An open appeal to all you rich utes

[Katy Lied]

So yesterday my husband gets the bad news that no football tickets will be available to the Notre Dame game unless you are a Level 5 Crimson Club member or higher. He's a lifelong ND fan (he grew up Catholic before converting to Mormonism, so his two favorite teams are ND and Utah) and we've already made plans to go to the game in November, but our ticket sources are looking more and more tenuous.

If you have a line on ND tickets, or if you've put in for tickets but wont be going, please think of me. It will provide me with a spouse who won't make disparaging comments about my imaginary online friends for at least a month or so.

[BoylenOver]

I saw some tickets on StubHub for $130/each. No, they aren't $80 (like the tickets through the school), but they look positively divine compared to the $250 tickets I'm eyeballing for the Florida/Bama game in October.

And I'm only a level 3 donor, so I got the same crappy message.

[Katy Lied]

Thanks, I was under the impression that there weren't any tickets even on StubHub. Or maybe my husband wants to sit with the ute fans. I'd sit with ND fans anytime. I've been to a few ND-USC games and the ND fans are always so polite.

[BoylenOver]

Thanks, I was under the impression that there weren't any tickets even on StubHub. Or maybe my husband wants to sit with the ute fans. I'd sit with ND fans anytime. I've been to a few ND-USC games and the ND fans are always so polite.

I've also heard there are a bunch of scalpers outside the stadium on gamedays.

Considering Utah is a less-prestigious opponent that has no history with Notre Dame, and the game is in November, it's conceivable to assume it will be a buyer's market. But I personally don't have the stomach for it.

[Fiyero]

I believe this game comes the week after the showdown for the MWC crown, TCU @ Utah. Win or lose, much could ticket values swing in a week?

[Hot Lunch]

So yesterday my husband gets the bad news that no football tickets will be available to the Notre Dame game unless you are a Level 5 Crimson Club member or higher. He's a lifelong ND fan (he grew up Catholic before converting to Mormonism, so his two favorite teams are ND and Utah) and we've already made plans to go to the game in November, but our ticket sources are looking more and more tenuous.

If you have a line on ND tickets, or if you've put in for tickets but wont be going, please think of me. It will provide me with a spouse who won't make disparaging comments about my imaginary online friends for at least a month or so.

I honestly think that as the year goes on more and more tickets will become available for this game. I don't expect Notre Dame to have a good season this year therefore as the season goes on, more tickets will become available. This is just my thought though.

[Art Vandelay]

KL and any other Utes, I strongly recommend you take the trip to South Bend, it is a great place to watch a game and without a doubt the nicest fans of any roadie I have ever taken. With that said, it isn't that hard to get tickets, unless ND is somehow undefeated at that point in the season and due to the fact they lost the two best players on and already average team that is higly unlikely. It takes faith to go the DDD route, show up without tickets, but there will be plenty available.

[TripletDaddy]

I have never pre-purchased a ticket for an SC game at ND stadium. You can always buy some outside. Prices will vary but there are tickets to be had.

A game against Utah won't be a huge draw. Much like the games vs BYU, there will be tickets for sale. Also, the Irish are going to have another mediocre season, so by November with crappy weather, you shouldn't have a huge problem. One thing to consider....the "crappy" home games are often draws for the local Domers....the Rudy types...the ones that have always dreamed of taking their dad to the stadium but can't afford the SC or the Michigan game...so there definitely is a market for the tickets. However, in my experience, you can always score tickets.

Notre Dame ticket scalping is a very unique experience. Many of the old timers hold fast to an established tradition that you don't sell to fellow Domers at a markup. However, they have no qualms about selling to visitors at a markup.

A fun place to watch a game at ND stadium is in the student section. You are close to the tunnel where the players come in and out and the students are always very lively, doing push ups, etc. If you haven't attended a game there, note that if you are in the student section, you won't be able to see TDJ during the game. The students are always really cool, even to SC fans. I would imagine they will be downright wonderful to Ute fans on their first visit to the venue.

Visitor section for most teams is at the opposite corner endzone. You get to look at TDJ all game long. For SC games, Sc brings its entire band (as does ND to the Coliseum), so you get to hear your school's songs all game long. Not sure if the Utah band will travel or how many tickets are being given to the Crimson Club, but the red will show nicely in a sea of dark blue losers.

After the game, if the Utes win, the fans will either applaud or at the very least they will congratulate you as you leave the stadium. They will thank you for coming. And as much as you want to laugh at their football misery, they are just too genuinely cool to do so. If the Utes lose, they will still congratulate you and thank you for coming.

Win or lose, the Irish team salutes the student section with raised helmets, they all interlock their arms and sway back and forth, and then they sing their really slow and depressing school song.

SC and ND share many similar traditions, one of which is the playing of the 1812 Overture at the beginning of the 4th quarter. At SC, they use this time to light the torch. However, at ND, they have this tradition during the music wherein all the fans use their hand to make the initial of the current coach's name and they wave their arms in bowing motion towards the field, sending karma to their coach in the final quarter. The fan enthusiasm is a direct function of how currently awesome they think their coach may be. I have seen the fans make Ls for Lou, Ws for Willingham, W for Weiss (but never for Win...ha!), and D for Davie. I have no idea how they will do the K for Kelly. The overture ends with a stadium announcement to drive safely on the way home...and then the guy cracks a corny joke at the end of the announcement. I think it is the same guy for years that has been making the announcement and telling the joke. It is always a new joke at every game. Fun stuff. here is a video showing what I am trying to describe.

