Stagg Bowl: Does anyone have intel on where to stay?

[5-2]

      Thinking of going, just for the experience (since I never got there in my playing days). 

   Anybody know something about Houston?  What places to stay near the stadium?  Stay further out/cheaper?  Is there public transit in Houston that goes to the stadium?   Places to eat?  Etc, etc.  Thanks in advance !!

[Pat Coleman]

Thinking of going, just for the experience (since I never got there in my playing days). 

   Anybody know something about Houston?  What places to stay near the stadium?  Stay further out/cheaper?  Is there public transit in Houston that goes to the stadium?   Places to eat?  Etc, etc.  Thanks in advance !!

Great question and perhaps you read my mind. I asked a couple of people who should be in the know about that as well -- they don't know yet but hopefully they will soon.

[5-2]

    Pat,

     Half joking/half serious here-- maybe there could be an "Official D3 Football Hotel" for that weekend, with discounted rates???

[Pat Coleman]

Pat,

     Half joking/half serious here-- maybe there could be an "Official D3 Football Hotel" for that weekend, with discounted rates???

We've approached properties in this way in the past and have not had any luck -- last time we tried, admittedly, was probably four or five years ago.

[5-2]

     FYI for all-- I get on the official Houston TX visitor website.  They have a section with "Calendar of events"--  I go to  January 4-- nothing there on Stagg bowl.  Disappointing, but not surprising...............

[WRMUalum13]

I know this has been discussed by Pat and others but I just want to rant about stadium sizes for the Stagg Bowl. Even though playing at a big venue seems like a cool experience for players on paper, in reality seeing a sea of empty seats really takes away from the energy of a venue. I saw Mount Union play at Navy's stadium in 2022, and while it was neat to be there, it just felt so empty and hollow. I'd been to several Stagg Bowls in Salem and the energy and optics were so much better with 5,000 ish people in a 7,000 person capacity stadium.

I will say moving the game to January should do wonders for attendance since folks will have more than like 6 days to plan their travel, but there are plenty of high-quality venues that are at the appropriate capacity.

It's also probably a good idea to keep the game somewhat central to where the D3 schools are, I have no idea how Texas keeps getting bids considering the vast majority of D3 schools are in the northeast and midwest.

[Ralph Turner]

UMHB placed a bid to host in Houston.
Who else in D3 did the committee deem was less desirable a host than  Houston TX & UMHB?

That is the question...

[crufootball]

UMHB placed a bid to host in Houston.
Who else in D3 did the committee deem was less desirable a host than  Houston TX & UMHB?

That is the question...

Do we know more than Houston & UMHB put in to host?

[hazzben]

I don't mind a warmer location given a January date for the Stagg. There's no reason to risk a negative degree wind chill game that doesn't let teams truly display what they can do. Or a frozen field where injuries play a bigger in game roll than they should.

[Pat Coleman]

UMHB placed a bid to host in Houston.
Who else in D3 did the committee deem was less desirable a host than  Houston TX & UMHB?

That is the question...

Do we know more than Houston & UMHB put in to host?

Well, Salem and Annapolis and Canton did, for sure, since they were also awarded Stagg Bowls in that cycle.

[robertgoulet]

Thinking of going, just for the experience (since I never got there in my playing days). 

   Anybody know something about Houston?  What places to stay near the stadium?  Stay further out/cheaper?  Is there public transit in Houston that goes to the stadium?   Places to eat?  Etc, etc.  Thanks in advance !!

Not a ton of deep inside info other than from personal experience going down there for Cubs/Astros games. I know that there are plenty of hotels within walking distance of the stadium (it's a few blocks from Minute Maid and the Toyota Center). We have stayed at the Hampton Inn right there, it's not fancy but reasonably priced and gets the job done. There are plenty of restaurants and bars between there and the stadium as well.

[5-2]

   Does anybody know if game tickets are on sale yet?  If yes, where to purchase?  Thanks!

[5-2]

Tickets are available now online (NCAA site), then goes to Seat Geek.  Only option available $20/ general admission (no surprise there).  Then then want to tack on a 50% + "admin fee" for each ticket!!!!!

    Well thanks, but I think I will but them at the gate..............................

[Little Giant 89]

Be happy you weren't attempting to travel through Houston yesterday.  Dangerous storms led my family and I to spend four hours sitting on the tarmac at Houston International before one of the most turbulent flights out that I have ever experienced.

[5-2]

When did the game get moved from Saturday to Sunday???