Saturday’s game between Notre Dame and the University of Cincinnati probably has been circled – in red – on a lot of calendars ever since the matchup was announced. Bearcat fans still remember how Coach Brian Kelly, after taking UC to back-to-back BCS bowls, left for South Bend after a quick team meeting and fare-thee-well at the annual football banquet. And fans weren’t happy.

So expect a lot of red at Notre Dame Stadium and a Cincinnati fanbase eager to show that the Big 12-bound Bearcats are worthy opponents for the Irish. With both teams nationally ranked, it should be a competitive matchup.

Never been to South Bend for a Notre Dame game? Well, no matter which team you cheer for, a visit to campus on a football weekend is a special experience. First, let’s start with the basics. After basically no fans last season, the Irish are welcoming back crowds, with some changes in protocol, including:

MASKING – When indoors on campus, masking is required. If you’re outdoors and unvaccinated you are expected to wear a mask.
CASHLESS – For a safer and better guest experience Notre Dame Stadium will not accept cash this season, not even for programs inside the stadium. Bring your debit or credit card.
MOBILE TICKETING AND PARKING PASSES – Take the time to download your tickets and/or parking passes to your mobile wallet prior to arriving at the gate on Saturday. Nothing worse than holding up the line while you’re looking for the email link with the tickets. Need help with this process? Go to UND.com/mobiletickets
CONCESSIONS – They are serving a basic core menu of items to fans this year. Additionally, if it’s warm, fans will be allowed to bring two sealed water bottles into the Stadium.
Have a purse? Don’t bring it. You can bring the clear NFL-type bags, but basically nothing else.

On Fridays an entire slate of activities is scheduled, starting with Football Fridays at the Eck presented by Guinness, for alumni and fans with tailgate food, music, ND celebrity interviews, all at the Eck Visitors Center adjacent to the bookstore. Lectures and tours are held throughout campus on Fridays—go to https://gameday.nd.edu/ to see the schedule for UC weekend.

Saturday before the game you can tailgate in style at the Tailgate of Champions presented by Daredevil Brewing Company at the Legends of Notre Dame Patio for a cool $125 per person. If you like to do your own tailgate, you’ll need a parking pass in advance to one of the many lots around the stadium. (again, download on your phone)

If you’d rather just sightsee around campus before kickoff, many of the charitable organizations and dorms sell sandwiches and drinks on the main quad, so you can always get a bite there.

The player walk is always a special experience as the team walks from the Hesburgh Library (Touchdown Jesus) to the stadium—that starts at 12:15 p.m. The Notre Dame Marching Band also gives a pre-game concert in the stadium and takes the field at 1:45 p.m., so get to your seats early to watch that.

One of the best times to tour campus, and a time when it’s not as crowded, is Sunday mornings. You can go into the administration building (The Golden Dome) and look up inside the dome, or go downstairs to the lower level and see the award winners for the Laetare Medal, an annual award given by the University of Notre Dame in recognition of outstanding service to the Catholic Church and society. Actor Martin Sheen, former Speaker of the House John Boehner, singer Aaron Neville, and musician Dave Brubeck are just some of the honorees.

A visit to the campus isn’t complete without a stop at the Grotto, just behind the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Its full name is the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and is a one-seventh scale reproduction of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in France. Whether it’s to light a candle or just sit and reflect, the Grotto is a peaceful place to spend a few moments of reflection.

Driving to Notre Dame should take you a little over four hours from Cincinnati. However, be aware that there is construction—a considerable amount of construction—on I-74 to Indianapolis, and on U.S. 31 heading to South Bend, so leave yourself extra time if you’re going up Saturday morning. And have fun!

–Betsy Ross

Around the Bend

Widespread Magic

Holy Toledo