2021 WEARESC TRAVEL GUIDE: NOTRE DAME WEEKENDER SPECIAL EDITION: GAME 7 - AT No. 13 NOTRE DAME

USC TROJANS (3-3, 2-3 PAC-12) At NO. 13 NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (5-1)

OCT. 23: 4:30 p.m. PT/ 7:30 p.m. ET
Televised: NBC
Location: South Bend, Ind.
Stadium: Notre Dame Stadium
Capacity: 80,795
Surface: Field Turf

Mask requirements: Masking for Notre Dame games will be optional for vaccinated guests while outdoors or in non-enclosed spaces (i.e. stadium concourse, seating bowl and premium outdoor seating). Non-vaccinated guests are expected to wear masks during their time on campus. Regardless of vaccination status, all guests are required to wear a mask indoors or when riding campus shuttles.

Seating Chart: (See photo below)

Tickets: https://und.com/tickets-contact-html/

The opening line: Notre Dame is a 6-point favorite over the Trojans.

Clock reminder: Chicago is on Central Time and South Bend is on Eastern Time. South Bend is one hour ahead of Chicago. Still confused? For example, when its 6:30 p.m. in Chicago, it will be 7:30 p.m. in South Bend.

Projected Weather Forecast: Chicago/South Bend

The Chicago forecast:

Oct. 21/Thursday: Showers, H-59, L-45/ 73% humidity/ 31% precipitation
Oct. 22/Friday: Mostly cloudy, H-54, L-44/ 57% humidity/ 14% precipitation
Oct. 23/Saturday (Game Day): Partly cloudy, H-54, L-47/ 60 humidity/17% precipitation
Oct. 24/Sunday: Partly cloudy, H-55, L-50/ 67% humidity/ 23% precipitation

The South Bend forecast:

Oct. 22/Friday: Cloudy, H-55, L-43/ 63% humidity/ 19% precipitation
Oct. 23/Saturday (Game Day): Sunshine/ clouds, H-55, L-41/ 65 humidity/19% precipitation
Oct. 24/Sun.: Sunny, H-57, L-45/ 67% humidity/ 24% precipitation

Websites: und.com / usctrojans.com

Friday Pep Rallies – Oct. 22

Chicago Navy Pier USC Rally – Noon: This is a huge and annual event at the famed Navy Pier that draws a huge crowd and includes exhilarating entertainment from the Trojans Marching Band and famous USC Song Girls. Admission is free. The big turnout draws not only a massive contingent of visiting Trojans fans but curious Midwestern football fans, as well.

Notre Dame Campus Rally – 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Okay, want to see how the other half lives? The Fighting Irish have a rally of their own on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. in the Hesburgh Library Quad. You’ll hear from Irish head coach Brian Kelly, the Irish team captains, and a celebrity guest or two. All are welcome and ND fans are generally respectful of the opposition fans. The rally ends around 7 p.m.

DIRECTIONS TO NOTRE DAME

From Indiana Toll Road: Use Exit 77 (South Bend/Notre Dame). Turn left (north) onto SR 933/Bus.31. Go north – third traffic light (Cleveland Road) turn right (east). At the first traffic light (Juniper Road) turn right, south on Juniper Road. Public Parking is just past the bridge. Please follow directions of traffic control personnel as you approach the campus area.

From Indianapolis: Follow U.S. 31 North. That becomes SR 933/Bus.31 just south of South Bend. Proceed through South Bend and continue north. DO NOT turn on Angela Boulevard but proceed north (past Notre Dame and the Toll Road entrance) and to Cleveland Road, turn right (east). At the first traffic light (Juniper Road) turn right, south on Juniper Road. Public Parking is just past the bridge. Please follow directions of traffic control personnel as you approach the campus area.

From South Bend International Airport: Turn left out of the airport entrance onto Lincoln Way West. Once in downtown South Bend, turn left on Michigan Street (Indiana 933). Continue to Angela Boulevard, the second stoplight north of the St. Joseph River. Turn right on Angela Boulevard. Turn left on Notre Dame Avenue.

From O’Hare Airport: Take Route 190 east out of O’Hare to Route 90 east (Kennedy Expressway) toward downtown Chicago. Merges with Route 94 south (Dan Ryan Expressway). Take Skyway exit off the Dan Ryan and remain on Route 90 to Indiana Toll Road. Eventually merges with Route 80. Use Exit 77 (South Bend/Notre Dame).

Note
An alternative route: Take Route 190 east out of O’Hare to Interstate 294 south (Tri-State Tollway) and follow the signs for 80/294 and then Interstate 80-90 (Indiana Toll Road). Use Exit 77 (South Bend/Notre Dame).

Arrival by train to Notre Dame Stadium

The South Shore Line trains run directly from the Chicago Loop (corner of Michigan and Randolph) to South Bend Regional Airport in South Bend (about a two-hour trip). From the airport, the Notre Dame campus is approximately a 15-minute ride by car. Various transportation methods are available (e.g. taxi, rental car, limo).

