Tailgating at The University of Wisconsin

When you say Wisconsin “You’ve said it all” This phrase in a Wisconsin cheer couldn’t be truer. Being a Wisconsin Alum, I am slightly biased towards this tailgating environment. Despite my bias, there is fact to back up why I think Wisconsin is the best. Here is what to expect when tailgating in Madison on game day!

When planning your tailgate, the most important thing to do before you arrive is have your menu prepared! You need to know what you will be cooking on gameday and have all of the appropriate prep work done before you arrive. Here is some inspiration for your gameday menu based upon what I saw while tailgating in Madison.

With Wisconsin being the land of brats, cheese, and beer, it should be no surprise that you will find all of these in abundance on game day! With most games kicking off at 11:00 am central time during the season, Madison saves the majority of their hardcore tailgating for after the game by continuing to cook at their tailgating location or hitting Madison’s famous bar scene on St Street or on the Student Union’s Terrace.

With such early kick off times, this is necessary…

A bloodymary bar complete with home pickled green beans and secret game day Bloody mix, all right in the back of your van! It should be no surprise that you see plenty of these while tailgating…

Unlike schools in the south, there is no “dress code” in Madison. On game days anything with red is the way to go ( you will also see Packer’s Green) Here is an idea of what you will see fans wearing on game day in Madison.

There is no limit to the creativity of outfits you will find when it involves Bucky the Badger and the color red.

Nestled on an isthmus in southern Wisconsin, Madison is home to The University of Wisconsin Badgers. This beautiful college town has it all. Beautiful campus, great food, successful sports teams, and of course AMAZING fans. Badger fans are some of the most passionate in the country and this passion translates to an amazing home field record. Rarely do the Badgers lose when playing in Camp Randall. The stadium is located on campus and is part of a large athletic complex that is sandwiched between the Engineering school and neighborhoods with student housing. As you can see, it is a close commute for fans living across the street from the stadium on game days.

This is a shot one block behind the stadium.

The biggest difference that you will notice at Badger Games compared to other games is where you park and tailgate. With the stadium being on campus and surrounded by neighborhoods and the university its self, parking can be difficult. There are lost scattered throughout campus and around, but they will fill up very quickly and many are for pass holders only. You best bet is to park down town on State Street and take a shuttle, or park on the grass.

In the neighborhoods behind or of Regent Street and behind Breeze Terrace, students will sell you a spot on their front lawn. There you can park and pull out your tailgate!

This is just one of the many tailgating house parties that you will see in the neighborhoods surrounding Camp Randall.

Badger fans have a great connection with one another and on game day as long as you are wearing red, you are all friends! With constant construction occurring on campus, new parking opportunities are being created. Make sure to check out the Tailgating resources section for a link to Wisconsin tailgating information.

Camp Randall! What was once a Union Civil War training area, this is the oldest stadium in the Big Ten. Just walking around and looking at the beauty and history of the stadium is a must for any first time visitor to do.

Camp Randall holds just north of 80,000 fans on game day. While this may seem like a lot, it is no where near enough to hold all the badger fans that come to Madison for Badger football. Before kickoff just walking around the stadium and the surrounding neighborhoods is entertainment in its self. Watching the ingenuity combined with passion of Badger fans is entertainment in itself. From the house parties filling the streets around the stadium, to the large crowds of people in red, there is excitement everywhere you go ! Here are some of the sites you will see.

Keep in mind these are all pictures form an 11am kickoff. For the rare afternoon and night games, the tailgating atmosphere in Madison is almost impossible to match.

Just because you don’t have a game ticket, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the game. On Regent Street, there are several bars that close down their parking lots and turn it into one large tailgate. If you are looking for a place to go before, during, and after the game be sure to check out…

Jordan’s Big Ten Pub

Lucky’s

and my favorite The Stadium Bar

The Stadium Bar is right across the street form Camp Randall Stadium. On Game Day’s their parking lot has a giant TV screen and hundreds of Badger fans.

Tailgating in Madison is not your traditional tailgating experience. The lack of expansive asphalt parking lots and early kick off times makes fans get creative. The students have embraced the tailgating scene and on game days the neighborhoods surrounding Camp Randall become one giant house party. As long as you are open to eating Brats, Beer and wearing red, you will love game day in Madison!