Anyone Have Any Columbus Travel Tips

[QPSS70]

Good question.  As I've never been to a Marquette NCAA game before, does the university organize an official pregame party at a local bar they book space at? 

Or do Marquette fans themselves largely decide on a place (or two) and just randomly congregate there.

I did attend the Conference USA tourney in Cincinnati back in 2002, but I'm sure things are different now.

There are pregame gatherings before our games at the Marquette hotel.  Food and drinks were part of the event last year in Fort Worth.  Cost was about $20.  The band and our fans line up and high-five and cheer the team as it leaves for the stadium on the team bus. 

With our second seed, we should get assigned one of the nicer hotels close to the stadium where you can walk to the game from the pregame event.  In previous years when the hotel was a distance away from the stadium, like last year and in Hartford and Greenville, there were shuttle buses provided by MU to and from the Arena. 

[real chili 83]

There are pregame gatherings before our games at the Marquette hotel.  Food and drinks were part of the event last year in Fort Worth.  Cost was about $20.  The band and our fans line up and high-five and cheer the team as it leaves for the stadium on the team bus. 

With our second seed, we should get assigned one of the nicer hotels close to the stadium where you can walk to the game from the pregame event.  In previous years when the hotel was a distance away from the stadium, like last year and in Hartford and Greenville, there were shuttle buses provided by MU to and from the Arena.

Sonesta, almost $300/night

[i71_dawg]

There are pregame gatherings before our games at the Marquette hotel.  Food and drinks were part of the event last year in Fort Worth.  Cost was about $20.  The band and our fans line up and high-five and cheer the team as it leaves for the stadium on the team bus. 

With our second seed, we should get assigned one of the nicer hotels close to the stadium where you can walk to the game from the pregame event.  In previous years when the hotel was a distance away from the stadium, like last year and in Hartford and Greenville, there were shuttle buses provided by MU to and from the Arena.

Thanks for that info....exactly what I was looking for. 🍻

[TallTitan34]

Is there a Marquette bar in Columbus?

[MURower13]

Is there a Marquette bar in Columbus?

I don't believe so. However, the bars around the arena typically get "assigned teams" that they become a home bar for when the tournament is in town. I should know today or tomorrow which one is assigned MU.

[MDMU04]

I don't believe so. However, the bars around the arena typically get "assigned teams" that they become a home bar for when the tournament is in town. I should know today or tomorrow which one is assigned MU.

Any word on where the team hotel is and if there's any sort of official gathering there before the game?

[Dr. Blackheart]

Any word on where the team hotel is and if there's any sort of official gathering there before the game?

Sonesta

[i71_dawg]

Sonesta

Someone email the Sonesta's food & beverage manager & tell him to stock up on extra Miller 🍺 products ....MUBB fans have been known to drink hotels & their bars dry.

Also given the occasion, we'll need extra Guinness, Jameson, Tullamore Dew, Murphy's, Harp, etc ☘️ 🇮🇪 🥃

[i71_dawg]

Here's a couple links to Columbus' Arena District (Nationwide Arena, Huntington Park - Triple-A baseball, and the Columbus Crew's newer stadium):

https://www.columbussports.org/fan-experience/columbus-gameday-guide-arena/?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MBB_KBYG_FSR_Columbus

https://www.arenadistrict.com/

There are also quite a few craft breweries in Cbus as well as a ton of restaurants for people sticking around multiple days & nights this weekend.

For higher end dining, I'd highly recommend either Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse (great steaks and great service) or one of the Cameron Mitchell family of restaurants (a bunch of different ones in Columbus):

https://www.jeffruby.com/columbus

https://cameronmitchell.com/restaurants/restaurant-map/

[i71_dawg]

Finally the area around the arena is a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) under Ohio law.

You have to purchase your drink from one of the designated bars or restaurants, and you get a special cup, but you can walk down the street inside the DORA boundaries with your drinks.

https://www.arenadistrict.com/dora/

[DoctorV]

Wow that DORA thing is great, should make for an awesome time for the entire MU fanbase as well as good banter amongst rival fanbases, thanks for all the info.

Do they serve alcohol inside the arena or the NCAA still doesn't allow that?

[Galway Eagle]

If there's any rugby fans I'll be heading to Dempseys or Byrnes to watch the Six Nations final Saturday AM.

Looking for some solid food and breweries for Friday and Saturday

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Someone email the Sonesta's food & beverage manager & tell him to stock up on extra Miller 🍺 products ....MUBB fans have been known to drink hotels & their bars dry.

Also given the occasion, we'll need extra Guinness, Jameson, Tullamore Dew, Murphy's, Harp, etc ☘️ 🇮🇪 🥃

Minneapolis ran out of Miller Lite and Jager in 2003.

[i71_dawg]

Also posted this info on the Columbus Roll Call thread....

Just got the Official email from MU about the festivities in Columbus this week.

https://alumni.marquette.edu/2023-mens-ncaa-tournament

Sonesta is indeed the team hotel.  There's a reception & team send off sometime 12:30 pm or later on Friday.

There's an official MU bar near the arena too....The R Bar (which according to my brother that lives in Columbus is a hockey bar that Blue Jackets fans frequent....he said it's a very cool establishment).

https://www.rbararena.com/

[real chili 83]

Minneapolis ran out of Miller Lite and Jager in 2003.

.

And the event was run by an astute '83 alum.

[Dr. Blackheart]

.

And the event was run by an astute '83 alum.

Weak. real chili 83 hates MU! 

[ZiggysFryBoy]

.

And the event was run by an astute '83 alum.

I'm talking about the whole city.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Saturday is the Columbus St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl.

https://socialcityevents.com/

[SonOfWarrior]

Try the veal, it's on special

[wadesworld]

Handel's and Graeter's for ice cream. Almost as good as Leon's. Almost.

[StillAWarrior]

Handel's and Graeter's for ice cream. Almost as good as Leon's. Almost.

Jeni's is better. There's a Jeni's about two or three blocks from the convention center.

[wadesworld]

Jeni's is better. There's a Jeni's about two or three blocks from the convention center.

(I think) I can get Jeni's in grocery stores in MO (for the price of my left arm). But I do need to give that a try. So good thing I have 3 days here to try all 3!

Have done the other 2 many times and they're great. Jeni's will probably be Sunday's stop.

[brewcity77]

My tip is avoid going through West Lafayette.

[StillAWarrior]

(I think) I can get Jeni's in grocery stores in MO (for the price of my left arm). But I do need to give that a try. So good thing I have 3 days here to try all 3!

Have done the other 2 many times and they're great. Jeni's will probably be Sunday's stop.

Yeah, it's stupid expensive.

[Warriors4ever]

There are Graeters stores in Winnetka and Northbrook. Been there once, nothing particularly special.