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Finally got to Norfolk, VA about 3:00 am Saturday morning after watching my Aiken Hornets lose to W. Florence HS on the way up to the game. Stayed at the Marriott near the waterfront and was pleasantly surprised by the look and feel of downtown Norfolk. Just down the street from our hotel was the Norfolk Civil War Memorial and it advised that the last reunion of Confederate Veterans was held in Norfolk in 1951 [90 years after the war started!!!] Mr. Murray of South Carolina [my home] was one of four attendees.

Admittedly, I was anxiously awaiting this game. I was aware that ODU had only been playing for a year but I also knew that they had substantial financial resources. I thought this would be a close game, but was reluctant to say so. Why should Gardner-Webb [we of the one stoplight town, Boiling Springs, NC] believe that we can compete in the mighty CAA? Also, it seemed that we were in a bit of a slump after beating FBS Akron U losing close contests to Western Carolina and Sam Houston State University.

ODU has a very nice game day atmosphere. You'd never know that they have only been playing football for one year. Lots of folks tailgating, drinking, and playing cornhole before the game. For a visitor, it wasn't really clear where we should park, or how we should tailgate. The website doesn't really help in this regard. Fortunately, we found some of our Runnin' Bulldog brothers and sisters and we had a lovely afternoon enjoying some ice cold beer and some fine Honduran cigars.

It is clear that whoever is responsible for gameday festivities at ODU has done his/her homework.

The band has real Drum Majors [batons included]



The stadium was full of fans.



You can't have a really good football game unless you have a really good canon. [I graduated from The Citadel, but we only shoot canons this big during parades.]



And a defensive contest goes by much more quickly if there is plenty of beer on hand. [You won't see this at Liberty]



It also helps to have pretty dancing girls on hand.







You also have to have helmets flying around the field.



Most uninformed college football fans think you have to have a really talented QB to play this game competitively. Fortunately, both teams had a really good one.





But Saturday's game was not going to be won by the QBs. This game was won at the line of scrimmage.









There were three TDs during the game. These two were scored in the 1st Quarter.





The statistics showed that this game was pretty evenly played. The difference probably came in the battle for field position. ODU's punter won that game for them. Gardner-Webb now gets to take a much needed weekend off to heal wounds and rest up as we get read to start Big South Conference play. Good luck to ODU on the rest of your season. I look forward to seeing you in Boiling Springs in 2012.

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

It sounds like you had a good experience. I really wish you reached out to one of us. We would have been happy to have you join us at our tailgate party, or at the very least we could have given you the information you needed.

CAA Flagship wrote:It sounds like you had a good experience. I really wish you reached out to one of us. We would have been happy to have you join us at our tailgate party, or at the very least we could have given you the information you needed.

We had a fine experience. Several ODU fans actually very generously offered to help us out, but it's tough when you are coming in from out of town and several groups are trying to get together.

Thanks for sharing the great photos and your experience. I thought that the game was very even and was coming down to field position or a big play. Hope the player who got carted off, makes a quick return to the field. Looking forward to the return trip to Boiling Springs, I admit I had to look it up on goggle maps.

elcid83 wrote:Why should Gardner-Webb [we of the one stoplight town, Boiling Springs, NC] believe that we can compete in the mighty CAA?

Nice report, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. ODU is not in the CAA yet in football. They get that reality check next year.

I do like their dance hoes though! I really like that they make them wear dog collars. Pretty kinky.

Nice pics!

93henfan wrote: I do like their dance hoes though! I really like that they make them wear dog collars. Pretty kinky.

You just called a few of my friends hoes. BTW, anyone ever try keepin' up with a dance team member at a party when she's dancin' with ya? Impossible.

Anyways elcid83, I'm glad you enjoyed the atmosphere and those pics are great! Good luck to the G-Webb (and the Citadel) the rest of the way.

Also, one more time for the badassery:

elcid83 wrote:.

So glad our old puny cannon blew up early last season!

elcid83 wrote:And a defensive contest goes by much more quickly if there is plenty of beer on hand. [You won't see this at Liberty]

Not sure you'll see that pretty much anywhere else. Is ODU's stadium owed by the city?? I've never seen beer served in an on campus stadium.

89Hen wrote:Not sure you'll see that pretty much anywhere else. Is ODU's stadium owed by the city?? I've never seen beer served in an on campus stadium.

The stadium is owned by Old Dominion. Here's an excerpt from an article that explains the alcohol situation:

"Beer will not be sold in the stadium. However, those with premium sideline seating, loge seating, or sky box seating will be able to buy beer and mixed drinks in the area below the game day building. During games, those on the loge level and suite levels can order from their seats."

