So I tried desperately to find a way to go, but just too many things working against it to make it happen. I am interested to see who is planning to go and what arrangements you’re making.
I went to Atlanta in 2013 but those circumstances were much more favorable. My wife was pregnant with our first so we didn’t have any kids yet, Atlanta is a much easier place to get to from LA, and I have an aunt, uncle, and cousins in Atlanta who are also big Michigan fans that I could stay with and go to the game with. Despite the heartbreaking loss in the championship the whole trip is a great memory. 2018 was a no go as our third child was born the morning of the championship game.
This time around pulling it off is much more challenging. Indianapolis is just a very hard place to get to from LA, and I suspect that is the case for most people outside of the midwest. With three kids now and spring break happening next week for us, the lack of flight options just mean too much wasted time for travel or waiting around to travel. The bundling of the semis with the final with a day in between plus all of the travel just adds a lot of time and expense, especially since I have no connections to anybody in Indy. Oh well, I’ll be rooting like crazy from the comfort of my couch I guess. If the hockey team manages to get to the finals I will be able to get to the championship in Vegas next Saturday, so there’s that.
I don’t have any real die-hard M BBall friends (who live in the midwest still) who would want to double up on F4 + National Championship, so going to both plus having a day to burn by myself in Indy feels like too much after the Chicago trip last week. That combined with paying a crazy amount for horrible seats where you can’t see anything is dissuading me.
Closer to considering driving in for the national championship game if we win.
Lived downtown Indy for 5 years. Will be there will my two littles and wife. If anyone needs restaurant or activity recommendations fire away. Love Indy and can’t wait to see it swarmed with Michigan fans this weekend.
I’m supposed to fly out Saturday morning, but a snowstorm is scheduled which makes me very nervous. Will probably have to wait to buy tickets until I’m in the air just to be sure.
I drove down to Atlanta from Detroit in 2013 but making it to Indy from Boston is certainly proving more challenging. Flight options are between bad and abysmal. I haven’t owned a car in 9 years so even that’s tougher than it should be if I wanted to drive the 15ish hours. It sadly might not be in the cards this year, but my brain won’t completely let go of the dream either!
Might drive down Monday if Saturday is successful, but I’ve been in the building for so many historic Michigan disasters, I usually stay away from the big ones.
I’ve never had the Tenderloin, but The Dugout bar is a classic dive bar that has expanded with another huge section being my favorite sports bar in the city. It’s about 10-15 minute walk from Lucas Oil on the south side of the city.
I have tickets and will be going Monday if we can get by Arizona. I live in Chicago so am going to make the drive there and back that day/night. I won 4 tickets in the NCAA lottery so right now my seats are section 616 row 10 but debating whether to sell those and upgrade. Hopefully will see you all there Monday!
I’d give the following general overview. You can’t go wrong walking up Massachusetts Ave (Mass Ave) restaurants and bars wise. It’s runs Diagonally through the northeast part of downtown. Bottleworks District at the end of it has a great newish upscale food market.
In terms of individual places:
Sports bars close to the Stadium Kilroys, Brothers and the Dugout (my favorite)
Fat Dans has great Chicago food and vibes. Rathskeller German beer and food courtyard is a fun atmosphere. Ralstons is a solid taproom with sports on and St Joseph Brewery is a cool old church brewery. Those 4 are all on or around Mass Ave.
Personally don’t find it to be a great pizza city, but Bazbeaux will do the trick if you are dead set on pizza