Welcome U-Conn fans! You will find that Columbia is one of the most consummate college towns in the country; as noted by Southern Living Magazine in 2014, as being named one of best college towns. Columbia also named as one of the best places to live in many publications and lists.
Most of the best places in Columbia on football weekends are in downtown Columbia (called The District). Downtown is right next to campus and easy walking distance to Faurot Field (The ZOU); a good suggestion for out of town visitors is to park downtown in one of parking garages on game day (more on parking and tailgating later). Downtown’s best bets include: Harpo's (called one of the best college bars in the country by many lists; named #1 by The Bleacher Report in August, 2014); Booche's (old time pool hall and bar; named in USA Today as having one of the best burgers in the country); Shakespeare’s Pizza (name the best pizza and college hangout in the country in 2010 by ABC Good Morning America); Flat Branch (brew pub, great food, nice patio); Shiloh (cold beer, pub food, hot waitresses). Other good places downtown: Bengal’s (pub food, outside game day tent in the parking lot); Heidelberg (good pub food, best tenderloin sandwich around); Campus Bar and Grill, Field House, Willies (all good college bars); Quinton’s bar and grill (best sandwich selection in town) has a huge multilevel outdoor deck area-2-4 stories up- with the best view of campus and downtown; Blu also has a nice patio; Sycamore, Addison’s, (and Blu) Mackenzie’s Prime Steaks, Tellers and The Eleven Eleven (on the 8th floor) at new Broadway (Double Tree Hotel) are downtown restaurants/great places for a nice dinner/drinks on Friday or Saturday nights; and for late evening martini’s, The Vault (basement of the restored boutique Tiger Hotel) has been restored back to a 1920’s speakeasy . Friday night before game day is pretty crazy downtown; marching Mizzou makes it rounds between different bars also
9th Street (downtown) has been named one of top university streets in the country in several publications. Located on 9th Street: Heidelberg, Campus Bar, Quinton’s Shakespeare’s, Tiger Spirit (Tiger gear); Kaldi’s, Panera and Lakota coffee houses; Booche’s; The Blue Note (one of top live music small venues in the country); Sparky’s homemade ice cream. Downtown Columbia is also home of numerous boutique shops and over 15 art galleries/ North Village Art District. Sure there are other great restaurants and clubs/bars outside of downtown in Columbia, but the downtown area is the best place for first time visitors to explore; especially with its proximity to campus/Faurot Field.
Leaving downtown be sure and walk south down 8th or 9th streets to campus (going to Faurot Field) and to the “Quad”. On the Quad is where you will find the oldest buildings (called the red campus) on the Mizzou campus; found on the Quad is the most famous symbol of Mizzou, The Columns. The 6 Columns are what are left from a fire in 1892 that destroyed Academic Hall. Many traditions of Mizzou surround The Columns (Freshmen and Senior walk) and The Columns were also the backdrop for Mizzou’s record setting attendance for ESPN’s College Game Day in 2010 (Mizzou went on to beat #1 OU that evening!). Many fans park downtown on game day-it is a nice walk south from downtown, through the Quad/campus, through Greek Town (Mizzou has one of the largest fraternity and sorority systems in the country) and on to the stadium (a little over a mile walk; around a 20-25 minutes from downtown to the stadium).
Faurot Field is named after legendary Mizzou Football Coach and Athletic Director, Don Faurot. Coach Faurot is credited with being the inventor of the Spilt T/option formation in the 1940’s. Faurot Field is located on the far south end of campus in athletic complex area called “The Sports Park at Mizzou”. Almost all of Mizzou’s sports facilities are located in this area. The Audrey Walton Soccer and Track facility is called one of best in the nation. And Mizzou Arena has been called the best on-campus college basketball arenas in the country also. As an FYI, “Mizzou” is short for: Missouri State University (the official name of University of Missouri for many years; early 1900’s athletic teams had MSU on their jerseys).
Mizzou is a big tailgate school; back in the 1980-90’s when football was so bad, tailgating became “the major reason” to attend games. It should be noted that through the 14 year span of under .500 records, a core fan base of about 45,000 stuck it out. Some of us old timers have sat through a lot of really bad football through the years and we are really enjoying Mizzou resurgence and move to the SEC! Mizzou was picked by several publications in 2010 as the best overall game day experience in the old big (bevo) 12 conference. The majority of the major tailgating areas are within comfortable walking distance to Faurot Field. All the lots around Faurot Field are restricted donor lots. There is non-donor parking in the campus garages and downtown parking garages (no grilling in any parking garage), the fraternities along Providence Rd, also sell parking in their yards/lots and also parking is permitted along certain stretches of Stadium Blvd. and Providence Rd. (Faurot Field is at the intersection of Stadium Blvd and Providence Rd.). Visiting fans will be welcomed at most tailgating areas for a few beers, food and respectful football talk. Drinking is allowed in the Mizzou's tailgate areas; just use common sense with walking around with open containers (also no kegs are allowed). Also be for warned the Mizzou and Columbia Police departments have no tolerance for drinking and driving. (i.e. the Mizzou athletic department’s largest donor got a DWI from the Mizzou Police a few years ago). Columbia/Boone County has the reputation for being the worst place in the state to get a DWI/most patrolled city in the state.
The Tiger Walk game day tradition has become a fan favorite and it takes place approximately two hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff. The Tiger Walk gives fans a chance to welcome the team and coaches as they walk from the football complex, cross the Tiger Walk Bridge, spanning Providence Road, and walk down behind the stadium to their game day locker room.
Another game day tradition, about 35 minutes before kickoff, is when the Marching Mizzou, the beautiful Golden Girls-Mizzou’s award winning dance squad (and the Mizzou cheer squads and Truman the Tiger) march from their staging area at the Hearnes Center into the stadium area to get ready for their pregame performance. Fans line Mick Diver Drive (east side of Faurot) to cheer the band and sing the Mizzou fight songs. The Marching Mizzou Pregame Show is a not to miss Mizzou tradition. The 300+ member band has a very traditional pregame show that is unchanged in years with elements that include: the Missouri Waltz, singing of the alma matter-Old Missouri, and the Flip Tiger formation with the Mizzou fight songs: "Every True Son" and "Fight, Tigers".
At Faurot Field during the game, U-Conn fans will quickly learn about the MIZ-ZOU cheer and ROTC cannon which is shot when the Tigers enter the field before kickoff and after every score-which we hope happens quite frequency against the U-Conn defense! U-Conn fans will also witness the whole crowd swaying to the Missouri Waltz between the 3rd and 4th quarters. On the North end of Faurot Field is the historic rock “M”. The traditional block “M,” carved from stone by the freshman class in 1927, guards the stadium’s north end zone and gives Faurot Field one of the more unique landmarks around the country. Each fall the new freshmen class paints the “M” as a part of freshman week. And a tradition on senior day for the football team is for senior members of the team grab a rock from the “M” after the game to remember their career at Mizzou.
Mizzou is a tradition rich school and we welcome visiting fans to Columbia. We hope you enjoy your trip, but go home disappointed with score!
Also, saw info on parking and will try and get there early for free parking or one of the $15 lots. Couldn't find rooms locally so got room in Jeff. City. Got a new hat with new Husky, like the green eyes.
with either some cold brews or Bloody Maries. Someone would just need to pick up a cheap Styrofoam cooler and a bag of ice for the brews. All things considered, that might be the best way to go unless anyone wants to go to the local liquor and grocery store for the required Bloody Mary (0r other) supplies.