Camp Randall Stadium

Camp Randall Stadium is my home away from home. The stadium itself isn’t anything fancy. the concessions aren’t anything great, but the fans make up for it and student section is the best, of course I am biased, my dad having season tix for over 25 years and I’ve only missed less than half a dozen home game. The fans, are some of the nicest fans you could have a conversation with and they’re very passionate and loyal.

Well yes, «Yay! I’m a fan,» but of the visiting team that had a surprising enough odd victory that even our coach said «Wait, what happened?» It’s a big, famous stadium and it’s thrilling to come here. I don’t know about the alumni complaining about the prices, the concession and ticket prices are reasonable for a Big Ten football game. The climb up to the visiting fan section is steep and arduous, Mount Kilimanjaro is easier by comparison (not an exaggeration), but this means even the up and distant seats have pretty good sightlines (though the players look like little red and purple ants). Lots of stupid drunks but not more so than any other Big Ten game (except the shockingly sober Ryan Field games). The benches are uncomfortable and if everyone shows up (and everyone does) then there’s not enough room for even healthy adults. This is Wisconsin so many of us are beer-​and-​bratwurst-​obese thus there really isn’t enough room to sit down. This is typical of Big Ten stadiums, so again, comparatively speaking no stars lost in grade. The one negative is that they made no effort to clear the snow, which I heard from regulars is S.O.P. here. The result is that the seats are extra uncomfortable (though I was wearing water resistant snow pants), and many of the drunken fans throw snowballs the whole game. They threw snowballs at their own cheerleaders. They threw snowballs at the referees, who ended up calling Wisconsin on some really odd penalties. How often do you see «illegal hand signal» on a punt return? I think the snowballs may have worked against the home team.
The Wisconsin marching band is excellent, in spite of arctic conditions they put on a great halftime show. I’ve been here a few times now, it’s better when Northwestern wins, it’s better when it’s not frigid cold, but I’ve always enjoyed myself.

As a graduate of UW I make a point to come back here each year and always have a blast rain or shine. We purchased covered seats last weekend since it was raining and many people had the same idea.
Great stadium, energy, and crowd make this one of the highlights of my fall festivities! It’s always worth the 4+ hour drive from the Twin Cities!
Even though I’m not a student anymore it’s still just as fun to sit outside of the student section with other alumni and Wisconsinites who love their Badger football.

I love Camp Randall…
Even when the Badgers lose.
In the winter.
Despite $ 4 hot chocolates.
And $ 4.25 bottles of water.
Because I look good in red.
Especially when I can «Jump Around»
When they serve foot-​long (local) bratwurst.
And the walk around the stadium.
The most when Badgers win.
It’s a beautiful college football stadium with tons of great local businesses surrounding it. U Rah Rah!

A fabulous venue for College Football. A tremendous experience. Historical. Pre and Post Game parties on Regent Street. A FUN FUN Place! This is a must for even a less than casual fan. Love Madison.

Haven’t been here in years but still a place with a lot of entertainment. And who doesn’t want to «jump around?» One friend said he paid $ 9 for a brat but in fairness it was like a foot long.
Was a little confusing finding out way in as we walked to gate 2 but our tickets said gate 3. They would not let us in gate 2. We ended up walking almost all the way around the stadium to get to gate 3. It would have been a lot shorter if we had gone back toward gate 1 to get to 3.
Always a good time at Camp Randall weather it’s a football game, concert, foot race that ends here, etc.

Oh, Camp Randall. I can’t give you anything but 5 stars. I spent many a hot and cold day here, cheering on my Badgers. I love coming back to the alma mater.
Tailgating for game day is spectacular. Everyone is friendly, and it’s like a sea of red walking around the stadium. Camp Randall keeps improving while maintaining its history. Concessions have definitely improved since my undergraduate days!
Whether you’re here for Badger game day or another event at Camp Randall, it’s worth checking out.

