An aerial view of Notre Dame football stadium on gameday

An Insider's Guide to Planning the Perfect Blue-Gold Game Trip

Do you miss football season? We understand. The good news is there's an opportunity to catch the Fighting Irish in-person during the offseason!

Notre Dame hosts its annual Blue-Gold Game on April 12 inside legendary Notre Dame Stadium. It's a great chance to watch some football, enjoy campus and explore The Bend for a weekend in the offseason. Get your tickets to the game then use this guide to put together a weekend itinerary.

Places To Stay

Heading out for an overnight visit, long weekend or weeklong road trip usually starts with just an idea.

Plan Your Visit

We can’t wait for you to begin exploring The Bend.

Visit the University of Notre Dame

Steeped in history, Fr. Edward Sorin established the University of Notre Dame in 1842, before nearby South Bend was incorporated as…

Make it a Notre Dame Sports Weekend

Go all-in on Notre Dame athletics during the Blue-Gold Game weekend. The back-to-back national champion Notre Dame lacrosse team hosts Virginia at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. Entry is FREE.

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Shop for Gameday Gear

There's no better place to load up on Notre Dame apparel than the Hammes Bookstore. You can visit the one on campus at the Eck Visitors Center or across Angela Boulevard in Eddy Street Commons. Either way, they have an amazing selection gear.

Browse the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

Not every college campus has a world-class art museum on site. Open since late last year, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is an incredible place to spend a few hours walking through the galleries. It's home to hundreds of unique pieces, including recent commissions from star artists around the globe. You'll also recognize some significant names, like Rembrandt.

RELATED CONTENT: Museums Around The Bend

Explore Notre Dame Campus Landmarks

Don't limit yourself to visiting campus only for the Blue-Gold Game. Take some time to walk around — spring is a wonderful time to explore the other campus landmarks. Start with the Main Building to see its Golden Dome. Make sure to visit the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Hesburgh Library (you have to snap a photo in front of Touchdown Jesus!) and all the other popular spots.

Where to Eat and Drink

Soak up some gameday atmosphere by eating near campus on Saturday. Brothers Bar + Grill, BRU Burger Bar and O'Rourke's Public House are popular options at Eddy Street Commons. Rohr's is right on campus inside the Morris Inn. Make sure to say hi to Murf behind the bar. Legends is right in the shadow of the Stadium. Taphouse on the Edge is a great sports bar nearby.

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Author

Jena Stopczynski

Communications Manager

Jena is the Communications Manager for Visit South Bend Mishawaka. Prior to VSBM she was the Social Media Manager as well as a photojournalist for ABC57 News. Jena graduated from the school of Communications, Information and Media at Ball State University, and was born and raised in South Bend.