thetorch

I'll be making the trip up to see the Billikens take on Butler on the 22nd. I haven't been to Indy in several years and haven't been to Hinkle since the MCC days.

Any tips you can give an out of towner? What is parking like? Any hotels within walking distance or should I stay closer to downtown? Nightlife, restaurants I should hit pre/postagame? Any help would be much appreciated.

Officious Meddler

Long time lurker, first time poster. A lot depends on what your interests are when not at the game. Heavy boozing? Chill bars? Off the beaten path bars? Shopping? NCAA Hall of Champions?

Downtown is nice but there are plenty of other options as well. Without traffic, it would be about a 20 minute drive from downtown. I would try to get a hotel at the Keystone Mall area. That will leave you about a 15 minute drive to Hinkle. There are plenty of restaurants and obviously a mall right there. There are also a few hotels in Carmel, IN about 2 miles north of 465 on Meridian St. Staying here will leave you about a 20 minute drive to Hinkle. Whether you stay downtown, at Keystone or in Carmel, you will have a 15-20 minute drive.

I recommend making a trip to Broad Ripple before and/or after the game. It is about 5 miles from Hinkle. Broad Ripple is a "village" and has dozens of bars/restaurants all literally right next to each other. I would strongly recommend Kilroy's if you go to Broad Ripple. If you to Broad Ripple after the game, beware that it will be very packed and will have a lot of college-aged kids.

Parking and traffic will be a big pain for the game. I recommend getting there plenty early. You will need to find street parking. A few homes offer parking for $10 in their yards. This is safe and it will result in a pretty short (maybe 1-3 blocks) walk. There is a free shuttle (school buses) from a nearby church at 5500 North Meridian St. This is safe and I have done it before, but it takes a little too much time after the game for the buses to maneuver the traffic to get you back to your car. They do run efficiently, however.

Hope that helps.

MudFlap

I usually park free at Brad's Brass Rail and take a cab both ways.

butlerguy03

Parking is a nightmare in and around Hinkle. Especially if there are other events going on at Clowes or Lilly Hall. There are pay parking locations on campus as well, but those often fill up fast.

If you're coming from the north, there are several ways to get to campus. The most direct is Meridian to 49th or 46th and across.

I would highly recommend getting to campus about 1 1/2 hours before tip. It'll give you a little time to find a decent parking spot, walk to Hinkle, and then, once inside, walk around Hinkle. If it snows a decent amount (4+ inches) the day before or on gameday, plan for major traffic tie-ups due to bad snow removal issues in the neighborhood streets and alleys.

As for meals and entertainment, you could hit Moe & Johnny's or Plump's Last Shot for a Butler flavor. Broad Ripple is over-croweded most weekend nights, so if the thump of nightclubs isn't your thing - that's probably not the place to be.

Downtown is very nice, and one reason why Indianapolis has risen to such a high level of entertainment (Super Bowl, Final Four Schedule, Major Conventions, etc.). Many resonably priced hotels, dining options and entertainment options. Take a look at IndyDT.com

Hope that helps a little.

thetorch

Thanks guys. Much appreciated.