NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion fans will have two chances to party before the Monarch football team takes on Western Kentucky in the Famous Toastery bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina.
ODU and WKU meet at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18 at Jerry Richardson Stadium in a game to be televised nationally by ESPN.
The Old Dominion Athletic Foundation is sponsoring an ODU Welcome Party on Sunday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boardwalk Billy's restaurant located at 9005 JM Keynes Drive, near UNC Charlotte.
ODAF is providing food as long as it lasts. Participants must pay for their own drinks.
Then, on Monday, the Old Dominion Alumni Association is sponsoring a tailgate event at the Hauser Alumni Pavilion, located just steps away from Jerry Richardson Stadium. It begins at 11 a.m. and runs for 3 ½ hours.
ODU is offering three tailgate packages:
- A $40 full package includes a food buffet, non-alcoholic beverages and unlimited beer and wine.
- A $20 food package that includes a buffet and non-alcoholic beverages.
- A $20 package that includes unlimited beer and wine.
Children five years or younger are admitted free.
To register, CLICK HERE or contact Claire King (1-757-683-5843 or email cmking@odu.edu) or Kim Johnson (1-757-683-3123 or email kbjohnso@odu.edu).
ODU took nearly 5,000 fans to the Myrtle Beach Bowl two years ago and ticket sales indicate the Monarchs could have a similar turnout on Monday. At four hours and 56 minutes, Charlotte is half an hour or so closer to Norfolk than Myrtle Beach.
If you can't make it to Charlotte, there are ODU bowl game watch parties planned for Hampton Roads, Richmond and Washington, D.C.
The Dirty Buffalo at 2028 South Independence Boulevard and New Realm Brewing Company at 1209 Craft Lane will hold watch parties in Virginia Beach. Parties will also be held at The Dirty Buffalo in Norfolk (4012 Colley Avenue) and Chesapeake (612 Grassfield Parkway).
Smoke BBQ Restaurant and Bar at 10900 Warwick Boulevard in Newport News is the place to the on the Peninsula while Hurley's Tavern, 4028 Cox Road in Glen Allen, the place to be in Richmond's West End.
Finally, if you're in the greater DC area, head to Walters Sports Bar and Restaurant, 10 North Street Southeast, in the District.
If you're thinking of going, some helpful hints are below.
ODU is the home team and if you purchase tickets, make sure you get tickets on the West Side of the stadium, which is the ODU side. The link below will lead you to ODU seating sections on the West Side.
Click here for ODU bowl tickets
ODU has provided two hotel options for its fans.
First, you can stay at the Hilton Charlotte University Place, located less than a mile from the Charlotte campus, for $159 per night. The campus is surrounded by office and residential developments and it's just a few miles from the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Or you can stay at the Marriott City Centre in Uptown (downtown). Charlotte for $179 a night, which is a fantastic price. You will be amongst ODU fans at either hotel. The team is staying at the Hilton University Place.
Link for ODU hotels.
Charlotte also has a comprehensive light rail system that will carry you from UNC Charlotte to Uptown and back. The trip takes about 50 minutes.
Charlotte Light Rail Web Site
If you're looking for places to eat or drink, the Charlotte metro area has one website to send you to the best places from Uptown to the suburbs. And if you don't trust the web site, ask for advice from your hotel front desk. People at the front desk almost always know the best local places.
Charlotte Visitors Guide
If you're into sports, there are both NBA and NFL games you can catch over the weekend.
The Charlotte Hornets NBA team hosts New Orleans on Friday and the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday and tickets are available, starting at $17.50 a piece.
Charlotte Hornets tickets
But an even better pro sports option occurs on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers host the Atlanta Falcons, for whom former ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke plays.
Tickets remain, starting at $56 apiece.
Carolina Panthers-Atlanta Falcons tickets
Meantime, ODU's Bowl Game Central website will be updated with details on other events as news becomes available. ODU and Venture Tours have worked together to provide an ODU fan bus. Click the link below for more information.
Venture Tours is sponsoring a fan bus to the game that leaves Virginia Beach at 6 a.m. Monday and returns to Hampton Roads following the game.
Fan Bus to the Famous Toastery Bowl
Other helpful hints:
- UNC Charlotte has a clear-bag policy, and the bags can be no longer than 12 inches by 6 by 12. No animals allowed other than service animals. You can't bring video cameras, alcohol or food or drink. Small cameras are allowed.
- You must purchase a parking pass to come on campus. For more information on parking policies, and to purchase a pass, click here. Prices start at $15.
- Tailgating is permitted in the parking lots three hours before game time, or 11:30 a.m.
- A link to a Map of Jerry Richardson Stadium including a list of all stadium regulations and services available.