Which is the best Orange trip of the season?
So what makes a great road trip for a Syracuse Orange football fan? Syracuse tailgating expert TexanMark gives us his rankings of the five road trips this year.
Factors considered:
- Fun Stuff/Food in surrounding area
- Weather (will I freeze my butt off for the date scheduled?)
- Ease and cost of travel, lodging (varied choices and reasonable costs)
- Parking ease and tailgate atmosphere (game day cash lots that have tailgating)
- Desirability of rival (excitement of a win over them)
- “Winnability” of game (Chance of a win this season)
- Stadium amenities and atmosphere (On-campus is a huge plus)
- Uniqueness (That once in a generation trip location is a plus)
What’s your top road trip pick? Read what TexanMark has to say and compare it to your rankings.
The 2023 season ended with Dino’s firing and an embarrassing thud (Boca Raton Bowl game and TV ratings disaster). The team had its’ chances. Syracuse couldn’t quite get through the constant injuries to earn a second winning season in a row. This road schedule isn’t nearly as good as the great 2017 for road trips but it has two unique western trips. Looking forward, 2025 looks to be as good or better than 2017. This year offers a possibility of winning any game, yes even NCSt. Starting in early October, our most popular road game since LSU, will be a solid test (UNLV) in an NFL Dome. We end the season in Cal with a possible bowl game on the line with our newest conference rival. This year as it stands Cuse might be a slight favorite for the UNLV and BC road games. However, I expect the other contests they will be in the 3 to 10 (underdog) point range. I expect Fran and DART will get us three road wins this year. Ever an optimist I predict an 8 win regular season and a chance at a pretty decent bowl game. Sun Bowl? Thoughts in the comments.
Put that optimism aside, these trips can be expensive and time consuming. I want a memorable trip with a win, but the key is to work in other activities around the game (if time allows). All five locations have pros and cons and I rated Fun Stuff/Food as mostly a “push” this year save for Vegas. For travel I look at: I don’t want to spend $3-400 a night for a $100 basic motel room (sorry Cal and BC), and I want numerous and reasonable flights or an easy drive for most of our fans. Finally, I don’t want to possibly freeze my butt (BC and Pitt?).
I rated items that I think are important to most ‘Cuse fans. Travel ease and cost is the big “X Factor” here as everyone has a different city origination and price-point. Cal and BC does poorly here, but if you live in California or New England it should easily be the No. 1 trip for you. I looked at it primarily from an air travel perspective plus added motel costs. Finally, I didn’t rate cost of football tickets (Cal and UNLV charge quite a bit). For me, UNLV edges out NCSt. BC, Cal and Pitt all were close behind. I expect UNLV will be the most desired trip among SU fans due to the uniqueness of the game and the draw of Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium. Unfortunately, I think many west coast Cuse fans will be opt for Vegas over a trip to Cal. BC should be well attended especially if Syracuse is doing well.
Putting eight items into my top-secret “gonculator” we get the results (lower is better):
According to the numbers, UNLV edged out NCSt, Pitt, Cal and BC as the top road trip this fall. BC pulls up the rear for the late season date and being a hard place to tailgate. UNLV will be the most popular tailgate but lacks the collegiate feel. This year the schedule offers great variety but lacks an elite game. I think it is a perfect mix for a brand new coach and newly excited Cuse fans.
Quick aside from Kevin:
This year’s road schedule comes down to what a Syracuse fan wants most from a trip. Are you looking for the best college football environment or a trip to an area that offers more beyond the game?
UNLV is the fun trip for sure, but not for the game. Watching a college football game in a ½ full NFL stadium with no atmosphere isn’t what I think of when it comes to college football. I don’t knock anyone for going to Vegas but it almost feels like the game is just an activity on this trip. The good news is that a Friday night games leaves you a Saturday for some sight-seeing, on or off the Strip.
For me, I think Raleigh is far and away the highlight of this road schedule. A strong opponent in a stadium that should be lively- that’s what you want to experience as a fan. Of course a lot of Syracuse’s trips to Raleigh have been miserable, but I’d take my chances on this one.
I’d put Cal 2nd on my list since they are a new opponent. No offense to Pitt and BC, but the ½ full NFL stadium would be a big crowd for Pitt (can we move a game to the PNC Park so there’s something to look at?). If you’ve been to a game at BC you know there’s no point in going back. Let’s get weird in Berkeley and hope Marshawn Lynch is around. You can just go back to Pitt and BC in two years anyway.
But onto Mark’s explanation for his choices:
1. UNLV, Friday, November October 4th, 9PM (EDT) FS1
Was it even in doubt? This is “hands down” our best away game since LSU in 2017. I expect a huge Cuse fan turnout. While it isn’t a classic tailgate environment like LSU it wins in sheer excitement of being in Vegas. I would not be surprised to see 5000+ Cuse fans there. The betting spread will probably make Cuse a slight favorite. The Friday night kickoff might affect the turnout a little but I think most southwest based Cuse fans will take a day off of work to drive in. Northeast based Cuse fans are also coming out in large numbers. The game will take over the lower bowl of Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders home). UNLV shares this gem much like Pitt shares their home with the Steelers. If you are looking for tickets try for some from Sections 128-144. That will be the SU side. Sections labeled C131-137 all have club access. The official visitors’ area is expected to be sections 138-140. Official parking is very expensive ($75+). There is some parking (by App and cash lot) around the stadium (look south first). Luxor and Mandalay Bay offers parking too but it is pretty expensive. The Tailgate Tavern is a great little parking secret for Cuse fans. It is located about a half mile from the stadium. You can park (free) and pregame there and walk to the game. I do expect some Orange tailgates before the game. Unfortunately my tailgate is at capacity. However, the SoCal Area Alumni Clubs are trying to put together an event. Keep informed here. Sign up quickly (non- alumni can also sign up) as I expect they’ll reach capacity.
If you decide to take a side trip to visit the UNLV campus I recommend getting Buffalo, NY style food at Naked City Pizza. If you haven’t tried a famous In-N-Out Burger they have lots of locations in Las Vegas. Try something off the not so secret, secret menu. There is so much choice of food here I can’t possibly do it justice. There is literally anything you want for food. If you aren’t careful you might gain 5 lbs by the end of your trip.
Weather should be warm if not hot for tailgating. Think mid/upper 80s. There should be a near zero chance of rain. The monsoon season generally ends 2-3 weeks earlier. Getting to Las Vegas via Harry Reid Int’l (LAS) Airport is pretty easy as they have numerous nonstop flights. Flights can be somewhat pricey. The airport is very close to the Vegas Strip and the football stadium. Las Vegas like NYC is a place you can get by without a rental car. However, you will walk a lot. This website will give you a ton of info and can help with booking shows, etc…Some rookie mistakes to avoid: here. Needless to say motels and restaurants are numerous and can handle any budget. I booked at the south end of the Strip so I can easily walk to the game. However, there is a monorail which will cut down on your walk if you are staying at the north end of the Strip. If hanging out on the Strip isn’t your gig there are a few sites to check out by car. Hoover Dam located about 45-60 mins SE of the Strip is a must see. Another option is to drive up Mount Charleston. The Red Rocks Canyon Area is great for hiking and driving. Finally, a comprehensive list of day trips is here. Attending a game here will surely go down as a lifelong memory.
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
2. NC St, Saturday, Oct 12th, TBA
I was surprised this game scored as well as it did but the great date helped. The game is drivable for many mid-Atlantic and Carolina based Cuse fans to make this trip a must-do. CNY fans should expect about a 10-11 hour drive. Raleigh’s airport (RDU) is large and offers lots of flight options and Charlotte (CLT) is two hours away and offers numerous non-stops on American Airlines.
Raleigh and the Triangle offers some attractions if you want to stay a few days but you might find more if you are drive a few hours. If you stay longer with the Columbus Day weekend, try a trip to the Outer Banks for a late season beach trip or consider Asheville, Wilmington or Myrtle Beach. For food: I say barbecue. NC is a very interesting barbecue region with two distinct styles. You need to drive out of town to sample most of the best joints. Prime BBQ is on the far-east side of town and gets great reviews. For those NY’ers with a desire to see what Bojangles is all about (from the TV game ads), go get your Bo Box, you know you want one. If you never tried Cook Out, give it a shot. Other famous NC based fast food chains are here. A very good casual restaurant/bar with deep NCSt connections is Players Retreat. Another college institution is Mitch’s by the campus. If you want to compare NC Italian food to NY Italian Food, try Amedeo’s or Vic’s. If you want fancy, try the Second Empire downtown. Finally, the Trali Irish Pub is a restaurant on the west side of the RDU airport that I can attest to having excellent Irish food and beer.
