College: North Carolina State University
Year: 2018
Game: NC State 47 Florida State 28
Rating: 8.5
Cost Index: Mid
Cost Index: Mid
Stadium: Carter-Finley Stadium
If you want to make it part of a larger trip: Duke, North Carolina, Wake ForestDon't Miss: Tailgate
Avoid: Nothing to avoid on this one
Attendees: Bones
Summary: I've been wanting to go to NC State for a long time. It's a difficult spot to plan for because you never know when they are going to be good...and even when they are good they are never that good. At most you have 2 games a year to choose from. I was going to go to the West Virginia game...glad I didn't because it got cancelled. I lucked out a bit on this game. It certainly wasn't marquee because Florida State is down but the atmosphere was pretty good and NC State won. Weather was good...so overall a good trip.
Pre-game: The tailgate was exceptional. The stadium isn't really on campus, it's part of the state fairgrounds. That setup generally works really well. North Carolina is great, they still play the music I like down there. The women down there still focus on being feminine. The attitude is pretty laid back. Just a good spot all around.
I didn't spend a ton of time tail gating as I was there solo. I ended up at a bar not far from the stadium called the Backyard Bistro. It was fine, nothing special. There are not a ton of bars around the stadium which is surprising because the arena that the Hurricanes and NC State basketball share is in the same complex.
Pre-game: The tailgate was exceptional. The stadium isn't really on campus, it's part of the state fairgrounds. That setup generally works really well. North Carolina is great, they still play the music I like down there. The women down there still focus on being feminine. The attitude is pretty laid back. Just a good spot all around.
I didn't spend a ton of time tail gating as I was there solo. I ended up at a bar not far from the stadium called the Backyard Bistro. It was fine, nothing special. There are not a ton of bars around the stadium which is surprising because the arena that the Hurricanes and NC State basketball share is in the same complex.
Game Experience: It was pretty good. It always tough to get a feel for a place when the game isn't huge. Then again, when was the last time NC State had a huge game? Gameday has been there once, in 2004, for a game against Miami (they lost 45-31). That's tied with Western MIchigan, Williams and Temple. That should not be the case with NC State, they've had a lot of great players there.
The atmosphere was decent, but the stadium is small and not completely enclosed so it doesn't get as loud as it does in some other places.
The atmosphere was decent, but the stadium is small and not completely enclosed so it doesn't get as loud as it does in some other places.
Stadium: Carter-Finley. The stadium is really well designed, everything looks like it belongs. As stated previously, the lots around the stadium make for a great tailgate. It fits the area it's in and it fits the NC State program. One negative...I was sitting right about the students and had no idea. It was probably the lamest student section I've even dealt with at a game.
The Wolf Pack statues in front of the stadium are...very cool (pics below)
The Wolf Pack statues in front of the stadium are...very cool (pics below)
Post Game: This was a 3:30 kick and there were a bunch of important games on that day and night. I went to a place called Desy's to watch the games. When it was clear that Alabama was going to beat LSU I got out of there and went to Raleigh Brewing company. I'm old, so there wasn't much going on at that point so I went home.
Overall: Solid college football experience. Would love to go back if they
