Road Trip Travel Tips - Lawrence, KS

by 54b on Nov 10, 2008 10:41 AM CST in Football Comment 13 comments

Texas vs. Kansas • Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS • November 15, 2008

Overview: Something tells me Jayhawks fans didn't expect to be 6-4 at this point in the season when they circled the Texas game on the calendar last summer. Regardless, I don't think KU will have completely turned their attention to basketball season as it'll be Senior Day and I'm sure the memory of UT's last visit to Lawrence still sticks in their collective craw.

Travel tips after the jump...

Lodging: Lawrence is not exactly what you’d call a tourism hot spot, so I've no doubt the limited number of hotels in town are already booked. If so, you may want to consider hotels in Topeka or Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City.

Transportation: Renting a car will be a must considering the closest major airport is MCI, located on the north side of Kansas City, a 45-50 minute drive from Lawrence.

Restaurants/Bars: Two words, “Mass Street,” which is short for Massachusetts Street and located just a few blocks east of campus. Pretty much any restaurant, bar, or club you’d want to go to the night before or after the game will be in the vicinity.

54b’s picks:

    The Free State Brewing Co., 636 Massachusetts St., 785-843-4555

    Jefferson’s, 743 Massachusetts St., 785-832-2000

    Quinton’s Bar & Deli, 615 Massachusetts St. 785-842-6560

    Red Lyon Tavern, 944 Massachusetts St., 785-832-8228

    The Jayhawker, 701 Massachusetts St., 785-749-5011

    The Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St., 785-749-7676

Tailgating: While there’s usually good tailgating on the hill next the stadium, I'm guessing the weather and early start time will keep the pre-gaming limited. Afterwards, Texas fans may be interested in a post-game pub crawl at some of KU’s great college bars just east of campus: The Wheel (14th and Ohio Streets, 785-841-0488), The Hawk (13th and Ohio Streets, 785-843-9273), and The Crossing (12th St. and Oread Ave.) UPDATE: Apparently this bar has closed. But be prepared to hike, as you would not believe how hilly the KU campus is despite popular beliefs about Kansas being flat.

Tickets: Memorial Stadium only seats 50,000, so while there isn’t a bad seat in the house, tickets will be hard to come by. And even though scalping is legal in Kansas, the KU athletic department has implemented rules cracking down on the practice, issuing citations to both scalpers and buyers. So be advised if you’re unable to procure tickets from the KU Ticket Office (800-34-HAWKS, kuathletics.com) or via the Internet prior to game day.

Gameday Traditions: The Jayhawk mascot is a cross between a blue jay and a sparrow hawk. It was a name coined back in the 1850s to describe the more vocal and belligerent individuals involved in the decision on whether to make Kansas a free state or a slave state. Lawrence was a stronghold for the free state proponents.

“Rock-chalk-Jayhawk, KU” is a 100+ year-old battle cry invented by a Kansas University chemistry professor. The chant was officially adopted as the school-yell in 1887. “Rock chalk” is symbolic of the chalky limestone formations on Mount Oread on top of which the campus resides.

Also, during sporting events, KU fans like to raise their hands up and wave them back in forth to create a visual effect akin to a wheat field waiving in the wind.

Local Attractions: Named after “Phog” Allen, one of the all-time great basketball coaches, Allen Fieldhouse (1700 Naismith Dr.) is practically a monument to college basketball history and definitely worth the visit.

Special thanks to Jeremy Chrysler (phogblog.com)

0 recs | Comment 13 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

A few things...

I would disagree on the hotel situation and guess that many are very likely already booked in Lawrence (truthfully there just aren’t that many), you may be able to catch one but your best bet at this point will be Olathe, Lenexa, Overland Park, KCK all an easy 25 minute drive to Lawrence.

Your bar picks are spot on although the crossing unfortunately is no longer in existance…a personal favorite of mine and not too far from the stadium, a great little dive called Louise’s West. Situated at 7th and Michigan, maybe 4-5 blocks from the stadium.

Lastly I would echo the recommendation of checking out the fieldhouse, if there is one thing you Texas folks appreciate it’s sports and this place has a ton of history.

Anybody ends up staying in KC i’d be happy to give some rec’s around there too…

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Denverjhawk on Nov 10, 2008 11:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for additional info

I’ve updated above…as for the hotels, I thought they were already booked as well, but it still might be worth a try with late cancellations.

Be nobody but yourself in a world that desperately wants you to be like everybody else.

by 54b on Nov 10, 2008 12:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

so that's what a jayhawk is

I always thought it was some sort of hawk that ate jays. Thank you, 54b, for enriching my life with knowledge.

by andy_wooster on Nov 10, 2008 12:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

“Terrorist” is also historically accurate.