[youtube]yVqpcVTcFyg[/youtube]

Have fun. Should be a memorable day.

[Green Lantern]

I have never pre-purchased a ticket for an SC game at ND stadium. You can always buy some outside. Prices will vary but there are tickets to be had.

A game against Utah won't be a huge draw. Much like the games vs BYU, there will be tickets for sale. Also, the Irish are going to have another mediocre season, so by November with crappy weather, you shouldn't have a huge problem. One thing to consider....the "crappy" home games are often draws for the local Domers....the Rudy types...the ones that have always dreamed of taking their dad to the stadium but can't afford the SC or the Michigan game...so there definitely is a market for the tickets. However, in my experience, you can always score tickets.

Notre Dame ticket scalping is a very unique experience. Many of the old timers hold fast to an established tradition that you don't sell to fellow Domers at a markup. However, they have no qualms about selling to visitors at a markup.

A fun place to watch a game at ND stadium is in the student section. You are close to the tunnel where the players come in and out and the students are always very lively, doing push ups, etc. If you haven't attended a game there, note that if you are in the student section, you won't be able to see TDJ during the game. The students are always really cool, even to SC fans. I would imagine they will be downright wonderful to Ute fans on their first visit to the venue.

Visitor section for most teams is at the opposite corner endzone. You get to look at TDJ all game long. For SC games, Sc brings its entire band (as does ND to the Coliseum), so you get to hear your school's songs all game long. Not sure if the Utah band will travel or how many tickets are being given to the Crimson Club, but the red will show nicely in a sea of dark blue losers.

After the game, if the Utes win, the fans will either applaud or at the very least they will congratulate you as you leave the stadium. They will thank you for coming. And as much as you want to laugh at their football misery, they are just too genuinely cool to do so. If the Utes lose, they will still congratulate you and thank you for coming.

Win or lose, the Irish team salutes the student section with raised helmets, they all interlock their arms and sway back and forth, and then they sing their really slow and depressing school song.

I went to see BYU play at ND a few years ago and I agree; it was one of the coolest game experiences I've had. One other nice point: At the end of the game all the fans stayed until BOTH school songs were played. Classy touch.

[The_Tick]

When BYU played at ND about 5 years ago or so...I sold my 6 tickets on EBay for 1300.

Was about a 900 profit for me.

Good times.

[John McClain]

The trip to South Bend is definitely worth it. I went when Crowton was sinking the ship; of course BYU lost. But the fans were extremely nice. I went with a die-hard ND fan and alum. He showed us around the campus (which was beautiful - even in late October) and took us to a great restaurant in South Bend for steaks after the loss. The fans were classy and polite. Moreover, the following year, BYU beat the Domers in Provo and my interaction with ND fans did not change my opinion. They were still classy. (I have to give props to the OU fans as well - when the Y won in Dallas last year, I was congratulated by numerous OU fans after the game. Truly good fans - and yes, Babs, this includes you). Anyway, get the tickets and go; it will be a great memory.

[Art Vandelay]

This is one of my favorite pictures I took in South Bend. I don't recall which game it was, but I do know the reason I don't have a picture of the final score.

[Green Lantern]

This is one of my favorite pictures I took in South Bend. I don't recall which game it was, but I do know the reason I don't have a picture of the final score.

I like knowing that I was unknowingly sitting next to a bunch of CUFfers at that game.

[Art Vandelay]

I like knowing that I was unknowingly sitting next to a bunch of CUFfers at that game.

Did you happen to be in the vicinity of this incident? The "old man" he referred to is my brother (like me he went prematurely gray he wasn't that old and was in excellent shape. Whoever the idiot was did not want any part of him, that I promise). What really happened is

3rd quarter when after a pass interference call is made this guy screams "Come on refs. You guys are raping us just like the Catholic priests rape little boys.” I start to stand up. However my brother is out of his seat yelling, "Sit Down and Shut up, you are an embarrassment, then points to his BYU hat and again says you are an embarrassment to this university".

After that everything quieted down though one lady 3 rows behind us yelled down, "no you sit down you are an embarrassment". I looked at her and said relax, then she yelled back "if you can't yell at a game where can you yell." I snapped back, "go home and yell at you husband some more". That is the only part of the whole experience I regret, but I was pretty steamed by that.

I have literally watched hundreds of games live over the years and yet the only times i have ever had words with other fans is with fellow BYU fans It even happened again at the MWC tourney last month. Actually the more I think about it, I am the one common denominator in all these incidents hmmm.....

[Green Lantern]

Did you happen to be in the vicinity of this incident? The "old man" he referred to is my brother (like me he went prematurely gray he wasn't that old and was in excellent shape. Whoever the idiot was did not want any part of him, that I promise). What really happened is



I have literally watched hundreds of games live over the years and yet the only times i have ever had words with other fans is with fellow BYU fans It even happened again at the MWC tourney last month. Actually the more I think about it, I am the one common denominator in all these incidents hmmm.....

How did I miss that? I definitely need to sit closer to your crew at the next big sporting event.