I expect 1-2000 Orange fans at the game. I think we’ll be a 7-10 point underdog. My personal observation is this time of year in N.C. weather is near perfect with highs in the low 70s. Raleigh’s airport (RDU) is west of town and has a large amount of business hotel rooms. That keeps weekend lodging prices reasonable if you stay near the airport. Nearby UNC is hosting Ga Tech on the same day so I advise booking a room early. Close by the stadium are several mid-tier motels. On a budget try the walkable to the stadium, Ramada Inn. Another nice area to stay is North Hills, a mixed used development but a bit of a drive. Downtown Raleigh also has quite a few hotels.
NC St’s stadium (Carter-Finley) attendance is usually high. The stadium is nice and the fans really support the team. The fans are usually loud but generally leave Cuse fans alone. It is bench seating for visitors. Concessions are average but overall it is an above average game day experience. Be aware: you need to arrive early as traffic can be a huge issue backing up close to game time.
To get up to speed on game day stuff this is a great primer. Limited game day advanced purchase parking is at the Cardinal Lot (5766 Chapel Hill Rd), Westchase ADA Lot, and Frank Weedon Lot (4700 Trinity Rd). Call 919-865-1510. Game day cash parking is getting tougher so get there early for the best choices. Look along Trinity Ave (by Cardinal Gibbons HS), Blue Ridge Road, and Youth Center Drive for several cash lot options. More ideas are here, this is actually well done (scroll down pretty far). The NC State Fair starts the following week so parking on the fairground’s proper might be very limited. Another tix and parking option is here by NCSt fans selling tix and parking. Syracuse tailgating will be scattered but many Syracuse fans will be heading to the Backyard Bistro for a meet up (it is owned by former CNY residents). If you arrive early they offer parking for football games. It was $40 in 2023 and they are about a 1/3 mile walk to the stadium. Good news basketball parking is generally free at the Bistro as long as you pregame there. The SU Alumni Office might possibly plan an event there. If it happens it will be open to non-alumni. Additionally, ala carte options will be available outside the restaurant on football game day regardless.
3. Pitt, October 24th, 7:30pm ESPN
Pittsburgh is a really underrated fun trip. If you can take Thursday off this can be an easy 3 or 4 day trip. For some reason Cuse fans do not usually travel well to Pitt. I think it is just far enough (6 hrs for Cuse) it is tough to be a one night trip for most CNY’ers. I only expect about 3-500 Syracuse fans at the midweek game. Weather will be a crapshoot (average high near 60 but expect upper 40s and low 50s for the game). Pitt had been on a roll up until last year. I predict the game will probably will have a tight point spread. Flying into Pittsburgh (PIT) is pretty easy and the airport has a lot of direct flights. The great news is the Steelers are playing the following Monday night so hotels should be easy to get. Look at the Northshore Area or downtown. You can stay downtown and actually walk to the game over a bridge. The Gateway Clipper offers a unique way to get to the game. There is some great food in Pittsburgh like a Wholey Fish Sammich. If you want to gain a few more pounds head over to a Primanti Brothers in the close by “Strip District” for one of their famous “sammiches”. Yinz goin to Primanny’s after the Pitt game? If I were going to Pittsburgh I would really save some time for riding one or both of the inclines and also head out to a museum near the stadium. Leaf peeping should be at or just past peak around Pittsburgh.
Heinz Field, err Acrisure Stadium is the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and also the Panthers. Pitt rarely sells out the stadium save for Penn State/WVU and a random national Power Team showing up. I expect about 30k at our game. Sadly the game isn’t on campus but a couple miles away. I think this really hurts the college atmosphere but at least you are in very nice stadium. Parking is fairly straight forward but Pitt is a really hilly city. It isn’t the easiest city to drive around for visitors. If you just show up on game day without a plan you can always find private parking options in small lots in the Northshore. If you have several carloads of folks coming to a tailgate you need to do some research on finding your best parking lot. One other option for parking is using Spot Hero for the game. Pitt can also be a pregame at a bar type of game at a bar near the stadium. Yes, you can tailgate for a Pitt game but this might be a good option on a weekday.
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
4. Cal: Saturday, November 16th, TBA
In realignment “bizarro world” our last conference road trip is nearly 3000 miles away in Berkeley, CA. Syracuse has only played Cal twice (1967 and 1968) and split the games. Cal Bears like Syracuse has a great historic past with national championships but has not been a football power for a while. Much like BC tailgating here is difficult but I’ll give you a few options in a bit. Getting there for east coast Cuse fans will require flying into either San Francisco (SFO) International or the closer Oakland (OAK) International airports. The great news is BART serves both airports and also has a stop downtown (Berkeley) on the edge of campus. You will need a Clipper Card before you board. There is a continuous Trolley Shuttle and also ADA golf carts from the Bart Station Area to Memorial Stadium starting 2.5 hrs before kickoff. Otherwise it will require a one mile uphill walk through campus to reach the stadium. There is some lodging available around downtown Berkeley but another option is to find lodging near a BART station in San Francisco. Crime and homelessness is definitely a problem in the Bay Area so do your research and pick carefully. I don’t want to be too negative as a visit to the San Francisco and the Bay Area has many awesome sights. I recommend spending several extra days to check out nearby attractions: Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods, Napa Valley, Monterey, and the Gold Mining Towns east of Sacramento.
