Memorial Stadium (Bloomington): Guide for Visiting Fans

Bloomington has no light rail and no subway — this is a bus-and-car town. Bloomington Transit operates an extensive local bus system, and Hoosier Ride (formerly Bloomington Shuttle) is a regional service that connects to Indianapolis Airport and downtown Indianapolis. If you're flying in, you're almost certainly landing at Indianapolis International Airport (IND), which is roughly 50 miles north of Bloomington — plan on 50–60 minutes of drive time, longer on game day traffic.

The IU Campus Bus system offers service to Memorial Stadium, the Indiana Memorial Union, and the IU Auditorium. The F route begins at the Stadium White Lot, providing access to Third Street and continuing service along Fee Lane — useful for getting close to campus from outlying stops. The nearest stop to the stadium is at 17th St. and Dunn St., served by both the IU Campus Bus and Bloomington Transit Route 1. For away fans staying downtown, walking the mile-ish up to the stadium along Kirkwood and into campus is genuinely the most pleasant option on a fall afternoon.

The stadium is located at the northeast corner of 17th Street and North Dunn Street. For rideshare, pick-up locations are just outside the stadium on the southwest (near Gate W1), northwest (near W5), northeast (near E1), and southeast (near E5) corners. Using a specific corner address rather than "Memorial Stadium" will get your driver there faster and save you a minute of confusion on a crowded sidewalk.

Grass lots open a minimum of 5 hours prior to kickoff, and the Grass Reserved, Park Avenue, and Forrest Avenue grass lots immediately south of Memorial Stadium utilize guided parking for all vehicles. Grass lot parking must be purchased in advance — you cannot purchase grass lot parking passes on game day at the gate entrance.

There are several parking lots within walking distance of the stadium that range in price from $10–$30, and the closer you get to the stadium, the more expensive the parking will be. ADA parking is available at Gate 12 (located off of Fee Lane) for $50 per game; vehicles must display a state-issued ADA placard or license plate.

For away fans, the practical advice is simple: buy in advance, arrive early (90+ minutes pre-kickoff at minimum), and know that the grass lots south of the stadium offer the best walk-in, walk-out experience. The campus parking garages on Fee Lane are also a reasonable option for fans willing to walk 10–15 minutes. Street parking in the surrounding residential neighborhoods fills up fast and is aggressively enforced on game days. With IU football ticket sales on a record-setting pace, sellout crowds are expected throughout the season and all IU Athletics complex parking has sold out for big games — so don't assume you'll figure it out upon arrival.

Downtown Bloomington is your best base — it's about a mile from the stadium, walkable on game day, and puts you squarely in the middle of the bar and restaurant action post-game. The Graduate by Hilton on Kirkwood Avenue is a uniquely eclectic place to stay, with a concept that celebrates the spirit of college and nods to Indiana University's history and heritage in its design; it also offers complimentary bike rentals and a rooftop terrace. That's your splurge pick, and its location right at the Sample Gates is hard to beat.

For mid-range options, the Hyatt Place Bloomington and Hilton Garden Inn are both solid and sit within a short rideshare of the stadium without charging the downtown premium. Budget travelers should look along College Mall Road to the northeast — there are several chain properties (Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express) that run $100–$150 on game weekends and are a $10 rideshare from the action. One word of warning: Bloomington hotel rooms disappear fast for big conference games. Book as soon as you know the schedule.

Nick's is a Bloomington staple that has been a Hoosier fan favorite since 1927, with a rustic feel and two floors of seating. This is the game-day gathering spot on Kirkwood Avenue — you'll find alumni, students, and a healthy smattering of visiting fans at picnic tables out front. Get there early or prepare to wait.

The Tap, also a Bloomington institution, offers a generous selection of drafts — roughly 53 to choose from, with 13 of their own brand. It's loud, it's fun, and if you want to watch other games on a screen before kickoff, this is the room.

BuffaLouie's, located around the corner from Kirkwood on Indiana Avenue, is Bloomington's favorite place to get wings — ranked by USA Today as one of the Top 10 wing joints in the country. Get there before noon if it's an early kick; lines form.

For something beyond bar food, Mother Bear's Pizza on East Third Street is the local pizza institution — cash-friendly, unpretentious, and worth the 15-minute walk or short ride from the stadium district.

Each patron is allowed one clear bag — either a one-gallon Ziploc or a 12"×6"×12" clear bag — plus a small clutch. Small clutch purses, with or without a handle or strap, are permitted alongside an approved clear bag. Outside food, outside beverage, tobacco, e-cigarettes, strollers, umbrellas, signs, banners, flags, alcohol, cans, glass bottles, noise makers, seat backs, and balloons are all prohibited.

Gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Use the gate closest to your section — the stadium map shows gates W1–W5 on the west side and E1–E4 on the east side. One useful perk: fans are allowed to bring in one empty clear water bottle (up to 64 oz.) to fill up at water stations located on the concourse. Given that September games in Bloomington can be warm, bring that bottle.

The lawn south of Memorial Stadium transforms into the festival-like B-Town Boulevard, which opens 2½ hours before kickoff and is open to all ticket holders and the public — it features live bands, food trucks, an outdoor bar, and family-friendly games. This is a legitimate pre-game destination, not just a sponsor tent.

Patrons using accessible seating in the East Stands should enter through Gate E9, while those using accessible seating in the North End Zone should enter through Gate E2, W4, or the North Gate. Wheelchair-accessible restroom facilities are located near the seating areas.

