For decades I parked in the free lot at Springfield and Goodwin (B2). It’s a very nice 30 minute walk to the stadium through the heart of campus. Murphy’s is easily on the way btw. By the time you get back to your car the traffic is gone, at least from this lot, which is just minutes from I-74.
Ohio State game (Oct. 11th): 11:00am CT, FOX
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Here’s the 1.4 mile walk from the free lot at Springfield and Goodwin to Memorial Stadium. I’ve circled both Murphy’s and the Armory. Legends is about 100 feet west of Murphy’s. The Marching Illini leave the south doors of Armory 45 minutes before kickoff, marching down 4th, putting on quite a show on their way to the south end of the stadium. If you’re a Marching Band fan you can stroll down 4th alongside the band.
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I’m sorry for your loss but grateful for your memories. My Dad and I shared a beer in Second Chance on 6th. Later I lived in Lando Place. Good times.
As a Metallurgical Engineering student in the ‘70’s I recall a Professor adjourning his class to Murphy’s. It was a smaller, darker, more “rustic” place, a suitable hangout for engineers. And as you said, no cell phones. One afternoon a bartender answered the phone and shouted “Phone call for any metallurgist”! Hands shot up all over the place.
Since then Murphy’s has expanded a lot in square footage and draws a more diverse crowd, with fewer bars surviving the high rise takeover of Campus Town.
You’ve got all the good restaurant suggestions.
At some point, you ought to swing past the Illini Union, get a photo with the Alma Mater statute right next door, and then walk the main quad just south of the Union. A classic college scene that will be beautiful at that time of year with the leaves starting to change.
Pre-game tailgating on the west side of the stadium should be firing on all cylinders that day. If you get there early, you’ll catch a free little concert by the marching band.
Many people have recommended Legends Pub, which is a place to see a cool bit of Illini history up close
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Glad to see someone mention the Quad. It and the Alma Mater are truly what make U of I for me. Living in Ohio for 15+ years now, I’ve driven through C-U on interstate many times now and often have had reason to stop in town (typically to pick up wine). Those stops never really led to pangs of nostalgia for me (towns have changed so much). But one time I decided to actually park and walk a bit on campus. Seeing the Alma Mater and being on the Quad really brought the memories flowing back.You should probably defer to the true locals here, but I'll make one point before I go into what my ideal weekend in Champaign would be if I were in your shoes! And that point is that the gameday experience at Memorial Stadium is night-and-day better right now than it was just two years ago. It's amazing what energy Bielema has injected into this program, and I have no doubt the tailgating scene and gameday environment for when we host (likely #1) Ohio State will be better than we have probably seen in Champaign in decades. With that said, assuming you are there Friday and Saturday night, this is what I would recommend as an out-of-towner. Also, unfortunately I have it on very good authority that this game will almost certainly be an 11:00 am start on FOX, so I'll assume that in my recommendations.
Hopefully as an out-of-town, non-alum fan who never has a designated tailgate to attend, my perspective will be helpful!! I'm usually just with my wife or possibly my parents if they drive over and join, haha.
FRIDAY - VERY much my personal take here, but you'll get plenty of time in Campustown on Saturday ... I'd go to Downtown Champaign (pictured below), especially if it is even remotely warm still! It's not far from Campustown, but they are very much separate areas.
Dinner
- If you want a nicer dinner, Nando Milano is fantastic Italian ... frankly as good as just about anywhere I have had in Chicago, and the atmosphere is great. I can't remember what prices are like (I assume expensive), but it's worth it if you ask me. It's in this area of Downtown that is closed off to traffic that I really like.
- Hamilton Walker's (steakhouse) and Big Grove (sort of "New American" or whatever) are also a little nicer and both cool. These are all within like a 2-minute walk, haha.
- If you are looking for something a bit more casual but still really good, I highly recommend Black Dog Smoke & Ale House for barbeque. It's also Downtown but a few blocks away from those other choices. I went for the first time last basketball season, and it lived up to the hype for me. Maize at the Station is also good Mexican, and Seven Saints is very solid bar food, though I'll say the atmosphere definitely depends on where they sit you.