I had to Badger you, but I was wondering, if you were me, how would you Randall all the criticism? Would you do a better job than me? What do you mean I come across a little Camp? Well maybe I want to be, did you consider that, girlfriend?
First-​Hand Experience: Info on my personal visit to this stadium — Camp Randall is one of the biggest stadiums in the country, but from my 2 or 3 visits here (including for one sports game) it wasn’t one of the best. I did enjoy it, and the tailgating in particular was fun, but unless you’re in the student section, this isn’t the best college football atmosphere I’ve seen. Also, the stadium has a very block-​concrete look about it, which doesn’t really do it for me.
I’ve been to every cool stadium in the UK & North America, due to my obsession with travel & sport. I’ve toured America as a musician for 7 or 8 years. In that time, I’ve seen sports games at, or visited when empty (and usually both), at almost every major stadium in US and Canada. I have pictures of most which I will upload at some point. Also, on future travels, I plan to take new pix, and add more stadia! Watch this space!
***back to regular review***
Madison is a sexy girl name but it’s also a city in freezing frozen tundra Siberia brrrr Wisconsin. Which is also one of the best places in the world to get food. I haven’t had much in Madison yet but try the Chili at Kroll’s East (Green Bay), try the Butter Burger at Mihm’s (near Oshkosh), try the Butter Brat at Charcoal Inn South (Sheboygan), and try the Gyro at Oakland Gyros (Milwaukee) as well as the custard and banana shake at Leon’s (also Milwaukee) and if you’re still hungry, get a Chicken Kebab from Golden Gyros.
Wisconsin is one of my fave states and this stadium is absolutely awesome. Filled in on all sides (like my gf), the stadium is a sea of Badger Red and intenseness, and the whole state of Wisconsin seems to come here and support them. Okay it’s not as loud as a Packer game but it’s still pretty awesome.
It only loses a star because the tickets are horribly, horribly expensive.

September 27
Dear Bucky,
I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Bernie and I are on pretty rocky terms lately. It seems to happen every year. He has the same story every spring; this year will be different, this will be our year. And this year was different, for over 150 days. He was everything I wanted and needed him to be, the best in years.
But then something went awry, and it all fell apart. He let me down AGAIN. And it hurts. I mean he’s been my guy since forever but a girl can only take some much!
So, I’m coming to see you today. You’ve always been there for me. Every time Bernie lets me down. Your big smile with your pushups and your Jump Around makes me forget everything else.
Your team and your band and just being in your house is the best medicine I could ask for.
So we’ll be there shortly and can’t wait to party with you today!!!
Love Always,
Carrie
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September 28
Dear Bucky,
Well you did it! You made me forget all about Bernie and how much he’s let me down.
Your 11am start inspired an awesome tailgate of breakfast burritos and bloodies and that was just the start!
You ensured perfect fall football weather, a full stadium of enthusiastic fans. Parking was a breeze, arrive at least three hours before game time and plenty of open spots within 3 blocks charge less than $ 20. Love the new food options (all things Wisco like cheddar curds ($ 6), brats ($ 5) and pretzels with beer mustard ($ 5) but we really need to talk about this alcohol thing, I really think you are old enough to host a responsible party.
And your team put on quite the show. Big yardage by Gordon and nice tackling by Caputo made for an exciting game on both sides of the ball. It that McCoy kid steps up his game and the O-​line plays like a classic Badger unit you could be smelling roses.
Your band was on point (Build Me Up Buttercup is a sure crowd pleaser) and you were everywhere spreading your cheer (that’s a lot of pushups). You really know how to throw a party for a full five quarters.
And most importantly I was having so much fun I was able to ignore all the text messages from Bernie and how badly he was being beat up by the Cubs.
I will certainly tell all the people they should come see you anytime, but especially if they need to forget and just have some fun!
Thanks for all the love,
Carrie

