Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)

Memorial Stadium is at 701 East 17th Street, roughly a mile north of Sample Gates. State Road 45/46 wraps around Bloomington's north side, while Indiana 37/I-69 carries traffic from Indianapolis and the south.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  Use the gate printed on the parking pass as the destination. Indiana integrates its event traffic plan with Waze and publishes individual approaches for Gates 2 through 14, the Yellow Lot, RV areas and grass lots. Police routing can prevent a last-minute cross-campus correction.
• Parking
  The surface and grass lots surrounding Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall are mostly prepaid. Grass Reserved, Park Avenue and Forrest Avenue south of the stadium open at least five hours before kickoff and use guided parking; attendants fill spaces in order, so cars wishing to tailgate together must arrive together.
• Parking
  IU has recently sold auxiliary spaces with single-game tickets for $50 at the Indiana Avenue Lot, Outdoor Pool Lot, 17th Street Lot, Forrest Avenue/Luddy Garage, Fee Lane Garage and 12th and Indiana Lot. Inventory and eligibility can change, so purchase with the ticket rather than expecting a gate transaction.
• Parking
  Poplars Garage at 415 East Sixth Street and Henderson Garage at 301 South Indiana Avenue have offered free, first-come gameday parking. Fan shuttles circulate from both garages about every 15–20 minutes; they are a strong option for visitors who also want to see downtown.
• Parking
  Accessible parking is sold at Gate 12 off Fee Lane and requires a valid disability plate or placard. Six-seat golf-cart shuttles serve marked pickup locations and stadium gates; buy the parking credential and contact IU in advance when assistance is essential.
• Parking
  Mobile parking passes cannot be printed. Add the pass to the phone wallet before approaching the lot because cellular performance slows as the crowd arrives.

Public Transit

• The official fan shuttles from Poplars and Henderson garages are the most useful event transit. Service generally begins before the game and continues afterward, with four or five vehicles on 15–20-minute loops.
• Bloomington Transit and campus buses serve the university, but routes and street access may change for football. Visitors staying downtown can walk north on Indiana Avenue or Woodlawn Avenue in roughly 25–35 minutes, then shuttle back if service and capacity permit.
• Bloomington has no passenger-rail station. Scheduled regional buses should be booked well ahead on major football weekends.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• IU designates two rideshare and taxi points: Fee Lane at 17th Street near Briscoe Quad, and 12th Street at Woodlawn Avenue. Choose the side that best matches the driver's outbound route.
• The Fee Lane point is closer to the stadium but sits amid athletics traffic. The 12th-and-Woodlawn zone is a longer walk and often gives the driver a cleaner escape toward downtown.
• After a sellout, wait at B-Town Boulevard, walk toward Kirkwood or use a garage shuttle before requesting a car. Confirm the vehicle and plate in the app because both pickup zones become crowded.

For a first visit, reach the athletics district at least three hours before kickoff. That gives enough time for B-Town Boulevard, Hep's Rock, the Gameday Rally and The Walk without abandoning a tailgate at the decisive moment.

Tailgating

• The grass lots south of the stadium are Indiana's classic tailgating landscape. They open at least five hours before kickoff, and guided parking places each car in the next available space. Keep tents and cooking equipment behind the vehicle, not in the adjacent space or driving lane.
• B-Town Boulevard
  opens on the south lawn about 2½ hours before kickoff and is free to the public. It combines a concert stage, food trucks, outdoor bar, family games and IU attractions, making it the easiest pregame for visitors without local hosts.
• BuffaLouie's sells wings at B-Town Boulevard, including larger orders intended for tailgates. Food-package tickets and reserved group tents may also be offered; these are paid upgrades, while general entry remains open.
• Vehicles need one pass for one space. Oversized rigs, trailers and RVs must use specifically approved areas and vehicle types. Arrive together if multiple cars need adjacent positions because attendants will not hold grass-lot spaces.
• Campus is smoke- and vape-free. Keep alcohol within permitted tailgate areas, dispose of charcoal safely and expect wet-weather restrictions on grass lots.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Nick's English Hut
  The definitive IU tavern on Kirkwood Avenue, filled with memorabilia and famous for the Nick's Submarine, Biz fries and the Sink the Biz drinking game. It becomes extremely busy, so arrive early and allow time to walk north.
• BuffaLouie's
  Steps from Sample Gates, this counter-service institution serves wings in a basketball-and-football atmosphere. It also operates at B-Town Boulevard and inside the stadium, but the Kirkwood-area restaurant offers the full local experience.
• Mother Bear's Pizza
  A beloved Bloomington pizza destination with cheese and toppings pushed to the edge of the crust. The campus location is practical for a Friday dinner; game-day waits and baking time make advance planning important.
• Upland Brewing Company
  The Bloomington Brewpub northwest of downtown pairs Indiana beer with burgers, sandwiches and a patio. It is better suited to a leisurely Friday meal or postgame visit than a rushed stop immediately before The Walk.
• Janko's Little Zagreb
  A compact steakhouse in the Kirkwood district known for hearty portions and an IU-heavy atmosphere. Reservations are essential on football weekends.

