Minium: Head to Kaufman Mall Earlier than ODU Football Games for Meals, Drink and Enjoyable

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – Game time for Old Dominion’s soccer dwelling opener Saturday in opposition to North Carolina Central is 6 p.m., however in the event you don’t arrive to S.B. Ballard Stadium a lot earlier, you’re going to overlook a ton of enjoyable.

When I first get to the stadium, I typically stroll across the tailgate tons and spend time with the tons of pleasant folks consuming, ingesting and having a very good time.

Even in the event you do the identical, I’d recommend that you just then shortly head to Kaufman Mall, situated between Hampton Boulevard and Webb Student Center and 47^th and 49^th streets. It is a four-acre plot of land that features ODU’s Lion Fountain and is the first outside gathering spot on campus.

With timber and plush grass surrounded by tutorial buildings, it’s a nice place to sit back earlier than a recreation and has regularly turn into the main focus of pre-game celebrations for ODU soccer.

Beginning at 2 p.m., ODU will provide meals vehicles, leisure and video games. Bring a simple chair with you, however you possibly can neglect having to haul a grill and cooler. We present all the pieces to eat and drink and be merry.  

Because of the rising recognition of Kaufman Mall, the University has added extra sights.

The beer backyard, kids’s play space, a gargantuan TV displaying school soccer and meals vehicles all return – “Hot Mamas” southern delicacies and “Ghost Kitchen,” which has superior burgers. We’ve added “I Love Kookies,” which can provide cookies and different deserts.

As ordinary, there will likely be yard video games, together with corn gap, which is a soccer staple. But we’ve added an uncommon recreation – an ax throwing competitors. No, axes aren’t actual, however go forward and embrace your inside Leif Erikson. 

There will bands at each dwelling recreation, beginning 4 hours earlier than game-time, and for the primary recreation it’s Almost Famous, a Virginia Beach band that performs all the pieces from southern rock and roll to different and dance music.

At 3:30 p.m., the ODU band makes the primary of two appearances at Kaufman Mall and at 3:45, the Monarch soccer crew and coaches do the standard Monarch March, from Webb Center to S.B. Ballard Stadium.

For true ODU followers, it’s normally an emotional second to see the crew march to the stadium simply hours earlier than kickoff. And it’s additionally emotional for the gamers and coaches.

“The Monarch Walk is a tradition that our players and coaches really enjoy,” ODU Head Coach Ricky Rahne stated. “We really like interacting with the fans. For me, I get to see my family, and our players and coaches get to see their families.”

And followers can shake the palms of ODU gamers and coaches.

At 3:55 p.m., Ted Alexander, voice of the Monarchs, will interview ODU males’s and girls’s basketball head coaches Mike Jones and Delisha Milton-Jones over loudspeakers.

Both coaches, together with lots of their gamers and assistant coaches, will likely be tailgating as a gaggle on Kaufman Mall, and you’ll go tailgate with them. Fans are urged to mingle with basketball gamers and coaches.

Our bookstore has a brand new operator – Barnes & Noble – and I’m excited to see the newly renovated ODU Bookstore situated at forty third Street and Monarch Way. It’s an awesome place to purchase your whole athletic gear. It is simply steps away from the Chartway Arena parking garages, which, by the best way, are the perfect place to park if you do not have a reserved house. 

But ODU gear may even be offered at a kiosk on Kaufman Mall and also will be accessible inside S.B. Ballard Stadium.

The stadium gates open at 4:30 p.m. and at 5, the pregame radio present hosted by Rick Kiefner and Alexander, additionally begins. You can hear the present through loudspeakers in the event you don’t have your radio with you.

And by the best way, the radio crew’s broadcast inside S.B. Ballard Stadium will likely be streamed stay on the ODU Athletics Facebook and the ODU Athletics YouTube pages.

At 5, the marching band returns to play in entrance of the Webb Center, after which marches into the stadium round 5:20.

At 5:45, there will likely be a flyover of three Navy Blackhawk helicopters, and thanks to former Marine and Virginia Beach Police captain Harry McBrien for serving to to rearrange that with the Navy.

There will likely be flyovers each dwelling recreation in addition to parachuters dropping into the stadium after we host Liberty on Sept. 27 and Troy on Nov. 13.

If you determine to enter the stadium early, drop by one of many tables the place recreation packages are being offered and you’ll decide up a Hudson Blue rally towel – 3,500 will likely be distributed. I’ve seen them and so they’re fairly cool.

And then head to retailers both on the East Side (customer’s facet) or South End Zone (beneath the Atlantic Bay Football Complex), to buy restricted version Old Dominion YETI Rambler® Tumblers.

Three totally different tumblers will likely be offered, one every on Saturday, then on Oct. 25 for ODU’s homecoming recreation in opposition to App State and on Nov. 13, when the Monarchs host Troy on a recreation to be televised by ESPN. They’re collector’s gadgets and as soon as they’re offered, no extra will likely be accessible.

Click right here for info on Yeti Tumblers

ODU may even cater your tailgating expertise in the event you’d like, from meals and drinks, chairs and even a tent. It’s too late to rearrange a tailgate for N.C. Central however we are able to maintain your wants at some other or our 5 dwelling video games.

Click right here for info on tailgate packages

One final reminder: ODU season tickets stay among the many greatest bargains in school soccer. For $200, you get six video games and that features free parking within the close by Chartway Arena garages. Tickets stay accessible and are far inexpensive than buying tickets recreation by recreation.

And for tickets you don’t need to use, you possibly can simply promote them on-line or switch them to household and mates. All it takes is just a few clicks in your mobile phone.

Click here to pick out your season ticket seat location

A reminder, that excluding small wallets and purses (max is 6 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches), you possibly can solely deliver clear baggage into the stadium. ODU’s coverage is in step with each different FBS program in Virginia.

Click right here for ODU’s clear bag coverage

ODU’s company suites are all offered out, as ordinary, however there are a small variety of loge seats accessible – that’s luxurious seating within the South End Zone with entry to food and drinks and superior seats proper on high of the motion.

Click here for information on ODU premium seating

For particular person recreation tickets, click here.

The drone present that was such a giant hit throughout final season’s Thursday evening recreation in opposition to Georgia Southern returns when the Monarchs host Troy, once more  on Thursday evening and once more on nationwide TV.

We have some surprises we’re engaged on for that recreation, which is our Military Appreciation Night. Stay tuned to www.odusports.com for extra info.

 Minium is ODU’s senior government author. Contact him at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram