by Dave Swanson, founder of Venroo Stadium Maps
photos by Natasha Bedu
Indianapolis has always been one of our favorite venues for catching an NFL game. Everything about it makes the game day (and weekend) a wonderful experience. Indianapolis is one of the few stadiums we’ve seen that is located near everything you’d want. All the hotels, restaurants, bars, parking and tailgating are within walking distance of the stadium. Add that to the proximity of the stadium to the interstate, and you have yourself an easy drive in along with a hassle free stay.
The stadium is easy to find, just north of the I-465 on the south end of the by-pass. On game day, there is plenty of tailgating in all the lots and the fans are more than welcoming. Of all the stadiums we’ve been to, and all of the tailgating we have done, the Indy fans are probably the nicest and most welcoming of all NFL cities. I cannot count how many times someone in a Peyton Manning jersey has approached someone from our group to find out where we were from and to welcome us to their city.
Some of our favorite places nearby include Ram Restaurant & Brewery, Alcatraz Brewing, and Kilroy’s Bar & Grill. And of course, you need to stop by the Slippery Noodle on your way back from the game. If you don’t know what the Slippery Noodle is all about, check out Fanzooloo’s daily blog this week Best Super Bowl XLVI Bars & Restaurants where they highlight a new spot every day.
When it’s game time, it’s a quick walk to Lucas Oil Stadium from wherever you are. We liked the old RCA dome, especially when it was connected with sky walks to the Hyatt hotel, but we love Lucas Oil. The brick and rectangle shape make it unlike any other stadium in the league and the retractable roof allows for watching the game in any weather condition. The seating is fairly typical with the usual “Lower Bowl” and “Upper Bowl” split by a few smaller sections. We loved the Terrace Level, which is the last section before the Upper Bowl with only 6 rows in the entire section. It makes for a shorter and easier walk if you need to get up and down from your seats during the game (it also makes the restrooms and concessions a lot closer…). But overall, there didn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house.
Of course with the Super Bowl this weekend, the experience will be over the top compared to a normal regular season game day. And given the hospitality we receive from the Hoosiers, if you’re lucky enough to make it to Indy, it will be an experience of a lifetime.