When should I get there, and wheres decent parking. I don't mind walking a mile/mile and a half in the event I am paying $5 or less. Any fun things to do that I should do? Thanks guys.

Edit: Just wanted to add that I am hoping for a good time in a highly competitive atmosphere.

[This message has been edited by AggieJamz (edited 10/1/2003 6:25p).]

I think you can still park on the side of the Tech Freeway for free, but you have to get there early. It is right next to the stadium, the road that goes right past the old coliseum. Sorry, cant help much havent been back for over a year. I look forward to having a blast as well, and some good natured smack at the bars.

If I were you I would park in the neighborhoods around Jones Stadium. Sierra Crossing used to be prime parking, but they shut that off a few years ago. I would go down fourth heading away from University. At the turn into the parking lot with Hastings and Copper Caboose (that is what it used to be) I would go right. I would follow that into the neighborhood. However, do not go more then three streets. After that the neighborhood gets shady. It is the shortest walk. However, a safer alternative would be Tech Terrace off of 19th, but you will have to walk a ways. You might even try Tech Ghetto if the McDougals have not torn it down yet.

As far as what to do - Go to Cagel's Steak House out on an old FM road. It is the best steak in town. Yes, it beats county line by a mile. I do not know the exact Farm to Market anymore, but ask around and I am sure someone will tell you how to get there. If you are looking for something closer, then there is a great resturant on University hidden back in an alley. I forget the name, but it is near where J Pat's used to be (changed the name and I do not remeber to what). I would advise getting to the strip early if you want any good liqour. Go out I-27 and you cannot miss it. If you are into bar hopping then the depot district is probably still there. It is up 19th from University towards I-27. Have fun.

Most of the school parking lots will be available as long as you get there early. Worst case find the new basketball arena on Indiana Ave., tons of parking and as long as the weather is decent it's a brisk 15 minute walk.

With all due respect to these guys, Would someone like Tramp, Full Flask, or Sir Welker validate or give imput to this. I appreciate these guys giving imput, but I know the aforementioned 3 to be upstanding guys (despite their Techness)--and thats not to say any of you aren't, I just want affirmation.

Aggie - what they are saying is pretty good advice. Do go early though. If you have to pay some joker to park in his lot, pay it. Take the Aggie stickers off your car.

I have not been to the stadium for a game in thirty years, but I go to Lubbock regularly for business.

BTHOtt Gig 'em.

Park in the parking lot west of the Spirit Arena which is located on Indiana Avenue off 19th St. You can ride a Citibus shuttle to the stadium for free.

Cagle's (mentioned in an earlier post) is located way out west on 4th Street a few miles past the city limits. It will be on your right, and they have really good steaks. 50 Yard Line on the south Loop and Indiana is another good place to eat.

Contrary to what you read here, most people in Lubbock are friendly. I've had Ag friends come to the game with me in 1999, 2001, and they're coming again this year. They've tailgated before the game, gone to the game, and partied after the game with no incidents and have had a good time each year (other than the score).

Have a safe trip.

park on 4th street across the street from the days inn. A very large area has been razed to make room for future freeway construction all the way from univ. to Q. Lots of parking available and it's only about a 3 minute walk at most. Just park in the vacant lots where the cars start filling it up.

The lots north of the stadium are where I usually park. This area has been bought by TexDot for a freeway. I suspect that they will fill up very early from what I hear. People in RV's are already arriving.

The lots due East and West of the stadium are for Red Raider Club members, so no go. If you don't know the campus, the safest bet is the commuter lots on the far southwest side. About 2 mi., but busses will shuttle for free, and the parking is free.

Good Luck!

BTW, I hear Caegle's is the best, but it sure sounds like a female tightening exercise.

Cagles is west on 4th St, just take 4th and head west, you'll see it eventually on your right. There will be a 3-4 hour wait though.

I wouldn't park in ANY of the surrounding 'hoods. I imagine all former aggie reports of cars being vandalized were because they parked in one of the 'hoods.

The safe bet is on campus. I would park in between the Union and the Admin. bldg. If that is full, just keep working your way West.

At the very least, even the West parking lots out around the Arena are better choices than any of the off-campus spots in the neighborhoods.