After Dinner Drinks
- It used to be called the Blind Pig and now I guess it changed its name (and possibly beers??), but I would stop by Hound's Court if for no other reason than they have one of my favorite beer gardens:
- Barrelhouse 34 is also a cool cocktail bar (with a rooftop patio in warmer weather) that is right through the same area that is closed off to traffic. Worth a stop if you are bar hopping.
- If stuff is really busy, we have also always had luck finding room at Pour Bros Craft Taproom, which is over a few blocks east from most of the other bars and restaurants. It is one of those places where they give you a card to scan and you can pour however much of whatever draft beer they have on the walls, and it will just charge you at the end based on how much you drink.
SATURDAY - As I said above, my personally recommendation is to hang Downtown on Friday night and then spend all day Saturday in Campustown!
PreGame / Tailgating
- Assuming it's an 11:00 am game, your options for pre-game drinks or brunch at an establishment are depressingly limited. I always found this weird about Champaign, but hey ... just head to the tailgating!
- If you know anyone else going with another tailgate, I guess doing that is a very solid option. However, all of the Big Noon Kickoff festivities (assuming it is at our game) will be in our first-come, first-served tailgating area directly west of the stadium, Grange Grove (pictured below). Honestly, I would head there ... it's BYOB, you can walk around the whole thing and I think for this game, it will be a really fun environment. Especially if we do indeed get Big Noon, I would expect it to look kind of like that third picture below ... so it might start to really fill up!!
Postgame Activities
- I personally think postgame (depending on the result and how heated things get, lol ... no for real, we are nice!) is the time to hit up Campustown for a few drinks and maybe a bite to eat. I'd recommend Legends as a solid spot, as it is one of the places in Campustown that still has a somewhat vintage and/or explicitly Illini-themed feel ... a lot of blander new stuff. People also love Murphy's here, but it's never been that huge of a draw to me as far as atmosphere goes, lol.
- Regardless of where you go in Campustown, though, you should go a block or two out of your way to walk north through the South Quad (first picture), which leads directly into the Quad (second and third picture), and both lead right to the bars. It is a truly pretty part of Illinois' campus, and it would be a mistake to not take a route through it, given you would get to the main drag of Green Street (final picture, including Legends with the orange and blue awning) the same either way!
Have fun!
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Definitely repeating myself but Murphy's is the only survivor from my era. Well Kam's and Illini Inn also but I did not frequent those much and their modern incarnations are very different than in my day. Also agree with those who say Murphy's quality has dropped in the last few years - but I still go, every time I'm in town. The nostalgic pull is just too strong.
Love the 'vintage' comments above about Legends and 'their' famous fish sandwich. Legends did not even yet exist in my tenure, and RIP Deluxe.
Not that any of the above matters to a current-day traveling OSU fan - good luck and enjoy your visit!
@Fighter of the Nightman is our personal AI machine. Despite his claims, I still do NOT believe he has a real job. I was waiting to see everybody's input, wondering when somebody would say go to the Quad. When I was taking my kids to see colleges, I kept asking, "Where's their Quad?'. See that. I would plan to park near campustown in a lot or street and walk. It is no farther walk than the stadium parking you will end up with. The collanades at the stadium are special, and in case you weren't aware, that is why we are the Fighting Illini. Watch the halftime 3-in-1 and have an Illini near you explain what is happening and why everybody yells "Chief". Legends in campustown is a good sports bar, but it will never be Deluxe Billiards (sorry for those that don't remember Deluxe).
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
i’m told they closed that awkward back area. will confirm at the USC game
BZuppke
- Plainfield
Don’t forget bring OUR turtle! Have a great time C-U
If you go to the Alma Mater, tell the folks back home when you're there and they can see you on the Alma Cam.
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I was thinking of the expansion in width since 1978. Back then it was pretty narrow.