I really was impressed with the Badger experience.
The outside of the stadium is like one big walk around tailgate that has food vendors and a lot of restaurants joining the fun too. I had some of the best street food here as well tried a restaurant or two. This is a stadium where you can walk around and have a lot of fun. Very good location for the stadium.
Stadium is really nice, another stadium where there didn’t seem to have a bad seat. Has on jumbo tron and a smaller one.
I took a shuttle for from our hotel that was only a few bucks, any fan could do this. Looked liked parking wasn’t too bad.
The Fan base is very respectful, lot of nice people outside and inside the stadium.
The tradition of the 4^th quarter «jump around» is really fun and energetic as you see on TV. There is a lot of energy inside once the whistle blows. I really enjoyed this place.
I really liked this stadium and city of Madison. The city is top notch and have nothing but respect for UW and Madison.

I’ve known all the words to «On Wisconsin» from the age of 4 and I cry when «Varsity» is sung. I love you Wisconsin! You are family, you are life.
On Wisconsin!

No better game day experience! Even better as a student!

First time at a football game! WOO!
The team spirit is seriously staggering. It was all red! The stadium was seriously a sea of red. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house! It was relatively easy to get to your seat and some of them (not mine, dammit) even had nice cushions and backrests. The fans all stayed until the end of the game (except the students, who came late and left early — yeah booze!) and the marching band was awesome. It was so much fun to see all the traditions; the songs, the waves, the chants, the jumping. I was disappointed with the food/​beverage offering — no booze really sucks for us NOT In the student section who are of age and would like an alcoholic warmer. It was freezing, but everyone was super friendly and outgoing.

Camp Randall is a majestic landmark of college sports. I am fortunate to live in the city that hosts this stadium. Even better the Badgers have been one of college’s best football teams in recent years.
I went yesterday with my son. We were able to score great tickets from StubHub for about $ 50 each because they were playing a college team that most people haven’t heard of (Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles). As expected, the Badgers rolled. Enough about the Badgers, though — this is all about Camp Randall.
The stadium is massive. It holds more than 80,000 people. It is the 41^st largest stadium in the world (according to WIKI) and holds just a few hundred less than Lambeau Field. You walk in Camp Randall — it’s awe-​inspiring.
Most of the seats are uncomfortable aluminum benches. However, if you score good tickets, you can get padded seats with back support (which we were fortunate enough to have).
Before the game, you get to check out the offenses practicing sets and then the Badger Band get the crowd riled up (they’re great and highly regarded, BTW). The crowd is all decked out in cardinal and white (mostly cardinal) and really into the game. Even without booze at the stadium (there’s plenty of booze to be had outside the stadium), this is one of the most lively crowds you’ll experience — from waves, cheering, vocalizations and (of course) the «Jump Around» tradition in the 4^th Quarter. It’s so much fun! They do not need big giveaways or t-​shirt guns to get us Sconnies amped.
The concessions are a little bare-​boned, but you can get water and soda between $ 4-​$ 5 (not bad in today’s market) and brats, hot dogs and subs for around that same price point.
If you live in Wisconsin or are in Wisconsin during the football season, there is no other place to go for such and experience and not have to mortgage your home for. If you live in Madison and don’t visit, even if you do not care for football, you’re totally missing out.
Tip: For the real experience of Badgers football, pig out at Mickies Dairy Bar (across the street) pregame — disregard health and eat their pancakes, scrambler or corned beef hash to satisfy any food needs before observing/​participating in Badgers football.
Note: Protective parents beware. This is a college stadium. The students section has traditions of loud cursing chants — bring your «earmuffs».

