Thanks! Actually, we are Ohio State fans coming from Columbus. We will be staying at the Edgewater Hotel and will be looking for a good place to hang out for some food and drinks for a few hours before the game. We will be walking from the hotel, so someplace in between would be perfect!

I'm glad to hear you have your hotel reserved. That is usually the most challenging part of a football week end in Madison. State street is directly between the Edgewater and Camp Randall. A place like State Street Brats is a pre game hang out, but you can find all kinds of restaurants on State St.

The Stadium bar on Monroe St directly across from Camp Randall is a popular hangout before games. It is mainly a drinking place, but they have good burgers and brats. It's unlikely you would find a place to sit. Most people stand in the parkng lot where extra bars are set up and listen to music from a dj.

There is also the Kollege Klub which is roughly halfway between your hotel and the stadium. If you get there early enough, you should be able to sit for a while. Or you can go to the Memorial Union, also about halfway, and you will have choices - coffee, ice cream, food and/or beer.

Since Ohio State is such a big game in Madison, you will have lots of options as Game Day approaches. Keep an eye on the web site that Pam recommended, and you should have plenty of ideas to choose from.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

I think everyone was napping over the weekend. So glad you finally got some responses!

Your best bet would be to hang out in the State Street area, or also bars along University Ave, if you want to sit for a few hours. Then head towards the stadium and maybe get your last few drinks there, likely standing.

Thanks for the info everyone! I am looking forward to it!

Now that my November football trip to Madison is getting closer, I am starting to do some research again on possible restaurants to go to on gameday. The Old Fashioned restaurant sounds really good. Does anyone know if it would be possible to get a table there for a group of around 8 people to hang out, eat and drink for several hours before going to the game?

The OF is equipped to handle parties of 8, and they will not give you a time limit. You will probably enjoy it more than being closer to the Stadium, as they have two large rooms of tables. It can be very loud in there, though, so keep that in mind. If you want to talk to each other a lot, you might prefer someplace else, but the OF is a true Wisconsin original.

They serve breakfast on the weekends, too, so you could go early and start with coffee, in case you've been up late the night before!

Keep the questions coming as you read and learn more!

Thanks! That's good to hear! We really don't want to go barhopping, but still want to eat, drink and have a good time!