We'll carry the banner high!
Bring On The Cats

by TB on Nov 10, 2008 1:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Especially for those that don't understand it

by hiphopopotamus on Nov 10, 2008 1:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Trust me, I understand it

I was being partially facetious, but if you think the jayhawkers were virtuous freedom fighters, your teachers engaged in some revisionist history.

We'll carry the banner high!
Bring On The Cats

by TB on Nov 10, 2008 2:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Who committed the sacking of Osceola, MO?

On September 10, “with a smart little army of about 1,500,” Lane started northward along the Missouri line. His avowed objective, however, was not to pursue Price but to “clear out” the valley of the Osage and to “pitch into” the towns of Butler, Harrisonville, Osceola, and Clinton. On September 12 he reached Trading Post, Kansas, and from there turned eastward into Missouri. As soon as they crossed the border his men began to loot, burn, and perhaps murder and rape.12

The climax of Lane’s march occurred at Osceola on September 23. After exchanging a few shots with some Confederates on the outskirts, his men entered the town and proceeded to ransack it. They robbed the bank, pillaged stores and private houses, and looted the courthouse. Captain Thomas Moonlight bombarded this last building with a cannon, and others set fire to the town, almost totally destroying it. Many of the Kansans got so drunk that when it came time to leave they were unable to march and had to ride in wagons and carriages.13 They carried off with them a tremendous load of plunder, including as Lane’s personal share a piano and a quantity of silk dresses.14 The “Sack of Osceola” henceforth was a prime cause of bitter hatred of Lane and Kansans by the people of West Missouri.

More can be found here.

They believed that Lane’s raid, which was prior to Quantrill’s sacking of Lawrence, contributed to a lot of the violent Kansas/Missouri hatred that lead to Quantrill’s raid later on.

So, as usual, a bunch of drunken Jayhawks descended upon some town, acted a fool, and ended up causing a ruckus.

Some things never change.

"He that never changes his opinions, never corrects his mistakes, will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today." -- Tryon Edwards

by Panjandrum on Nov 10, 2008 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The very next sentence...

The self-proclaimed purpose of Lane’s expedition was to suppress secessionist sentiment in western Missouri and to hamper Price’s operations. But his real objective, besides plunder, was to give a practical demonstration of what he had told his Senate colleagues in July, that slavery could not survive the march of the Union armies.15 By the time his brigade had completed its march scores of Negroes were present in its ranks as teamsters, cooks, and even as soldiers.16 Probably most of the Negroes came along on their own accord.

I guess I’ll never think of fighting slavery as terrorism, despite what may have occured on the side. But more importantly, I ’ll agree to end this pointless argument here and now.

by hiphopopotamus on Nov 10, 2008 3:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The irony is shocking though...

Jayhawks always start out with the best of intentions, but in the end, they get drunk, make fools of themselves, and do something illegal/shady as a result.

Agreed. Argument ended.

"He that never changes his opinions, never corrects his mistakes, will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today." -- Tryon Edwards

by Panjandrum on Nov 10, 2008 10:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tickets

If anyone out there has tickets to the game they can’t use, I’m looking for three. It looks like they’re mostly going for below face ($60) on ebay, so I’m not too worried about getting some scalped tickets at the game, but it would be nice if we could get seats in the longhorn section or from a fellow BON’er.

Also, for any music lovers making the trip, Robert Randolph is playing Friday night at the Granada theater, although I don’t see any sites selling tickets for it yet.

by Drinking the Orange Kool Aid on Nov 10, 2008 1:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Curiously checking the weather

I noticed the preliminary forecast for saturday, from TWC: low 23, high 42, winds from the north at 22mph and gusting higher. Because it’s an am kickoff, expect temps in the 30s for most of the game, with a wind chill possibly in the teens. Of course, it is likely to change, but something to keep an eye on.

It’s a good thing we live off passes under 15 yards, because long balls might not be possible.

by BigTexBD on Nov 10, 2008 1:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mangino

must ride the golf cart around…..there is no way anybody can be that overweight near Memorial Stadium if you’re hiking your ass up and down those hills. If you have to park and walk a fair distance to the stadium, you’ll be glad when you actually get to sit down.

by UTHorns on Nov 11, 2008 10:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Longhorn seating section

Going to the game with my dad who happens to be Kansas season ticket holder. That should be interesting considering I will be clad in burnt orange. I might have to find a way to sneak into the Longhorn section so I am surrounded by a much friendlier crowd. Sitting in a KU alumni section with my Horns gear on could be dangerous lol

Guaranteed to work 60% of the time, every time.

by poteet76 on Nov 14, 2008 7:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs