First Duke Bball Game - Advice, please

[TigerOnTheRidge]

Clemson graduate and fan here but a long-time admirer of Coach K and Duke Basketball. I was given two tickets to the William & Mary game this Wednesday and am taking a friend of mine that's been a big Duke fan for over 25 years. I have a few questions that I was hoping some of you would be kind enough to answer, please.

* How early should we arrive to the game? Our tickets are in Section 17, which is the student section along the sideline. Tip-off is at 7:00. It's a lesser opponent and the students will be out of school on Wednesday. Will this have any impact on the number students that will show up to their seats early?

* Parking - I've gleaned that there are three general public lots. Should I prefer one of these lots over the others? Is there a chance all three become full?

* Any recommendation on where to eat nearby before or after the game?

 

[crazyduke3]

Help this fellow out boys

 

[Voldukie]

Pregame Eats at the Original Q Shack - http://www.theqshackoriginal.com/ - although they do specialize in Western NC Q which is approaching sacrilegious IMO (Eastern NC Rules).

Park in one of the lots on West Campus...there will be plenty of folks to guide you... or along the road behind Koskinen Stadium (LAX) Intersection of Cameron Blvd & Science Drive. Will be about 10 Min walk from here to CIS but I believe it is free to park .(Take Science Dr to Towerview, turn Right and CIS will be 200 yds on the Right)

Get there Early - at least 90 min - and go to the Bryant Center on Campus for Duke Schwag and Gear...And then check the Duke Hall of Fame adjacent to CIS.

Postgame -Fullsteam Brewery if you dig the Craft Beer thing http://www.fullsteam.ag/
If Not a Hipster Craftbeer type - and want lowkey try Dain's Place - https://www.facebook.com/dainsplacedurham/
or
The Federal - http://www.thefederal.net/

This game may be open seating since students are on break. Get their early to line up in order to make ensure you can get a good spot on the bleachers where the Crazies usually reside.

Enjoy

 

[RanDEVILman]

I went last year and did same thing as far as tix over Christmas break. Still lined up about 30-45 minutes before and got about 3rd or 4th row near mid court. Hall of Fame is awesome definitely plan on seeing that while you are there. One last piece of advice: Don't use a first round draft pick on Sean May. (not so much for your trip, just general life advice).

 

[Get Nasty]

I went last year and did same thing as far as tix over Christmas break. Still lined up about 30-45 minutes before and got about 3rd or 4th row near mid court. Hall of Fame is awesome definitely plan on seeing that while you are there. One last piece of advice: Don't use a first round draft pick on Sean May. (not so much for your trip, just general life advice).

Did you line up about 30-45 minutes before game time, or 30-45 minutes before they start letting people in?

 

[TigerOnTheRidge]

Thanks for the info, guys. We're going to arrive in Durham around 4:00, check out the Hall of Fame, grab some drinks, and then get in line about an hour before tip.

 

[Branswm88]

My wife and I were first timers for the Virginia State exhibition game with tickets in section 17.

We got lucky for parking. I had asked a volunteer at the sports museum what the parking situation was and he said I'll make things easy for you and handed me a parking pass for the new parking garage on Science Drive behind the sports fields/complexes.

We picked up pizza from Toro Pizzeria and then took it back to campus around 5:30 and ate on the patio outside of the Johnson Family team store. I definitely enjoyed my pizza and it was pretty close to campus. Students were allowed in at 5:30 and the gates opened for everyone else at 6. We were in line at 6 and got to stand in the front row of the student section just off the corner of the court, right across from the Duke bench. The game crew had a caution line on the bleachers that you were not supposed to cross unless you were a student but right before the game started the had everyone shift towards the center section to pack it in.
For my wife and I going in right at 6 was perfect (she's short so front row meant she could see perfectly). We did not have anything else planned and I had no problem waiting for the game to start because the players were warming up and there were plenty of things for me to check out. It was a fantastic experience.

Hope this helps!