∞∞∞ wrote:The stadium is owned by Old Dominion. Here's an excerpt from an article that explains the alcohol situation:

"Beer will not be sold in the stadium. However, those with premium sideline seating, loge seating, or sky box seating will be able to buy beer and mixed drinks in the area below the game day building. During games, those on the loge level and suite levels can order from their seats."

THAT'S the answer to driving revenue. UD is moving to mandatory donations for season tix... if you had a group of tix where you could buy beer, I think they could charge just about whatever they want for those.

89Hen wrote:

∞∞∞ wrote:The stadium is owned by Old Dominion. Here's an excerpt from an article that explains the alcohol situation:

"Beer will not be sold in the stadium. However, those with premium sideline seating, loge seating, or sky box seating will be able to buy beer and mixed drinks in the area below the game day building. During games, those on the loge level and suite levels can order from their seats."

THAT'S the answer to driving revenue. UD is moving to mandatory donations for season tix... if you had a group of tix where you could buy beer, I think they could charge just about whatever they want for those.

I think our club seats also offer beer, but I think it's free...

I believe it boils down to State law but not sure. For anyone in Virginia, alcohol can be served during games in a "private" setting. At Old Dominion, the average schmoe can't buy it, but if you are in the suites or loge section (where the seats are clearly separated from the general population), you can buy. The third option is if you have "premium seats" (certain padded seats between the 35's) you can enter the Terrace (pictured) that is at field level behind the one end zome and below the loge level and suites and purchase alcohol).

CAA Flagship wrote:I believe it boils down to State law but not sure.

I thought it was NCAA rules that was the problem.

89Hen wrote:

CAA Flagship wrote:I believe it boils down to State law but not sure.

I thought it was NCAA rules that was the problem.

As far as I know there is no actual NCAA rule against alcohol sales but it is officially "discouraged" on campus.

elcid83 wrote:Finally got to Norfolk, VA about 3:00 am Saturday morning after watching my Aiken Hornets lose to W. Florence HS on the way up to the game. Stayed at the Marriott near the waterfront and was pleasantly surprised by the look and feel of downtown Norfolk. Just down the street from our hotel was the Norfolk Civil War Memorial and it advised that the last reunion of Confederate Veterans was held in Norfolk in 1951 [90 years after the war started!!!] Mr. Murray of South Carolina [my home] was one of four attendees.

Admittedly, I was anxiously awaiting this game. I was aware that ODU had only been playing for a year but I also knew that they had substantial financial resources. I thought this would be a close game, but was reluctant to say so. Why should Gardner-Webb [we of the one stoplight town, Boiling Springs, NC] believe that we can compete in the mighty CAA? Also, it seemed that we were in a bit of a slump after beating FBS Akron U losing close contests to Western Carolina and Sam Houston State University.

ODU has a very nice game day atmosphere. You'd never know that they have only been playing football for one year. Lots of folks tailgating, drinking, and playing cornhole before the game. For a visitor, it wasn't really clear where we should park, or how we should tailgate. The website doesn't really help in this regard. Fortunately, we found some of our Runnin' Bulldog brothers and sisters and we had a lovely afternoon enjoying some ice cold beer and some fine Honduran cigars.

It is clear that whoever is responsible for gameday festivities at ODU has done his/her homework.

The band has real Drum Majors [batons included]

Great pics and recap of the game by the way. Thanks for posting.

danefan wrote:As far as I know there is no actual NCAA rule against alcohol sales but it is officially "discouraged" on campus.

That's one hell of a warning... I can't recall the last time I've seen beer sold at a college game.

Article is a year old but...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125271416817105157.html

Overall, about three dozen of the roughly 120 largest NCAA Division 1 schools allow beer sales inside their stadiums, though many limit sales to luxury suites, lounges or club-seating areas. In other cases, beer is available stadium-wide because a facility is owned by the city, the state or a local sports authority, and that body, not the school, establishes the alcohol policy. Most colleges, already struggling with underage drinking on campus, frown on beer sales in their stadiums.

So we're both kind of right. The schools seem to be the ones who prohibit it, but at city owned stadiums it's usually sold.

89Hen wrote:

danefan wrote:As far as I know there is no actual NCAA rule against alcohol sales but it is officially "discouraged" on campus.

That's one hell of a warning... I can't recall the last time I've seen beer sold at a college game.

It's been a few years, but I remember buying beer at a George Mason (Fairfax, VA) basketball game.

bandl wrote:

89Hen wrote: That's one hell of a warning... I can't recall the last time I've seen beer sold at a college game.

It's been a few years, but I remember buying beer at a George Mason (Fairfax, VA) basketball game.

ODU gives out free beers to Big Blue members before and during half-time of basketball games. Not sure how many they can get, but maybe CAAFlagship or JBBP can expand on it.

∞∞∞ wrote:

bandl wrote: It's been a few years, but I remember buying beer at a George Mason (Fairfax, VA) basketball game.

ODU gives out free beers to Big Blue members before and during half-time of basketball games. Not sure how many they can get, but maybe CAAFlagship or JBBP can expand on it.

For basketball games, there are two rooms. The top 50 or so donors, that have season tickets, get access to the VIP room which is a room open to the arena behind one of the baskets. Free beer, wine, and mixed drinks, and munchies, are available for 1 hour prior to tip-off. People are permitted to stay during the game or return at halftime but it is a cash bar at that point. The second room, known as the Big Blue Room is available to ALL donors with season tix and it offers free beer before the game (cash beer at half time). This room is underneath the seats so you can't see the court and can't stay during the game. All donors are offered 1 free beer for the road after the game (I think that is still the case). There is a second level in the arena that has suites and club level seating. You can drink in the suites (no brainer). There is a bar set up in the corner of this level to allow club level ticket purchasers to buy alcohol and bring it back to the club seat. Most just drink at the bar where you can see the court. Top donors are given cards to access this level during the game but alcohol cannot leave the level.

So again, this is "private" access where you need a donor pass or a specific ticket (suite or club level seat) to buy alcohol. Club level seats are approximately $30 per game and anyone can buy one, donor or not. The access to alcohol comes with the club level ticket purchase. It's nice on that level. There is potpourri and mouthwash in the bathrooms.

I wasn't really trying to start a discussion about serving beer during football games. Nobody wants to talk about the game?

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

elcid83 wrote:I wasn't really trying to start a discussion about serving beer during football games. Nobody wants to talk about the game?

You don't post very often at CS.com, do you?

CAA Flagship wrote:

∞∞∞ wrote: ODU gives out free beers to Big Blue members before and during half-time of basketball games. Not sure how many they can get, but maybe CAAFlagship or JBBP can expand on it.

For basketball games, there are two rooms. The top 50 or so donors, that have season tickets, get access to the VIP room which is a room open to the arena behind one of the baskets. Free beer, wine, and mixed drinks, and munchies, are available for 1 hour prior to tip-off. People are permitted to stay during the game or return at halftime but it is a cash bar at that point. The second room, known as the Big Blue Room is available to ALL donors with season tix and it offers free beer before the game (cash beer at half time). This room is underneath the seats so you can't see the court and can't stay during the game. All donors are offered 1 free beer for the road after the game (I think that is still the case). There is a second level in the arena that has suites and club level seating. You can drink in the suites (no brainer). There is a bar set up in the corner of this level to allow club level ticket purchasers to buy alcohol and bring it back to the club seat. Most just drink at the bar where you can see the court. Top donors are given cards to access this level during the game but alcohol cannot leave the level.

So again, this is "private" access where you need a donor pass or a specific ticket (suite or club level seat) to buy alcohol. Club level seats are approximately $30 per game and anyone can buy one, donor or not. The access to alcohol comes with the club level ticket purchase. It's nice on that level. There is potpourri and mouthwash in the bathrooms.

I could be very wrong, but I don't recall sitting in a specific donor/priority section at the JMU/GMU game. I did buy my tix through JMU, so maybe they had herded us to our own section where we were able to purchase booze and take them to our seats? This was 8 or 9 years ago, so things were probably much different then.

I bought beer at the beer kiosk inside UMass' McGuirk Stadium two years ago. Don't know if the kiosk is still there or not.

elcid83 wrote:I wasn't really trying to start a discussion about serving beer during football games. Nobody wants to talk about the game?

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

You brought up (1) beer and (2) pretty college dancers elcid...so much for football talk!

Let's get healthy this week so we can stop this downhill slide at CSU on the 16th. (there, I tried to talk football, despite the distractions)

elcid83 wrote:I wasn't really trying to start a discussion about serving beer during football games. Nobody wants to talk about the game?

Go Runnin' Bulldogs!

I was very impressed with that big receiver #84, I would throw to him every play. Also our coach talked about how good GW's corners were, saying they were the best we have seen in our short history. Good luck the rest of the way.

Back to the beer, only about 6K of the ODU fans have access to the beer garden. Takes a min of $1,000 donation to get the seats with the silver hologram on the tix.