With the Campus Crossroads Project underway at Notre Dame, the 2015 Blue Gold Game could be moved outside of Notre Dame Stadium this spring according to a report from Irish 247 with Soldier Field in Chicago a strong possibility although nothing has been finalized yet.
[Update #1]: 2015 Notre Dame Blue Gold Game & Spring Football dates announced
[Update #2]: It was announced on Monday, March 30 that the 2015 Notre Dame Blue Gold Game will be played at the Labar Practice Fields and will be televised live on NBCSN and streamed live via NBC Live Extra.
Such a move for the Blue Gold Game could make for a fun weekend trip for out of town fans looking to get a glimpse into the soon to be hotly contested quarterback competition at Notre Dame. A weekend in Chicago combined with the annual Blue Gold game would make for a quick and easy, fun weekend. A quick glance at the schedule of the Chicago Cubs shows a home series with the Padres from April 17-19 with three straight day games as well. Friday afternoon day game in Wrigleyville, Friday night out in Chicago, and a Notre Dame spring game Saturday afternoon all without needing to drive anywhere potentially? Sign me up.
One drawback, however, could be on the recruiting front. The annual Blue Gold Game weekend is typically one of the biggest recruiting weekends of the spring for Notre Dame. Brian Kelly and his staff could, however, mitigate any potential impact with a larger scale Irish Invasion such as as the one they put on last summer. Kelly and staff likely have multiple contingencies in mind depending on where the game ends up taking place, but the loss of one of the bigger recruiting weekends of the spring is something to keep an eye on.
Notre Dame is no stranger to Soldier Field with the Irish hosting Miami there two seasons ago for the 2012 Shamrock Series – a game which Notre Dame won 41-3 in one of the most complete victories of the Brian Kelly Era at Notre Dame.
Would the Blue Gold Game being played in Chicago make you more or less likely to make the trip for the annual spring game? Let us know in the comments.
I don’t care where the game is played. My plans are to spend the weekend on Campus. I will drive to Chicago to watch the game if I have to but I will return to South Bend after the game. Since this game is very important to the loyal ND fans, ND’s only concern should be ensuring it’s loyal fans can watch the game.
Notre Dame needs to quit trying to pretend there part of Chicago, there not even in the same state, I have no desire to go to Chicago, I just want the spring game on campus, Please.
I will not go if in Chicago. I am an alum MBA’03 and always want visit the campus. I have not missed many Blue Golds but if out of town, I most likely will not attend.
The blue gold games are the only ones we can afford to go to. I really don’t like the idea of an expensive trip to Chicago and how much more are tickets going to be? Not happy to hear this!
I’ll go either way, but let us know what the pan is so i can get a hotel and Cubs tickets if I need to
My brothers and I have been going to the spring game for years,not only for the game but for the shirt,grotto,bookstore,campus and commons.We enjoy tailgating with friends we only see once a year,also the hotels we can afford!We love the irish and we will miss them if the game moves to chicago!
With the price of tickets on campus,around $10 or so, it allows those of us who can’t get a real home game ticket to enjoy a live look at the team. Wonder how much they would charge you just to park in Chi-town. It’s to hectic , not to mention toll fees gas, and the ever popular traffic. Better stay home boys.
It’s an abbreviated game and that’s a long way to travel for a short game. In addition as others have said the Blue Gold game is a great opportunity to take kids to a game ON CAMPUS. Kids get to see the campus and fall in love with the university and the experience. In Chicago there wouldn’t be anything special about it, it would just be a game that would take much longer to get to than the game itself. Keep in on campus.
My wife and I make a day trip to the spring game, because we enjoy the campus experience. We can go to Chicago any time.
Keep it on Campus!
I want to go to Chicago I am going with my dad brother boyfriend his dad and brother it would be more fun to get to go to Chicago.
Having the Blue-Gold game in Chicago,would change my mind for going. I travel from the Philadelphia area every year with my son to visit the campus and surrounding area when its not too crowded as game days. another thing I brought my grand kids last year to visit the campus and we were going to make it a annual trip. I love Wrigleyville but I’d rather do Chicago another time.
I would rather it be at Notre Dame Stadium. I enjoy the trip (from Chicago) to see the campus again. I had plans to bring my new son in law this year since he has never been to South Bend.
I’d be there for sure!
BTW – every Notre Dame Spring sports team has a home game scheduled for that weekend. (Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, Baseball and Softball)
As a family, we enjoy all of the weekend activities such as the players brunch, “Shirt” revealing, mass at Basilica, grotto, baseball and softball games. It is a little more affordable because hotels aren’t tripled like regular season games and we get to enjoy the campus like we have for the last 25 years. In that last 25 years you can’t tell me that there wasn’t any construction going on. We still had a great time because of the surroundings, didn’t matter if you had to avoid a few orange cones along the way.
I would prefer it to be on campus as I take my two boys. They are members of the Kids Club and the activities on campus are great. I also like that it coincides with the unveiling of “The Shirt”.
Saving my money and gasoline for the Shamrock Series in Boston.
It’s about a 7 hour drive one way for me regaurdless so the drive isn’t the issue. I planned on taking my whole family this year, several who have never been before. But to be honest a huge part of it is getting to walk around campus and visit the bookstores. So if it isn’t going to be in South Bend then I will probably have to skip on this one.
i will go for to soldier but will miss the trip to ND
NOT happy about a relocation from ND stadium. My boyfriend is a huge ND fan, even named his dog Rudy after the movie that was filmed there. And I just booked a very expensive hotel there for that weekend to take him to the Blue Gold game as a surprise for his 50th birthday, as he’d love to see a game, but really wants to walk the property and see a game THERE. If this does get relocated insure hope it’s announced soon. I’ve had this planned for 3 years!!
me too! I planned for this for 2 years–plus I was Rudy’s Mom and Dad’s doc for several years!! I really feel that comercializing this game way too much. I agree totally with Stacy K
Like the idea of Soldier Field cause I live in Northwest Indiana. My question is will they still host the breakfast where you can meet the players? Really enjoyed that.
Was the last Blue-Gold Game played on too soft a field that the next one has to played on a Solider Field?
I never heard of Solider Field!!!??
I like the way Neil Ryan thinks. We could get some benefit from that, and frankly, the are a large number of Chicagoans who will attend and be a bit more excited that the usual bringers of ennui in Michiana.
But I respect Rich’s position also.
My concern about Soldier Field is bringing Golson to the game.
What if what Jay Cutler has is contagious and lurking in the
mold of the locker rooms of Soldier Field?
In terms of useless data, the game at Soldier Field would mean that the irish will, by the end of 2015’s regular season have played in the following present or past NFL venues in a two year period
Lucas Oil
MetLife Stadium (occupied by NFL’s Giants and a green-clad cotenant of questionable pedigree)
Sun Devil Stadium
Fed Ex Field
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
LP Field (Nashville)
Soldier Field
Lincoln Financial Field
Three Rivers
Fenway Park (Butch Songin, Gino Cappelletti and the Boston Patriots)
That is probably some sort of record, however arcane, and
may at least be amusing to the players.
Concerned for Golson? What disease could a starting NFL quarterback give to a college back up that isn’t good? Even syphilis would help his ball handling.
ennui, diffidence, existential boredom. If you have expertise on syphilitic ball handlers, well, I’m here to learn.
Regarding recruiting,this may be a good way to show recruits that ND is close to a great city with a lot to do and many sports activities.Possibly recruits could take the train into Chicago from South Bend on a special car with a club car and then back to South Bend after the game.Chicago should be used as a plus for recruiting.
agree, rather it be ND stadium, but Soldier Field is a nice runner up and that could be turned into a recruiting tool as well…look we might play the next couple of spring games in pro stadiums…
If the game needs to be moved due to stadium construction activities, then Chicago’s a great choice – good flights and great restaurants!
Good for alums, not so much for recruits, but if you can’t play at ND it is probably the best choice available.
my last entry. In “my” past experience, the Blue/Gold game is supposed to be for fun. the 100 yards of turf should be about the same , despite construction.
To be totally honest, going to Soldier Field rather then ND Stadium has absolutely no appeal to me. The campus at ND is special and it is certainly a great place to bring recruits on Blue/Gold Game day! Going to SF would actually be disappointing if I were a recruit. GO IRISH!!!!
I agree that the best part of the Blue and Gold game is being on campus. Soldier Field is a lot longer drive from Indianapolis too. I hope it stays on campus!
agree agree agree
and by longer i mean more difficult with chicago traffic and parking
Longer drive from indy but could be really cool
Of course I would go – best city and team in the nation – real winning combination
April 17-19th Cubs games?
Yes. The Cubs official website lists the Padres as being in town that weekend.
I want to go to a “football game” with my sons when it is not a zoo on campus.
We can visit (and do ) Chicago anytime! not in favor of this choice
Agreed- was looking forward to this “trip” for my husband to take our son and have a “guys weekend” at Notre Dame- NOT Chicago
We have a party of 9 and always go to the breakfast and book store. Will not make the trip to Chicago.