Accessible seating and elevators are available; contact the IU ticket office in advance to coordinate. ADA shuttles are available on game days in the form of 6-seater golf carts that will pick patrons up at designated map locations and escort them to the necessary Memorial Stadium gate. ADA parking is available at Gate 12 off of Fee Lane for $50 per game. If you have specific accessibility needs beyond standard seating, reach out to IU Athletics ahead of time — they are generally responsive and the accessible entry process is well-organized.

Visiting-team tickets are typically placed along the visitor sideline in designated lower sections on the opposite side of the home bench — check your ticketing confirmation for the exact visitor block for your specific game.

For the best overall view and ability to read the whole field, upper sideline sections (100-series) around midfield give the best bird's-eye perspective. The stadium has a classic horseshoe bowl with a north–south field alignment , so there are no truly bad sightlines from the sidelines. The east side upper deck is particularly well-shaded in afternoon games, which matters more than you'd think in early September.

Starting in 2024, IU moved the full student block to the north end of Memorial Stadium — it's now a contiguous general-admission section running roughly between sections 13 and 24, bringing students closer to the field and concentrating game-day energy in one place. Avoid the north end zone unless you want to spend four hours in the loudest, most chaotic corner of the building. As an away fan, you don't need that proximity.

All concessions, the Team Store, the Ticket Office, and parking lot locations are cashless — all major credit cards, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, are accepted. Concessions are available on all concourse levels. Plan on roughly $12–$14 for a beer and $6–$9 for a hot dog or basic stadium food; it's not cheap, but it's within normal Big Ten range. No outside food or beverage is permitted inside the stadium , so eat well in the tailgate lots or at B-Town Boulevard beforehand.

Memorial Stadium is not a hostile venue in the traditional sense — Bloomington is a college town that's genuinely happy you made the trip, and the students are enthusiastic but not nasty. What's changed is the energy level. After years of playing in front of half-empty stands, Indiana saw four sellouts in 2024 and the crowd noise has risen accordingly. One thing you'll notice that you won't find mentioned in any official guide: the horseshoe shape means sound bounces oddly in the open south end, and on a quiet third-and-long the stadium can briefly go dead before erupting — it's a strange acoustic quirk that makes the crowd feel inconsistent but produces some genuinely loud moments. Come comfortable, come in your team's colors, and don't expect any trouble — but don't mistake the friendliness for indifference.

Driving: The lots immediately south of the stadium are the worst to exit — everyone funnels onto 17th Street and it backs up badly. If you parked in a Fee Lane garage or a northern lot, you'll reach moving traffic headed toward SR-37 (the main route north toward Indianapolis) about 20–30 minutes after the final whistle. For the south lots, plan on 45+ minutes in the lot before you're actually moving. The tip: if you parked south, walk out during the fourth quarter if your team is either winning big or losing big — the first wave out clears the lots before the main crush.

Transit/Bus: The IU Campus Bus ramps up service immediately after games, with buses running from the stadium area back toward campus core and the downtown Transit Center. Frequency picks up post-game, but expect a 15–25 minute wait for a specific route. Walking downtown (about a mile) is often faster than waiting.

Rideshare: The designated rideshare pick-up points are at the four stadium corners — southwest (Gate W1), northwest (W5), northeast (E1), and southeast (E5). Surge pricing kicks in immediately after the final whistle — easily 2x on a sellout. The best strategy: wait 25–30 minutes after the game ends, walk a few blocks toward downtown (away from the stadium), and request your ride from there. You'll pay a more reasonable rate and your driver will actually be able to reach you.

Opinionated tip: Walk downtown to Kirkwood first. Have a drink, let the traffic dissolve, and then call your rideshare or retrieve your car. It's a better experience anyway and you'll get home faster than the person who sprinted to their car at the two-minute warning.

How do I get to Memorial Stadium without a car?

The IU Campus Bus system provides service directly to Memorial Stadium. Bloomington Transit Route 1 also stops near the stadium at 17th St. and Dunn St. If you're staying downtown, the mile walk up Kirkwood is the easiest option on a nice fall day.

What is the bag policy at Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)?

Each patron may bring one clear bag (one-gallon Ziploc or 12"×6"×12") plus a small clutch purse. No outside food or drink is allowed.

How much does parking cost at Memorial Stadium?

Parking in lots within walking distance of the stadium ranges from roughly $10–$30 , depending on proximity. Grass lots near the stadium must be purchased in advance online; they are not sold at the gate on game day.

Does Memorial Stadium accept cash?

All concessions, the Team Store, the Ticket Office, and parking lot locations are cashless. Bring a card or set up mobile pay.

When do gates open at Memorial Stadium?

Gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Where do away fans sit at Memorial Stadium?

Visiting-team tickets are typically placed along the visitor sideline in designated lower sections on the opposite side of the home bench. Confirm the exact section in your ticketing confirmation.

Is Memorial Stadium open-air or covered? The stadium is fully open-air with no roof — check the weather forecast, especially for night games in October and November, which can get genuinely cold in southern Indiana.

Where do I get picked up by Uber or Lyft after the game?

Rideshare pick-up is designated at the stadium's four corners: southwest near Gate W1, northwest near W5, northeast near E1, and southeast near E5. Walking a few blocks toward downtown before requesting your ride will help avoid surge pricing and slow pickup times.