Right at the intersection of the midwest and southeast sits Louisville, Kentucky. Described by those who live there as a melding pot of cultures and regions, Louisville offers a unique blend of Midwestern friendliness, Southern hospitality, and American culture. In the words of hometown legend Muhammad Ali, “my greatness came and started from Louisville, Kentucky. And that’s one of the greatest cities in the world.” The folks of Louisville are prideful of their city and for good reason. And a Louisville football game day reflects everything its people are.
My first interaction with Louisville Cardinal fans came online, like with many others. A simple feeler looking for a couple suggestions of game day activities turned into a complete guide to the city, fall Saturday or otherwise. I was overwhelmed with the response – the people of Louisville are among the most welcoming group in the nation.
C-A-R-D-S! CARDS!
Call To Post In Derby City
Find the right area to park (due west of the stadium) and you’ll put yourself in a position to walk to legendary Churchill Downs. Fans of horse racing find themselves on hallowed grounds and all sports likely find awe at one of the world’s most unique venues. The brand new multi-million dollar paddock (pictured) is open to all on non-Kentucky Derby days; general admission tickets – which includes track-level access down the home stretch – are just $10. Free racing forms (or, in this day’s case, booklets) are built into the price, well worth the money if you’re a horse racing enthusiast.
After a quick self-tour (or guided for $20), head over to L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium for ample pregame opportunities. If you’re just visiting and don’t have a tailgate to attend, Louisville has you covered. Three pregame events stand out: StreetFest, The Alley, and Card March.
I recommend visiting StreetFest first to get game swag (in this case, a special 10-year ACC Anniversary towel) and free samples. A local chef gave away delectable samples of smoked wings and pulled pork. StreetFest already puts you in the best position to view the Card March (team walk) 2 1/2 hours before kickoff. Under the bridge provides the most intense experience and reprieve from the sun, which was absolutely necessary this day.
The Alley is a free community tailgate that offers jumbo screens to watch the other big games of the day and food and drink. Though I didn’t get to personally check out, it came highly recommended by dozens of Twitter users.
Find A Home At Louisville
Another highly-recommended experience sent to me by over a dozen people was the Collision Course Crew. This tailgate features a handful of other large tailgates morphed into one. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the stadium, but it was well worth the hike.
Bill, one of the founders of the tailgate, described this zone as a welcome place for those without a tailgating home. The Crew prides itself on welcoming in anyone willing to bring a side (or small donation) to enjoy pregame festivities. Whether you’re sporting Cardinal Red or Jacket Gold (or Kentucky Blue, if you play your cards right), you’re family here. Opposing fans, player families, and others are welcomed with open arms at this tailgate. Since its founding in 2017, the Crew grew to encompass an entire parking lot full of tailgaters and friends.
The main lot features a decked-out trailer, modified from almost scratch by the group. It features a fill walk-up walk-around bar, several TVs, and menus based on the regional food of that week’s opponent. This week featured pork chop sandwiches and iconic Georgia Peach cobbler… with a Louisville twist.
Next to the first area sits a firetruck. That lot is known as the Bachman Brigade, founded in 2018, the modified firetruck features a few local taps and more friendly folk. This extended group pays homage to Heroes On The Field (former players) and Heroes Off The Field (active duty military members, veterans, and first responders).
A Scorcher At L&N Stadium
The official start to autumn wasn’t until the following day and Louisville was throwing one more summer punch. Highs this day soared to 92º, with “feels like” temperatures pushing 100º. Add in the 50,000+ in the direct sun, concrete, and turf, and L&N Stadium was well into the 100s. Despite that, over 50,000 fans packed the stands for this game.
Get into the stadium early for one of the better beer deals in the country. From gate open until kickoff, all domestic beers and pops up on the second-level “Party Deck” concourse were half off (only $5 each!). I was warned that the Party Deck gets crowded, but the heat kept most thirsty fans at tailgates or in the shaded and breezy concourses.
