Camp Randall Stadium

US 12/14, University Avenue, Johnson Street, Park Street, Regent Street and Monroe Street distribute traffic across Madison's isthmus. Breese Terrace and Monroe Street close near the stadium, and postgame traffic is forced outbound.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  Approach the chosen lot from the side shown on Wisconsin's current event map. Do not route through Monroe Street or Breese Terrace once the five-hour closure window begins.
• Parking
  Season campus permits cost $20 per game under the current program and are assigned through Badger Select. Most close lots are not public drive-up inventory.
• Parking
  Single-event spaces in campus lots are sold first come, first served only where availability remains. Lots open at 6 a.m. for 11 a.m. kickoffs and 7 a.m. for later games.
• Parking
  Downtown city garages, private lots along Regent and neighborhoods south of the stadium provide alternatives. Read temporary signs carefully; football restrictions remove street spaces and tow aggressively.
• Parking
  Lot 17 offers limited single-game accessible permits on the Monday before each home game. Construction of the engineering building changes the approach, so use the current detour map.
• Parking
  Remote Lots 60, 64 and 76 connect to the Bucky Shuttle. These can be easier than searching near Camp Randall, especially for visitors arriving from US 12/14.
• Parking
  Tailgating rules depend on the facility. A commercial or church lot may set its own opening time, grill policy and closing deadline.

Public Transit

• Madison Metro routes serve University Avenue, Johnson Street, Park Street and the campus, but Monroe, Regent and Route 82 detours alter ordinary service on gameday.
• The Bucky Shuttle links Lots 60, 64 and 76 with Camp Randall through Wisconsin Athletics and GO Riteway. Confirm the current fare and exact drop-off point when buying parking.
• Private hotel, restaurant and group shuttles use North Charter Street between Regent and Dayton as the designated loading area rather than closed Monroe Street.
• Walking from the Capitol and State Street takes roughly 25–35 minutes through campus. It is one of the best ways to experience the buildup and avoid outbound traffic.
• Bicycling is practical on Madison's trail network, but pedestrian density is extreme around Monroe and Randall. Lock at an approved rack well outside the gate queues.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• North Charter Street serves as the principal controlled loading area near the stadium. Use the current event map because construction and closures can adjust the block.
• A drop near Union South or farther east on Regent Street is usually more efficient than trying to reach Monroe Street.
• After the game, walk toward downtown, Greenbush or Monroe Street beyond the closure before requesting a vehicle. Postgame right-turn controls limit driver access.
• For a late kickoff, expect surge demand from both football and downtown nightlife. A reserved taxi or hotel shuttle may be more predictable.

Camp Randall's pregame spills into streets, yards, bars and university buildings. Visitors do not need a private invitation: Union South and the Field House provide strong public options.

Tailgating

• Campus lots open early, but tailgating must remain in the assigned space and follow university rules for grills, alcohol and amplified sound.
• Regent Street businesses erect tents, outdoor bars and food stations. These are licensed commercial events, not open-container permission for the surrounding sidewalks.
• Private homes and yards sell parking and host gatherings. Respect neighborhood property, restroom restrictions and posted closing times.
• Badger Bash
  Union South opens its free indoor-outdoor party about 2.5 hours before kickoff, with food, drinks, live music, sponsor games, Spirit Squad and a marching-band performance.
• Field House Football Tailgate
  The UW Field House hosts a free family-oriented event with music, children's activities and food and beverages, entered through Gate B.
• Arch March
  The football team approaches Camp Randall Memorial Arch on Randall Avenue before entering the grounds. The published time varies with kickoff.
• Pack clothing for changing weather. September heat, November snow and strong upper-deck wind are all possible in the same season.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Mickies Dairy Bar
  The tiny Monroe Street diner is famous for scramblers, pancakes and malts. Lines begin early; it is best on Friday or several hours before kickoff.
• Jordan's Big Ten Pub
  Across from Camp Randall, this Regent Street bar is a core Badger gathering place with burgers, curds, drinks and a massive gameday crowd.
• Lucky's 1313 Brew Pub
  The Regent Street venue offers a large indoor-outdoor party, pub food, televisions and live entertainment close to the stadium.
• The Greenbush Bar
  Hidden below the Italian Workmen's Club, Greenbush serves pizza and Italian food in a neighborhood setting. It is better for Friday night or postgame reservations.
• Dotty Dumpling's Dowry
  Downtown near State Street, Dotty's is known for burgers, Wisconsin cheese and local beer and pairs well with the walk to campus.
• Ian's Pizza
  The State Street institution sells creative slices, including mac-and-cheese pizza, for a fast pregame or late-night meal.

• Arch March
  Players enter the stadium grounds through Camp Randall Memorial Arch as fans, spirit groups and the band welcome them from Randall Avenue.
• “On, Wisconsin!”
  The fight song is woven through team entrances, scores, band shows and the Fifth Quarter. Fans sing and clap from the opening phrase.
• UW Marching Band run-on
  The band charges onto the field with a high-step style under the direction of its drum major, creating an aggressive pregame unlike a measured parade formation.
• Bucky Badger
  The striped-sweater mascot performs pushups after scores and circulates through the student section and sideline.
• Jump Around
  House of Pain plays between the third and fourth quarters, and the entire stadium jumps. Introduced in 1998, it visibly shakes the grandstands.
• “Build Me Up Buttercup”
  The crowd sings the Foundations song during another late-game break, supplying a lighter counterpoint to Jump Around.
• Fifth Quarter
  Win or lose, thousands remain after the game for a band concert with “On, Wisconsin,” “Varsity,” “You've Said It All,” polkas and audience choreography.
• “Varsity” arm wave
  Fans sway linked arms at the end of the alma mater, turning the Fifth Quarter into a communal farewell.