I am going to say right of the bat that I am bit a biased here as a Badger fan that Camp Randall is the best stadium in college football. However, I am sure any fan of a college team will think their stadium is the best.
This was my first time to see a Badger Football Game and it was the first game of the season, which means that the Badgers would blow out their opponent because it is mostly a warm up game until the Big 10 games start. My wife and I were given tickets from her company and the seats were right on the 50 yard line and amazing seats to watch a game. In all honesty I felt that I was watching the game on TV as not at any point was my view hindered. The only view I didn’t have was that of the huge jumbo tron because the seats were were in were under the upper deck. However the stadium has two small video screens that are not blocked at the other end of the stadium.
One of the great traditions in college football is when during the break between the 3^rd and 4^th quarters the students (and those in the rest of the stadium who are bold) participate in the tradition of jumping up and down to the song «Jump Around.» When this happens you can actually feel the stadium moving (which is crazy to think about when it is a concrete structure). Even the Badger players (those not in the game) get jumping on the field. It is an amazing thing to say you were apart of and really can get the crowd going.
I would encourage anyone, a Badger fan or not, to experience Camp Randall Stadium and be a part of a historic team and a historic stadium.

I had the opportunity to visit this stadium for a badgers homecoming game. The atmosphere was electric and there were over 80,500 people in attendance. Still, the staff was organized and really nice. They don’t sell any beer there, which probably helps to keep order during the game. I thought that was smart, and I commend that decision.
Super fun experience, condiments are not SUPER expensive (but then I’m from San Francisco, so maybe I’m spoiled).
The staff (at least during the UW game I went to) was SUPER nice and VERY friendly.
Bathrooms are fairly clean (3.5 stars). Again, I live in SF so maybe I don’t know what a really clean bathroom looks like.
GO BADGERS!

In my opinion it doesn’t get any better than Camp Randall on a brisk Saturday watching the Badgers play.
This place has it’s own culture to it with all the fans packed in with the sea of red. It is so fun to see the student section, always rated as the best or most vulgar, do all their cheers. It adds excitement and keeps you entertained during the game with the 1^st and 10 Wisconsin chants and much more.
Once you go to a Badger’s game here you will know what I am talking about. Great place for watching football.

I am a non-​Wisconsin graduate and converted Badger fan. My alma mater, St. John’s University in Minnesota has a storied tradition as a great football school under the coaching of the legendary John Gagliardi. For a Division III school, we had a great thing going… Sports Illustrated even said it was among the top 5 places to watch college football in the country. Yet it doesn’t compare to Camp Randall on gameday.
It’s crazy to think that I have now been to five Wisconsin home games despite not going to a UW school, but in truth there is no other place that I would rather go to watch football than here. It’s an excellent stadium with passionate fans. Night games are extra excellent, so try to take one in if you can.

Badgers!
Love the noise, love the team, love the school.
Hate $ 4 hot chocolates when it’s freezing. Hate no beer.
Badgers victories are the trump card for tight seats. There’s a lot to be said about the sheer red and white love going on around the stadium.

The atmosphere is positively electric at Camp Randall Stadium. Preconceived notions and a bias toward DKR in Austin had me thinking this review wouldn’t go higher than 4 stars. But it’s undeniable, Camp Randall is a 5 star stadium.
After tailgating with some Badger fans, we headed into the stadium, where we had fantastic seats to watch the game. Oh, it was most exhilarating. The Badgers of Wisconsin took on the Buckeyes of Ohio State, and in the end the Badgers triumphed by kicking an oblong ball made of pigskin through a giant H. It was a most ripping victory. Actually, they did a lot more than that, unseating the #1 Buckeyes by a score of 31 – 18. The stadium holds about 80k, but they really pack ‘em in there, so the crowd was wild the entire game. Many people are familiar with the «Jump Around» tradition after the 3^rd quarter, but in truth, they play a lot of classic songs throughout the game, and the students know the words to every one. They really love their school, which is a thing to behold. The «5^th quarter» is also famous, but in this case, it consisted primarily of rushing the field after the game.
As I mentioned, the seats are packed, so it’s tough to keep going and coming from the concourse. So when half of our crew brought back Bratwurst dogs for the other half, it was just icing on the cake. Much better than the hot dogs you’ll get at other stadiums.
In the end, Camp Randall Stadium sits high on the list of best venues to catch a college football game.