Man, this thread brings so many mixed emotions. I graduated from the beloved in the early 90s when beating Ohio State seemed like no big deal. (God bless Dana Howard and the crew). Even then, while Illinois was more than holding its own in this matchup, it drove me crazy to see so much red in our stands. Props to OSU fans but glad we got our share of wins back then.
Looking back at that now with a kid who is a junior at Illinois, it would mean so unbelievably much for Illinois to win this game. And believe you me, I've had my tickets for a long time now waiting for this chance.....
Back to the OP, I do hope you enjoy your time in C-U of course, Papa Del's is my choice as your must stop in town, but I also hope you are headed back to Ohio in a very bad mood....
Looking back at that now with a kid who is a junior at Illinois, it would mean so unbelievably much for Illinois to win this game. And believe you me, I've had my tickets for a long time now waiting for this chance.....
Back to the OP, I do hope you enjoy your time in C-U of course, Papa Del's is my choice as your must stop in town, but I also hope you are headed back to Ohio in a very bad mood....
I’ll give my full report that Sunday night of the time/experience in C-U and the gameday experience on campus as an opposing fan.
Haha I honestly started making trips out of these games because it helps soften the blow if we do lose. I was at the game @ Penn St the last time they beat us and because I spent so much on campus exploring it didn’t feel as bad riding back. Not that we lose a lot LOL but it definitely seems to help when you take everything in.
I’ll be interested to see how the atmosphere compares to other big 10 campuses. @ Purdue and @ IU felt like OSU home games like you stated earlier. Based off the ticket sales it seems like yhat will not be the case for our game.
5-1 ranked ~16 with OSU at our place?
Lets get it.
Lets get it.
Dan
Admin
Timeslot prediction for 11:00am CT on FOX
https://mattsarzsports.blogspot.com/2025/09/cfb-tv-guesses-for-2025-week-7-10112025.html?m=1
It'll get announced Monday at 12pm (unless it's the dreaded 6-day option)
https://mattsarzsports.blogspot.com/2025/09/cfb-tv-guesses-for-2025-week-7-10112025.html?m=1
It'll get announced Monday at 12pm (unless it's the dreaded 6-day option)
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
I’ll throw in an oddball Champaign spot that I like for a quick bite. There is a Weinerschnitzel on Springfield Avenue not too far from campus area. Kind of a unique menu. Like an old time DQ atmosphere. Chili dogs burgers and good ice cream. Fun spot if u want a quick meal and not just another McDonalds visit.
there were Weinerschnitzel in chicago area in early 1970’s . I think due to chicago’s unique hot dog culture , it didnt work
that said , those stores still exist on the west coast . didnt recall one in C-U in the early 1980’s when I was there .
saw Portnoy went to PapaDels but ordered their thin crust . someone didnt advise him properly on that . heard he was going to monicals, but didn’t see the review .
props to both him & McAfee for picking us to win
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Portnoy has a video series rating pizza. He's a die hard fan of NYC pizza and craps on anything that isn't a similar style every chance he gets. Given that, I'm not surprised by his order. And I'll continue taking everything he says with a boulder of salt
yes . i watch his youtube’s
he’s in love with coal fired New Haven Ct pizza and a couple joints in Brooklyn .
while I like the crispy , darkened “under carriage” of that pizza , I hate the large pieces and am a die hard chicago tavern style .
like Dave or not , one has to respect the fact he knows how to make money and he’s got his fingers on the pulse of what’s happening with today’s millennials & gen z. I tip my Illini cap to him even tho he’s a wolverine .
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Speaking as a Millennial, my personal opinion is that he can get bent
Any word (or speculation) on what time the OSU game will be? I plan on being there…really hoping for a night game. The environment would be absolutely insane.
I'm selfishly REALLY hoping for a 2:30PM or night game. My wife has a half-marathon in East Peoria at 8AM. Fingers crossed!!
That said, I know Dan made a post (#64) that the prediction is 11AM.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
Well, leave it to me to inform you that the price of admission is to punch a scUM fan in the baby maker.
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