• Camp Randall Memorial Arch
  The stone arch at Randall Avenue memorializes the Civil War training camp and frames the football team's gameday arrival.
• Camp Randall Memorial Park
  Plaques, cannon and historical markers outside the stadium explain the site's military and Civil War history.
• Field House facade
  The red-brick UW Field House abuts the south end and supplies one of the complex's most recognizable historic elevations.
• South End Zone clubs
  The 2022 CR Future project added premium clubs, loge seating, enhanced concourses and hospitality while retaining the surrounding bowl.
• Barry Alvarez statue
  The statue near the stadium honors the coach and athletic director who revived Wisconsin football and led three Rose Bowl champions.
• Pat Richter history
  Premium spaces and athletics landmarks recognize the former athlete and administrator who hired Alvarez and reshaped the department.
• Heated natural-grass field
  The Kentucky bluegrass surface received subsurface heating in 2024, improving late-season field management without changing the traditional appearance.

History & Notable Moments

• The land served as a Union Army training camp, hospital and prisoner-of-war site during the Civil War. The university later developed athletic fields there.
• Camp Randall Stadium opened October 6, 1917, when Wisconsin defeated Beloit 34-0. The dedication game against Minnesota followed later that season.
• The original concrete west stands replaced wooden facilities and gradually expanded into the present bowl through decades of construction.
• Wisconsin's 1962 team clinched a Rose Bowl berth at Camp Randall before playing one of the most famous postseason games against USC.
• A $109.5 million renovation completed in 2005 rebuilt concourses, added suites and clubs, improved restrooms and accessibility and preserved the historic shell.
• Wisconsin defeated No. 1 Ohio State 31-18 in 2010 after returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, prompting a field storm.
• Melvin Gordon rushed for a then-FBS-record 408 yards against Nebraska in 2014, much of it in snow flurries.
• The $77.6 million CR Future project opened in 2022 with new south-end clubs, loges, premium seating and football support spaces.
• The stadium has also hosted Green Bay Packers games, outdoor hockey, concerts and other major events, reinforcing its role beyond college football.

Camp Randall combines lower-bowl lettered sections, east and west upper decks and newer south premium areas. Most general seats are benches, and the older aisles can be steep and narrow.

• West side
  These seats gain afternoon shade sooner and sit below press and club areas. Upper rows provide strong field geometry but involve long ramps or stairs.
• East side
  The upper deck offers an excellent tactical view and receives more direct sun. Wind exposure increases in November.
• North end zone
  Lower sections sit near the student band and provide a straight view toward the Field House and south clubs.
• Student section
  Students enter Gate 5 beginning two hours before kickoff and fill assigned sections through a controlled process. They stand throughout and drive Jump Around.
• Visitor seating
  Visiting fans generally sit in upper or corner sections. Group seats are also allocated in the upper deck; verify the current map.
• Premium areas
  Buckingham Club, Varsity Club, suites, east-side clubs and the south-end Champions, Legends and Heritage products provide chairbacks, indoor access and varying hospitality.
• Accessibility
  Platforms, elevators, accessible restrooms, golf carts and wheelchair assistance are available. Arrange seating and parking before the Monday single-game release when possible.

Levy operates cashless permanent stands, portable concessions, grab-and-go markets and seating-bowl vendors. Wisconsin ingredients and comfort food anchor the menu.

• Johnsonville hot dogs and brats are foundational, along with burgers, pizza, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, candy, soda and water.
• South End Zone specialties include brisket grilled cheese with tomato soup, cheese-curd cheddarwurst, smoked-pork nachos, chicken quesadillas and seasoned wings.
• Vegetarian choices include grilled cheese, cheese pizza, mac and cheese, pretzels and nachos. Gluten-free marked items include selected wings and corn-tortilla nachos, but ask about cross-contact.
• Beer, wine and packaged alcoholic drinks are sold in general seating areas to guests 21 and older. Stadium policies govern identification, transaction limits and cutoff times.
• Premium clubs feature broader buffets and beverages, sometimes all-inclusive. Verify the benefit package attached to the exact ticket.
• All stands accept cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay; there are no ATMs inside. Bring a mobile or physical payment method.
• Buy early. Narrow historic concourses and a sudden halftime rush can make even a brat a long wait.

• One clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches is permitted.
• One non-clear clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches may be carried. Every bag and guest passes security and metal detection.
• Medically necessary items receive an exception after inspection. Contact Wisconsin Guest Services in advance for unusual equipment or dietary needs.
• Backpacks, large purses and noncompliant bags are prohibited, along with strollers, car seats and handheld baby carriers.
• Outside food and beverages are prohibited unless Wisconsin announces a game-specific water exception for heat. Do not rely on exceptions published for a prior season.
• Umbrellas, signs, banners, noisemakers, video cameras, drones, remote-controlled vehicles and weapons are prohibited. Pocketless clothing layers may be carried for cold weather.
• Mobile tickets use wallet-based tap entry and cannot be screenshotted. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, and no re-entry is allowed.