My group is parking directly across 4th street in the Hastings parking lot, but they are also getting there tomorrow morning. That lot will most likely be full by Friday night.

If you do park at the West lots, they have a free shuttle to the stadium.

Again, if I weren't meeting up w/my tailgate party crew (aka TTF Shantytown), I would park in the inner campus (between the Union and the Admin. Bldg and enjoy the walk to the stadium. Contrary to Texags opinion, the Tech campus is quite beautiful. Don't go around the admin bulding, but go through the middle arch opening. Check out the Gov. Smith statue, the Double T-bench, the plaques of all former presidents, then enjoy the Pfluger Fountain in the middle of Memorial Circle. After that, you will take in the beautiful engineering key on your treck north to the stadium. As you near the stadium, you'll see the ATC (big white bubble) on your right and the Alumni Association's Frazier Pavilion on your left, with a magnificent Masked Rider Statue on its South side. Past that on your left is Raider Alley...a great pregame festival.

Enjoy your time. Park in the inner campus and take it all in. Your car will be safer there, your walk will be much more pleasant, and you can see for yourself why us "techies" love that campus so very much.

[This message has been edited by Tramp96 (edited 10/2/2003 8:33a).]

My car got shoe polished out there last time we played there. That's about the only thing that happened to me. All I had was my former student sticker on the back.

I haven't missed an A&M-Tech game in Lubbock since 1985, and I've tried all the parking options available to visitors. If all you're interested in is a short walk (and getting out quick), the area just east of campus is OK, provided you pick your spot carefully. Last time I parked there, I parked in some type type of church or church-related lot and that turned out fine.

Central campus lots might be a shorter walk, but they will be harder to get out of after the game, and will bring you into contact with more Tech students--IMO, not a good idea at 1 a.m. after this game. The Tech students have made a tradition of sort of hanging around outside their dorms and harassing everyone that walks by in the opposing teams colors.

Parking at the basketball arena and taking the shuttle will involve the least walking and will not generally expose you to the worst element of Tech fans. The only complaint I have with the shuttle is that it takes a lot of time after the game to get back to your car (unless the home crowd leaves very early, as in 1993).

If you're really concerned about vandalism, my advice is to simply take off any A&M stickers you may have on your car. Even if you leave them on, the odds of vandalism are very small, but if you absolutely want piece of mind, replacing your stickers is a small price to pay. Obviously, folks with maroon cars or BCS area car dealers might still be vulnerable, but as down as I am on the behavior at Jones, I haven't found vandalism to be more of a problem in Lubbock than anywhere else.

quote:

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Central campus lots might be a shorter walk, but they will be harder to get out of after the game, and will bring you into contact with more Tech students--IMO, not a good idea at 1 a.m. after this game. The Tech students have made a tradition of sort of hanging around outside their dorms and harassing everyone that walks by in the opposing teams colors.

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There are NO dorms that you walk past on the route I laid out. Even if there were, I don't understand your logic that a couple of students saying something is a worse choice than parking in a not-so-safe 'hood?

There is no safer place to park than in between the Admin building and the Union....and no safer walk.

By the time the game is over, you do your post game cheers, you walk back to that lot...the traffic won't be that bad. Even if it is, isn't the safety of your vehicle and the security of a safe walk a better choice than getting away 10 minutes quicker?

Tramp: The initial target you reccommended is north of most of the dorms, but it also means that you will be walking out of the stadium with the students heading back to the dorm. Again, as an Aggie fan, when you combine the difficulty in getting out with the gratuitous harassment, this is not an area I would reccommend. And, once you start working west, you might as well go all the way west, park at the USA, and take the shuttle.

As to some of the other suggestions made by others:

That lot north of the stadium is certainly one of the closest that is theoretically available, but I agree that you would have to get there extremely early (like all day tailgating) in order to grab a spot in that lot. Getting out after the game would also take time for the pedestrian traffic to clear.

Parking on the Brownfield Highway would probably be OK if you are parking on the westbound side--as I learned from experience in '99, parking on the eastbound side (like next to the Bubble) means you will be heading back towards the stadium and pedestrian traffic after the game (not a good idea).