Despite being a relatively “new” NCAA football program (founded in 1962), the Cardinals have a jampacked traditions list. Fans throw up the L – a direct opposition to what the football team typically gets on the field, a W – and engage in a thunderous C-A-R-D-S! Cards! chant as the band snaps to each letter in formation. Just before the Card March, cheerleaders break out six or more different chants, all of which the crowd seems to be pretty familiar with. Being situated right next to Churchill Downs, and nicknamed “Derby City,” a trumpeter plays a Call To Post, like what’s heard before the Kentucky Derby.
Just before the team kicks off, the PA Announcer shouts, “It’s time for this train to leave the station,” and fans (usually children) press a button that releases smoke and blasts a train horn – a homage to the nearby railroad tracks just west of the stadium. Louisville as a city is an important commerce hub with its railroad and airport.
#19 Louisville 31, Georgia Tech 19
As much as I love to look at the positives of a game day, I also wish to be honest about them. Louisville is the only football game day in town; as a result, L&N Stadium leans on a professional football feel to game day. The speakers in the stadium are deafening and incessant.
Unless you sit directly across from or next to the band, you won’t hear them much. Sitting in the 300s, I was able to see horses running down the home stretch at Churchill Downs, but I didn’t hear a lick of the band. Louisville leans heavily into hip hop and a club vibe, not much for what I look for at college football events. Even crowd chants are drowned out, a real shame here.
A proud legend native to the city is Muhammad Ali. Before defensive every third down, a boxing bell is rung and the rans jingle keys to intimidate and fluster opposing offenses. Stick around for the break between the third and fourth quarter, as L&N Stadium blasts Joker and the Thief, the same song the Cardinals run out to. This game break turns out into an all-out pep rally and energizes the crowd, so much so that they forced a miscommunication and sack coming out of it.
Louisville scored on a fumble recovery (a deemed backwards pass knocked down a picked up in the end zone) and a blocked field goal to beat visiting Georgia Tech, 31-19. It seemed to be all Yellow Jackets until the fourth quarter. Cards QB Tyler Shough slipped on a play action boot attempt, resulting in a safety. Louisville’s offensive points came on long touchdowns, giving the crowd plenty of excitement.
The ACC referees made no friends this day with long review delays and questionable penalties. But the Cards came out on top and moved to 15th in the subsequent AP Poll. When the final bell sounded, Louisville notched its 2,000th varsity sports win.
Louisville Game Day Grades
Stadium: B. Metal bleachers define college football stadiums. Individual molded seats boost the fan experience, in my opinion. The stadium is spacious and I’m a big fan of the unique north end zone structure. This stadium is visually appealing and sensible.
Tradition: B-. Louisville cheerleaders offer a diverse group of crowd cheers. From C-A-R-D-S! Cards! to other catchy cheers, the crowd is always engaged. Bonus points for a good hand sign (throwing up the Ls) and a multitude of pregame traditions, including the Call To Post and “Time for this train to leave the station,” a hat tip to the nearby train depot.
Atmosphere: C. L&N Stadium struck me more as an NFL environment than a collegiate one. The band was hard to hear, no matter where you sat, and stadium speakers were louder than your local dive. It’s tough to have a conversation and it all felt very professional. If that’s your thing, perhaps you disagree with this rating. But the stadium acoustics were very hard to ignore.
Tailgating: A-. Bonus points for my newfound friends at Collision Course. But even outside of that terrific tailgating opportunity, tents sprawled for blocks. There’s real effort put into tailgating here, from top-tier carpentry to creative ways to set up the tailgate. There’s ample opportunities surrounding L&N Stadium and folks take full advantage.
Fans: A. I was truly blown away by Cards Nation. They’re as friendly and welcoming as any group I’ve encountered. Though intense heat kept some at home, over 50,000 showed up to see Saturday’s game. Almost all 50,000 stayed until the final whistle. It’s a diverse and passionate group.
Extracurriculars: B. Louisville might not land atop a wish list of vacation cities, but it’s well worth a weekend trip for families of all ages. Bourbon enthusiast? Louisville’s your place. Like unique sporting opportunities and betting on horses? No better city than Louisville. Churchill Downs is within walking distance of the stadium and downtown frequently hosts great events. Plus, the Bourbon Trail. Highly underrated city.