If you are not tailgating and want a casual meal before or after the game I have a few suggestions. Top Dog is beloved by most Cal fans and has two locations close to campus. They serve up hot dogs, brats, kielbasa and chicken. Close by the campus is Nation’s (small regional chain) and they open early and close late for your comfort food fix (The burgers, pies and breakfast items are excellent). In nearby Oakland, Horn Barbecue features “the meat-smoking techniques of central Texas infused with the deep foodways of the Black South”. Mexican food as expected is great in California too. For upscale Mexican try Comal restaurant for dinner. For Chicago style pizza, Zachary’s is the place to go. Berkeley has a robust craft beer scene too. Triple Rock, Jupiter, and Cornerstone all come recommended. Of course I’m going to In-N-Out for my burger fix (Animal Style for me).
I’ll be honest traditional tailgating might not be worth the effort unless you know a Cal fan hosting one or you get access to on campus parking. Local Berkeley city rules requires permits for open flames, tight parking (with heavy fines for illegal parking) and the possibility of getting your vehicle broken into gives me pause. However, parking is still to be found. There is parking along Piedmont on Frat Row for $50+. Parking garages are available: so park on the top deck and enjoy a small tailgate (without fire). This is a very nice guide published last year with more options. Finally, your easiest option might be to take in Tailgate Town on Maxwell Field. I read mixed reviews on Tailgate Town so be prepared to be possibly underwhelmed. The Cal campus is among the most scenic campuses in the country and a walking tour is fine alternative to tailgating. If you love music check out Campanile. Sproul Plaza is where to be about 90 mins prior to kick off to listen to the band. Cal plays their games in recently renovated Memorial Stadium. It is a classic, old open bowl stadium in a scenic setting. Go to the top row to see outstanding views of the Bay. General Football game day info from the school is here. I think we’ll see about 1000 Cuse fans there.
Adam Richins-USA TODAY Sports
5. BC: Saturday, November 9th, TBA
The game is drivable for many CNY Cuse fans so that might make this trip a must-do despite the possibility of chilly weather (daytime highs in the low 50s). Air travel is easy into Boston (BOS) but be cognizant it is over a 3 day weekend (Veterans Day). CNY fans should expect about a 4-6 hour drive. I have no idea on how well the fan base will travel. In the past we have brought 5K+ during mid-season games when Cuse was a Top 25 team but I’m thinking closer to 3K.
A trip to see The Orange play BC means it is a great chance to visit Boston for a couple nights. A trip to Quincy Market is great anytime of the year. The Freedom Trail is a nice “off day” diversion if the weather is good. Driving around Boston can be a royal PITA due to crazy street layout, narrow roads and something called a “Masshole”. One suggestion is to park your car at a hotel near the subway line and take mass transit. The MBTA Green Subway Lines B, C and D will all get you close to the stadium.
The biggest knock against BC is the lack of space and parking for tailgating. If you aren’t connected pretty much forget about doing anything bigger than you and a couple friends eating subs and pounding a few beers at your car. BC will be glad to sell you a one-time permit to tailgate at a garage for several hundred dollars. A basic overview for BC parking and gameday is here. I suggest checking by late August for more updated info. Alumni stadium itself is a pretty nice mid-sized stadium but is at the point renovations need to be done soon to keep up. Sightlines look good but the stadium is nothing special (bench seating) but it is on campus (a plus).
If you decide tailgating is too much effort and expense (probably true) then you might get off the Green line and wander into the Cleveland Circle neighborhood before the game. Check out the Eagle’s Deli or the other restaurants and bars there. Johnny’s is a classic diner with great reviews. Hillside Café might be open (check hours) on campus for coffee and sandwiches. Little Big Diner looks like an interesting Asian Fusion restaurant in Newton. A few subway stops away at the Green C line, Tappan St station is The Abbey in Brookline. They are open late.
If I was the ACC Football Scheduler this game would be no later than Halloween annually and it would become a much better road trip.
Happy planning!