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One could call Notre Dame Stadium one of the most iconic and renowned football
stadiums in the entire nation. And why not? With all the tradition, ceremony, and history
oozing from this venue and the entire Notre dame campus, a visit here and a Notre
Dame Fighting Irish football game is one of the signature must do events for a sports
road trip enthusiast.
The stadium itself is a living museum, not unlike New York’s Yankee Stadium, or
some of the heralded venues serving the NHL’s Original Six. There are photos and
murals. There are championship banners and statues and rings and plaques. One
needs to spend an entire day here to truly experience it all.
The symmetrical seating bowl now holds 80,795 fans, after a substantial renovation
and expansion took place in time for the 1997 season. Stadium exterior walls were
pushed outwards, and additional capacity was added to the entire circumference of
the facility. The landmark “Touchdown Jesus” mural located beyond the north end
zone on the wall of the Hesburgh Library was obscured from view in most of the seats,
but the expansion added not only more capacity for a hot ticket, but also room for fan
comforts and space, including wider concourses and plenty of room for display of
memorabilia and statues of Notre Dame’s illustrious history.
The stadium itself bears a likeness to Michigan Stadium, albeit on a smaller scale,
and its end zone scoreboards are simple and basic. Even lights were not added until
about 20 years ago.
Tradition is the mantra of the football experience here. The night before each home
game, thousands fill the adjacent Joyce Center basketball arena for a pep rally, and
then on game day the 380 member marching band performs on campus before
leading a parade to the stadium itself.
One of the strangest rituals we encountered was the reading of a public service
announcement by local retired constable Tim McCarthy, who reminds fans to drive
home safely and offers a public safety tip. The entire stadium falls into a hush and
then cheers widely at its conclusion. Corny stuff!
For our visit, visiting Navy, who it seems never beats Notre Dame, completed only 2 of
3 passes and ran the all the rest of the way. Yet everything that could possibly go
wrong for the Fighting Irish did on this day, and it was Navy pulling the upset 23-21.
Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame completed 37 passes for over 450 yards. Go figure!
We also have to mention that South Bend is the home of the College Football Hall of
Fame. Combine that with this stadium, the Notre dame campus, and the plethora of
memorabilia in the adjoining basketball facility and one could spend an entire sports
weekend here, and that doesn’t even count the game!
stadiums in the entire nation. And why not? With all the tradition, ceremony, and history
oozing from this venue and the entire Notre dame campus, a visit here and a Notre
Dame Fighting Irish football game is one of the signature must do events for a sports
road trip enthusiast.
The stadium itself is a living museum, not unlike New York’s Yankee Stadium, or
some of the heralded venues serving the NHL’s Original Six. There are photos and
murals. There are championship banners and statues and rings and plaques. One
needs to spend an entire day here to truly experience it all.
The symmetrical seating bowl now holds 80,795 fans, after a substantial renovation
and expansion took place in time for the 1997 season. Stadium exterior walls were
pushed outwards, and additional capacity was added to the entire circumference of
the facility. The landmark “Touchdown Jesus” mural located beyond the north end
zone on the wall of the Hesburgh Library was obscured from view in most of the seats,
but the expansion added not only more capacity for a hot ticket, but also room for fan
comforts and space, including wider concourses and plenty of room for display of
memorabilia and statues of Notre Dame’s illustrious history.
The stadium itself bears a likeness to Michigan Stadium, albeit on a smaller scale,
and its end zone scoreboards are simple and basic. Even lights were not added until
about 20 years ago.
Tradition is the mantra of the football experience here. The night before each home
game, thousands fill the adjacent Joyce Center basketball arena for a pep rally, and
then on game day the 380 member marching band performs on campus before
leading a parade to the stadium itself.
One of the strangest rituals we encountered was the reading of a public service
announcement by local retired constable Tim McCarthy, who reminds fans to drive
home safely and offers a public safety tip. The entire stadium falls into a hush and
then cheers widely at its conclusion. Corny stuff!
For our visit, visiting Navy, who it seems never beats Notre Dame, completed only 2 of
3 passes and ran the all the rest of the way. Yet everything that could possibly go
wrong for the Fighting Irish did on this day, and it was Navy pulling the upset 23-21.
Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame completed 37 passes for over 450 yards. Go figure!
We also have to mention that South Bend is the home of the College Football Hall of
Fame. Combine that with this stadium, the Notre dame campus, and the plethora of
memorabilia in the adjoining basketball facility and one could spend an entire sports
weekend here, and that doesn’t even count the game!
NOTRE
DAME
STADIUM
South Bend,
Indiana
November 7,
2009
Navy
at
Notre Dame
DAME
STADIUM
South Bend,
Indiana
November 7,
2009
Navy
at
Notre Dame
| South Bend, Indiana |
Notre Dame Stadium
