couple thoughts from comments in this thread / help for the weekend:

- Yes, Madison is a left-leaning capital city. Remember, though, it's a relatively larger city (270K) with a massive research university (No. 8 in R&D expenditures) that attracts a wide demographic of faculty, researchers and students from around the world. Plus, there are a few notable companies HQ'd in/around Madison, including Epic, AmFam, Exact Sciences, Alliant, etc. Plenty of differing viewpoints and, culturally, an incredibly welcoming place.

- If you aren't familiar with Madison's setting, downtown is located on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Makes for some beautiful scenery and photography opportunities.

- Though campus and downtown are very much intertwined, there is a very noticeable boundary where campus starts. Truly, it is a quintessential B1G university with the differing architecture of academic buildings, dorms, etc. Highly-recommend walking Bascom Hill and having a beer on the Terrace at Memorial Union (not to be confused with our second student center, Union South, near Camp Randall).

- Wisconsin kicks you out of the dorms after freshman year, so sophomore through senior year is off-campus living. "Off-campus" is relative, since everything is walking distance, but you have three years of students living unsupervised, which makes Madison a pretty wild party school between the parties and bars.

- Capitol Square has a lot of bars and restaurants, and you're likely to encounter more young professionals. As you move down State Street, bars will be packed with undergrads and recent alumni. Willy Street is a pretty eclectic, hipster street with restaurants but there are a couple bars, breweries and distilleries.

- Hotels are an absolute mess during football weekends. You might have noticed but I would 100% recommend spending up versus staying an Uber ride away on the far east/west sides or Middleton / Fitchburg. Chances are, this will be your one time visiting Madison and Camp Randall - be in walking distance for it.

- Dane County Farmers Market will be happening around Capitol Square on Saturday morning. It's one of the best of in the country. Unfortunately, an 11am kick might make it difficult to check out.

- Camp Randall lines campus / engineering buildings, but it's also in the middle of a neighborhood. Super unique in that way, which creates quite the pregame atmosphere. House parties along Breese and Lathrop, bars and beer gardens on Regent, and traditional tailgates in smaller lots. You find the best of everything, which is my personal preference.

- Madison is only 140 miles north of Chicago, so we have a shite ton of alumni in Chicago, including myself. When LSU came up to Lambeau, a lot of Tigers fans started off in Chicago. Happy to provide any recommendations for Chicago. Also, don't sleep on Milwaukee. They've undergone quite the revitalization effort in the last 15 years. It's a very cool city and, IMO, the best bar/tavern city in the country.

Happy to answer any other questions, or clarify the above (and the other thread).

The Southside of Chicago is the baddest part of town. And if you go down there you better just beware of a man named Leroy Brown.

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Any suggestions for bars and restaurants in Madison for Saturday night? Best places to sit and watch the other games?

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Mentioned in the linked thread, but recommend finding one place and not leaving on Saturday night (and Friday night). Bar lines are going to be absurd. You're likely going to run into a lot of Bama fans are Brats (usually where away fans congregate). Chasers is a good time, too. Both have a lot of TVs.

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Our Madison hotel is about 20 minutes from campus. Will ride share options be awful? We went to Lexington last year and it was pretty pricey. Like $45 a ride. Or would a parking pass be a wise investment?

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Can't speak on price, but you shouldn't have issue finding ride to/from hotel.

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What about Chicago recommendations? Our hotel is near O’Hare. But of course the White Sox are on the south side. Anything worth seeing on that side? Eats or drinks? Any other have-to-see landmarks while we are there? We fly out Monday afternoon, so time to see a few other places.

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If you can, take the Blue Line downtown (then Red to Guaranteed Rate for Sox). Absolutely, do not drive. There is construction southbound on the Kennedy (I-90) and it shrinks from five lanes to two. Complete mess.

Chicago is a very neighborhood-centric city. The Loop is a 9-5 vibe, so I'd recommend checking out a couple neighborhoods if you have time. Logan and Wicker are along the Blue Line, so that probably makes most sense. You could also get off at Grand for West Loop, but I'd probably stick with the first two for a tried-and-true neighborhood experience of bars, breweries and restaurants. Can give you specific recommendations for each if that sounds like something you're into. We currently live in Logan (and I've lived in several other neighborhoods) and Logan is currently one of the two best restaurant neighborhoods in Chicago and the best option for a mix of bars, cocktail bars and breweries.

I’ve been to the Tornado steakhouse years ago there in Madison, it was a little pricey but it was a damn good meal. Also had the Tornado Room there also, good place to have a few drinks before and after.

Smoque is on the list. Nice to hear it is recommended. Any lunch dives or holes in the wall type places? Logan, Berwyn, and oak park are a plus.