• The Walk
  About two hours and 25 minutes before kickoff, players, coaches and spirit groups gather on the west side of Assembly Hall and proceed through the parking lot into Memorial Stadium. Line the path early for high-fives and a close look at the team.
• Gameday Rally
  The Marching Hundred, IU Cheerleaders and RedSteppers perform on the west steps of Assembly Hall around The Walk. This is the best place to experience the band before entering.
• Hep's Rock
  Coach Terry Hoeppner brought the limestone boulder into the program's identity in 2005. Renamed in his honor in 2010, it now stands outside the east entrance, accessible for photos instead of hidden on the field.
• Marching Hundred
  Indiana's band leads the pregame show, fight songs and in-game cues. Be seated for the traditional entry, “Indiana, Our Indiana” and the formation work that fills the broad field.
• Hoosier the Bison
  IU restored the bison as its official Bloomington mascot in 2025 after nearly 60 years. The mascot joins the band show, fan interactions and a children's version of The Walk on selected games.
• Victory Flag
  After an Indiana win, members of the Student Athletic Board raise an enormous flag on the 154.5-foot pole at the southeast corner, dedicated to Indiana alumni veterans.
• Old Oaken Bucket
  When Purdue visits, the winner claims the century-old bucket with an I or P chain link added for each result. It is the stadium's most intense rivalry day and commands the highest ticket and parking demand.

• Hep's Rock and Walk route
  The east-side plaza between Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall brings the team's most personal football memorial into the public pregame path.
• George Taliaferro Plaza
  The south plaza honors the Indiana All-American, trailblazer and first African American drafted by an NFL team. Interpretive elements connect his athletic career with his life of public service.
• Spirit of Indiana
  The large bronze bison sculpture in Miller Plaza at the south entrance predates the costumed mascot's return and now feels like a natural anchor for the renewed identity.
• USS Indiana memorial
  The battleship's prow, mainmast and gun mounts stand west of the stadium, preserving a striking connection to the World War II vessel and the state's military history.
• Limestone architecture
  The original east and west grandstands are faced in Indiana limestone. Modern north and south buildings enclose them, producing a distinctive mix of mid-century symmetry and twenty-first-century facilities.
• Assembly Hall neighbor
  Indiana's famous basketball arena rises just south of the football stadium. Even when closed, its angular roof and team-walk steps make it inseparable from football gameday.

History & Notable Moments

• The present Memorial Stadium opened on October 8, 1960, with Oregon State defeating Indiana 36-6. One week later, the Hoosiers earned their first win in the building, 34-8 over Marquette.
• Indiana beat Purdue 19-14 on November 25, 1967, securing the Big Ten championship and the program's Rose Bowl berth.
• The 1987 Hoosiers defeated Michigan 14-10 and Purdue 35-14 at home, completing the only season in which Indiana beat Ohio State, Michigan and Purdue.
• Anthony Thompson rushed for four first-half touchdowns as Indiana overwhelmed Ohio State 41-7 on October 8, 1988, the result remembered as “Darkest Day II.”
• Austin Starr's 49-yard field goal with 30 seconds left beat Purdue 27-24 on November 17, 2007, sending Indiana to a bowl after the death of coach Terry Hoeppner.
• Indiana defeated Michigan 20-15 on November 9, 2024, becoming 10-0 for the first time, then closed its first 11-win regular season with a 66-0 victory over Purdue.
• The south-end Excellence Academy completed the stadium bowl in 2018. Merchants Bank acquired the field naming rights in 2025, leaving Memorial Stadium as the building name.
• Indiana celebrated its 2025 College Football Playoff national championship at Memorial Stadium on January 24, 2026, with the team, championship trophies, Marching Hundred and a ceremonial edition of The Walk.

