With the 2024 college football season winding down, the excitement of conference championships is in full swing. This week, we found ourselves in Indiana for the BigTen Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Here’s a recap of our tailgating experience and tips to make the most of your trip.
Parking and Overnight Options
Lucas Oil Stadium offers a convenient option through RV Nation if you’re interested in bringing an RV. For $364, you can secure two nights of parking in a gravel lot directly across the street from the stadium. This location is ideal for RV tailgating because of it’s proximity to the stadium, Highway 70, and all the pregame festivities.
It’s important to be fully self-contained and have a generator because there are no hookups or water.
Gameday Tailgating Highlights
There’s nothing like starting your day with a hearty breakfast cooked outdoors. We fired up our Blackstone griddle and whipped up some delicious bacon and egg sandwiches to get primed up for the day. Cooking outside is one of the best parts of morning tailgating in my opinion—it’s simple, fun, and something we usually don’t do at home.
Of course, no morning tailgating breakfast is complete without mimosas. They’re the perfect complement to a crisp fall morning and a great way to toast the day ahead. We tried out a new method of freezing juice in ice cube trays then just pouring the champagne over the cube placed in the glass and they were delicious.
If you need to replenish supplies, there’s a Marathon gas station conveniently located across the street. Their market is stocked with essentials like propane tanks, wood, ice, and various groceries.
We ended up making a quick run to get some more eggs and OJ.
TV Setup
I feel that watching College Gameday is a must for any morning tailgating session. We used the Starlink Mini and connected to our ROKU TV to stream ESPN, and it worked flawlessly. I noticed some other tailgaters in the lot using the Dish Tailgater and they said the signal was hard to get.
Games and Exploring the Scene
After breakfast, we played some tailgating games and then took a stroll around the parking lot to soak in the atmosphere. RV Nation kept the energy high with a DJ and even sponsored a cornhole tournament for permit holders. They also gave away free Red Bulls and a trophy for the best tailgating setup in the lot.
Tailgate Town Fan Fest
The Tailgate Town Fan Fest was located on the opposite side of the stadium and was a free event that offered a lively atmosphere with plenty of food and drinks for purchase. A giant screen broadcasted the early games, and fire pits and patio heaters were scattered throughout to keep fans warm. The area also had games and activities for all ages, making it a great spot to enjoy the pre-game excitement.
Game Time
As the kickoff time approached, the parking lot started to fill up and fans started to heading into the stadium. We wrapped up our tailgating festivities and made our way into the stadium, ready for the game and to get inside out of the cold.
Final Thoughts
Tailgating at the BigTen Championship is a great experience. From the convenience of overnight parking to the vibrant atmosphere of Tailgate Town, everything was well-planned and executed to perfection. So if you get the chance to experience the Big Ten Championship I think you’ll enjoy it.
