2007-08 Road Trips

[Double D]

We typically take a road trip or two along with the the ISU game at RA and the MVC Tourney each season. My brother and I are debating which road game to go to along with those this year. We have been to Butler and that is likely the top candidate for us. You can't beat Hinkle Fieldhouse. It is like you were sent back in time.

As you look at our schedule, what would some of your choices be and why (distance, arena,fav restaurant/bars, etc)?

Lets hear it!

[IheartBU]

I second this plea for suggestions. We too do the RA and Arch Maddness trips, but are looking for a spare for the year...

[Dubl R 1]

I'm going this weekend to UIC. I'll probably go to Northern Iowa. Havn't been there before, and with it being on a Saturday, it's a favorable day for travel/overnight stay. I'd like to go to Butler, but we'll have to see with work. I'll definitely be at RA for the isu game, and also be at the MVC tourney.

[houstontxbrave]

It is on a Saturday night this year but the Saturday before the tourney but Creighton is well worth the trip. Amazing arena and the downtown area of Omaha is really nice.

Indy State and Eville are driveable to and from the game. Not great arenas nor a ton to do near either but decent drives.

I would guess the UIC game will be extremely popular. Horrible arena, but its Chicago.

[VromanFan]

This is not looking like a great road trip year for me...mainly because the road games I'd like to get to are on weekdays....that makes it much more difficult. Here are some trips that I've made in the past or would like to in the future:

Terre Haute- Coming from Chicago its only about a 3-4 hour drive. The best part is halfway down there's this terrific steakhouse called, fittingly, "the Beefhouse" off I-74 near Covington, Indiana. Terre Haute is an interesting place that's seems very much to be in a time warp...same could be said of their gym. There's a couple campus bars near the gym that we hit up...it was fun. I looked around town for something interesting to check out as we had some time to kill and found nothing.

Des Moines- Went for the first time last year to see the Iowa St. game. About 5-6 hours from Chicago so we spent the night...stayed downtown which wasn't too expensive...had a good time...there's more to do down there than you'd think...reminded me of a somewhat larger version of Peoria when it came to bars and restaurants and stuff. Found a terrific bar near downtown called the "Hi-Life Lounge" which did in fact serve High Life and also the best broasted chicken I've ever tasted. After the BU game we went over to Drake (maybe 5-10 minutes from downtown) but the Iowa-Drake contest was sold out. Would like to see a Drake-BU tilt one of these years but can't really do it on a weeknight.

Indianapolis- I really want to see the Braves play at Hinkle. I'm working on pulling it off but its going to be awful tough considering I have to be a work at 8:30 the next morning.

Omaha- That's always been on the wish list but I haven't gone yet. Maybe this year. Its the weekend before the tourney so maybe I'll take an extended sabbatical from work...hang out in Omaha a couple of days then go straight to St. Louis. I heard they have good steak in Omaha.

Normal- A couple of years ago we had a good day where we did an impromptu Vally double-dip...on the way to Peoria we realized ISU was playing Drake in the afternoon so we caught that contest and then saw BU play at Carver that night. I looked on the schedules and since ISU (or BU) rarely plays during the day it can't happen this year.

Vegas- It would be fun to play there again. Went with a big group when we got crushed by UNLV....I'll never forget I put like $50 on the Braves and then subsequently learned like 30 minutes later that Gilbert was injured....yeah we didn't come close to covering.

Obviously, I'll be at UIC and Loyola this year although that doesn't qualify as much of a road trip for me.

My favorite all-time road trips were of course Detroit and Oakland in 2006...for obvious reasons...

[New Guy]

Butler-thinking the bus right now

Drake-have friends there=cheap hotel, the Hessen Haus downtown for gooood beer and food

Creighton-in laws live there and have a connection to box seats, this place is not close to the quest but worth the trip Anthony's steak house the best steaks around, close to the quest in the old market are many great pubs and resturants my favorite is Trini's mexican

ISU-Michelao's (sp?)

[BradleyBrave]

Creighton and the Qwest Center are on my docket this year, in addition to normal staples of the Chicago games, ISU, and Arch Madness.

Terre Haute and Des Moines being during the week this year was a real bummer.

[houstontxbrave]

BB, I personally think you and anyone else who goes to the Qwest Center will be stunned by how nice the arena actually looks. I think it is nicer then any arena other then Conseco that Ive ever been into, and that includes the Kiel, Toyota Center, United Center and a few others.

I saw Drake play CU 3/4 years ago there and sat pretty high up and still great sight lines.

A friend of mine has been to WSU a few times and raves about the roundhouse. That though would be a tough ticket and it is a hall.

[BradleyBrave]

BB, I personally think you and anyone else who goes to the Qwest Center will be stunned by how nice the arena actually looks. I think it is nicer then any arena other then Conseco that Ive ever been into, and that includes the Kiel, Toyota Center, United Center and a few others.

I saw Drake play CU 3/4 years ago there and sat pretty high up and still great sight lines.

A friend of mine has been to WSU a few times and raves about the roundhouse. That though would be a tough ticket and it is a hall.

The Roundhouse was another venue me and my group were considering. I think we're opting for Omaha at this point because of the city, the arena, and the game. Should BU get off to an unbelievable start, we may decide to add the roundhouse this year. I'm definitely excited to see the Qwest Center, that's for sure.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I'd love to hear what you think of Omaha and the Qwest after visiting.

If you need any suggestions regarding lodging or restaurants, PM me.

[DUBulldog]

Drake-have friends there=cheap hotel, the Hessen Haus downtown for gooood beer and food)

Sounds like you've got good taste. Did you drink from the boot at Hessen Haus? There's several other very good bars close to Hessen Haus. If anybody is coming out to Des Moines for the game this year and want recommendations (food/drink/lodging), let me know.

[BradleyBrave]

I'd love to hear what you think of Omaha and the Qwest after visiting.

If you need any suggestions regarding lodging or restaurants, PM me.

I certainly will, either through this forum or ValleyTalk. My group and I are going to start scoping out flights soon.

[New Guy]

Sounds like you've got good taste. Did you drink from the boot at Hessen Haus? There's several other very good bars close to Hessen Haus. If anybody is coming out to Des Moines for the game this year and want recommendations (food/drink/lodging), let me know.

I have not taken on DAS BOOT yet but this may be the time.

[bradley09jdubs]

I'm thinking about going down for the @ SIU game... hostile environment, I know... but it'll be a good game none the less

[Double D]

I'm thinking about going down for the @ SIU game... hostile environment, I know... but it'll be a good game none the less

My goodness, I can hardly stomach the SIU fans when we play them here or at the MVC tourney. As a whole they have to be the least likeable group of fans that I have ever been around in large numbers.