Memorial Stadium's long sidelines remain the heart of the seating bowl. The newer north football center and south Excellence Academy close the ends. West-side seats gain afternoon shade first; east-side seats face the sun. Lower rows feel close but can lose perspective behind team areas, while upper decks give the cleanest strategic view.

• West sideline
  Traditional home-side seating offers earlier shade and direct access to west concessions, team-store kiosks and premium spaces. Mid-level rows between the 20s are the best all-around conventional seats.
• East sideline
  The East Side Club occupies a premium midfield zone between the 35-yard lines with mesh seatbacks and optional lounge access. Standard east seats can be sunny but have an excellent view of the west tower and home bench.
• North end
  Sections 15–18 sit close to BuffaLouie's and the north concourse, with accessible first-row seating. End-zone sightlines make rushing lanes easy to see and field goals harder to judge.
• South end
  The Excellence Academy, videoboard and terrace frame the bowl. Corner suites introduced in 2025 occupy northwest and southwest field-edge positions where landscaped areas once stood.
• Student section
  Expect prolonged standing, rally towels and dense concourse movement. The energy is excellent; visiting families seeking a relaxed view should choose a sideline section farther away.
• Premium options
  North End Zone club seating, Stadium Club, suites, East Side Club and field-level or corner inventory provide varying combinations of chairbacks, indoor lounges and food. Verify whether lounge access or refreshments are actually included with the resale ticket.
• Accessibility
  Wheelchair locations include the first rows of sections 15–18 and 25–28 plus platforms at 4/5, 8/9, 24/25 and 28/29. Contact the ticket office before arrival for the most convenient exchange and entry route.

Concessions, parking, ticketing and team-store purchases are cashless, accepting major cards and mobile wallets. Levy's program emphasizes Bloomington restaurants and self-checkout markets, so this is a stadium where local food is worth choosing over a generic hot dog. Alcohol sales end after the third quarter.

• BuffaLouie's
  Wings and an Indiana pork-tenderloin sandwich are served in the north end near Section 17. The line can be long because it is both recognizable and close to student traffic.
• Indiana Sausage Haus
  Multiple concourse locations serve Smoking Goose sausages and the Footlong Hoosier Dog, topped with sweet-corn relish, pulled pork and corn nuts.
• Victory Flag BBQ
  Near Section 29, look for pulled pork, barbecue nachos and the B-Town BBQ Chip Stack with queso, sour cream, jalapeños and green onions.
• Aver's Pizza and Social Cantina
  Aver's personal pizzas, including its Cream & Crimson pie, are near Section 24; Social Cantina serves tacos and loaded nachos near Section 3.
• Yogi's and Chocolate Moose
  Yogi's offers smashburgers, while Chocolate Moose supplies local ice cream. Exact section assignments can shift, so use the current concessions map.
• Grab-and-go markets
  Self-checkout markets near sections 2, 8, 10, 22, 28 and 30 carry hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, pizza, snacks and drinks for fans prioritizing speed.
• Water
  One empty clear bottle up to 64 ounces may enter and can be filled near Sections 9 and 22 or at north-side fountains. Any liquid must be discarded at security.

• Each patron may carry one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches or one clear one-gallon freezer bag, plus a small clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. The clutch does not have to be transparent.
• Backpacks, fanny packs, printed plastic bags, mesh bags, reusable grocery bags, camera cases, duffels, large totes and ordinary purses above the clutch limit are prohibited. Binoculars must be carried without a case.
• Necessary medical equipment and diaper bags are permitted after inspection. IU's current venue information allows diaper-bag inspection at all gates, while older clear-bag materials identify specific east and west screening gates; ask event staff if specialized equipment is involved.
• Outside food and beverages, umbrellas, strollers, signs, banners, flags, noise makers, seat cushions, weapons and tobacco products may not enter. Stadium seatbacks can be rented inside near Gates E3 and W2.
• There are no lockers or item-check facilities. Every guest passes through security, so leave rejected items in the vehicle and check the current Memorial Stadium policies page before departure.