Friday Notre Dame Tunnel Walk – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: You can walk down the same Notre Dame Stadium tunnel that the Irish will come through on Saturday night. The tunnel is located on the north end of the stadium and taking photos are welcome. FYI, there is a new separate “visitors” tunnel for the opposition, which was part of the ND Stadium renovation. 

Tommy Trojan Game Day Tips

Parking: Get there early!!! There is just one exit off the Indiana Toll Way (Exit 77). Try to park across the street from ND. It will be a long but beautiful walk through the campus to get to Notre Dame Stadium. The cost of parking in the lots surrounding Notre Dame is generally reasonable, but you’ll not be parking on campus. Those choice spots are for the Irish VIPs. Your choices will be the surrounding area (community college/ churches).

Drive-up Game Day Pay-to-Park Lots:

All major credit cards are accepted for payment.

Parking Lot	Lot Type	Price per Game per Vehicle	Location	Lot Details
Bulla Lot	Accessible	$30	Bulla Road, west of Twyckenham Drive	A state issued placard or license plate is required. Parking services staff cashier and assist with parking.
White Field Blue Lot (South) Gold Lot (North)	General	$30	Off Douglas Road	Parking services staff cashier and assist with parking. Free parking for faculty, staff, & football season ticket holders with valid identification.
Burke Golf Course	General	$40	Off Angela Boulevard, near SR 933	Parking services staff cashier and assist with parking.
Bus Lot (Innovation Park)	Bus	$300	Located off SR 933, east on Angela Boulevard, past Eddy Street & Fairfield Inn on right side. Across from Harris Family Track and Field Stadium.	Groups with 5 or more buses should call Murnane Family Ticket Office at 574-631-7356 in advance. Parking services staff cashier and assist with parking.
RV Lot (Notre Dame Federal Credit Union)	RV (Bus Overflow)	$125	Located off of Douglas Road, at the south round-a-bout continue west to St. Joseph’s Drive, then north to the lots	Parking services staff cashier and assist with parking. Overflow lot for buses.

Shuttles

• Run to and from the lots beginning at 8:00 a.m.
  • At least one shuttle will run throughout the entire game.
  • Post-game buses will run at least 2 hours post game until all lines are gone.
• Please be aware that there could be a waiting period as the shuttles accommodate the mass exit of all guests at the end of the game.

Lot Location	Shuttle Pick up and Drop Off
White Field – Blue Lot (South):	To and From the East side of Hesburgh Library
White Field – Gold Lot (North):	To and From the Bus Shelter at Hesburgh Library
Bulla Lot (Accessible):	To and From Gate 4 of North Dome, Joyce Fieldhouse

View the 2021 Parking and Shuttle Map for drop-off and pick up locations.

Notre Dame Campus – When it’s the Trojans and the Irish, the ND campus is at its finest game day tradition. Get there early to enjoy the entire moment and event. There is nothing like the ambiance of history of the University of Notre Dame. From the famed Golden Dome, The Grotto, St. Mary’s Lake,” the autumn leaves, and celestial environment, it’s quite a spectacle.

ND Band Concert: If you want to experience a Notre Dame Saturday, you might consider the performance of the Notre Dame Marching Band in front of Bond Hall near the Golden Dome (6 p.m.). Earlier in the day (12:30 p.m.), the “Trumpets under the Dome” perform in front of the Main Building.

The ND march to stadium: The ND Band marches through a massive spirit tunnel of fans (6:45 p.m.) to the stadium.

ND Campus Restaurants & Hours 

Masks are required indoors. Please enjoy your food outdoors.

For on campus restaurants and their 2021 home game weekend hours, please view their Football Weekend hours. Be sure to download the Grubhub app before your visit, so you’re able to order from many of our locations!

• Huddle Food Court
  LaFortune dining outlets will not accept cash on football weekend Fridays and Saturdays, with the exception of the Huddle Mart which will accept cash from 8am – 10pm. Guests may place orders through the Grubhub app and kiosks.
• Rohr’s at Morris Inn
• Wind Family Fireside Terrace at Morris Inn

The Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore – This is another have-to-see but get there early because the Irish Bookstore, while large in size, is a huge gathering spot. It’s almost impossible not to buy souvenirs, and there will be shirts commemorating the historical rivalry between the Trojans and the Irish.

The Notre Dame Walk – 5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: The Irish will walk down the Hesburgh Library quad into the stadium. It will be wild and intense. 

Trojan Walk – Between 4:30 p.m.  – 5:00 p.m.: Expect the Trojans team busses and their police escort will arrive at Notre Dame Stadium sometime between 4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. There will be a massive turnout of both USC and ND fans as the Trojans “rocking busses” arrive in front of Notre Dame Stadium at the players’ tunnel entrance, which is the same entrance the Notre Dame team will arrive.

Notre Dame Weekender Sports Bar/Restaurants (Chicago/South Bend)

Harry Caray’s (Chicago)
33 West Kinzie Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312.828.0966

 
Tippecanoe Place (South Bend)
620 W. Washington St.
South Bend, Indiana
547-234-9077
tippe.com