If you're not heading to The Shoe in Columbus or to a Bengals came in Cincinnati, you can still capture some football fever locally. Whether it's University of Dayton, Wright State, or a professional team playing, tailgate the heck out of those games. Show support for the players, and most importantly, have a good time. Check out the football schedules for the University of Dayton and Wright State University during this season.
Know before you go:
Here are some of the tailgating guidelines posted on the University of Dayton tailgating page. Have fun, but make sure you don't get kicked out:
Guidelines:
- Parking lots open no more than 2 hours prior to kickoff (11 a.m. for a 1 p.m. kickoff).
- At kickoff all tailgates must end and fans must either enter the game or leave the parking lots.
- Tailgating is permitted to the space in which your vehicle is parked. Drive lanes in parking lots must be maintained at all times. Saving parking spaces are not permitted.
- Possession and consumption of alcohol are subject to the laws and regulations of the State of Ohio and/or City of Dayton. Under Ohio law, no person shall possess an opened container of beer or intoxicating liquor in any public place.
- Police and other Public Safety officials will be stationed in the tailgating area in the event that the need would arise for assistance.
- The park adjacent to Lot D is a City of Dayton Neighborhood Park. No tailgating is permitted. Restrooms are available for tailgaters in the West Wing of UD Arena until kickoff.
- Trash dumpsters are available throughout the parking lot. You are expected to dispose of your trash appropriately.
- Larger tailgates must have a reserved spot predetermined with UD Arena.
- Parking lots must be cleared shortly after completion of UD football game so the property can be re-set for a Dayton Public School football game later that evening or the next day.
2. Host a barbeque
Nothing says tailgating more than having the friends over, throwing some burgers on the grill and switching the TV on to the big game.
Even if you don’t feel like grilling, there’s still a way to surprise your guests with some tailgate-worthy options, without emptying your wallet. In fact, you can just call some of Dayton’s best caterers and they’ll do the work for you.
See a few of Dayton’s grilled FAVS, complete with big platters, disposable cookware and all the grilled food you can put out for your own personal barbeque:
HICKORY RIVER (Tipp City)
Location: 135 S. Garber Drive, Tipp City
Contact: (937) 669-2271
Hours:
Mon: 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.
Tues-Sat: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
COMPANY 7 (Englewood)
Location: 1001 S. Main St., Englewood
Contact: (937) 836-2777
Hours:
Mon – Sat: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun: Noon-8 p.m.
SMOKIN' BBQ (City of Dayton)
Location: 200 E. Fifth St., Dayton
Contact: (937) 586-9790
Hours:
Mon-Thurs.: 10:30 a.m. -10 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sun: Closed
CITY BARBEQUE (Beavercreek and Centerville)
Location:
Beavercreek: 2330 N Fairfield Road, Beavercreek
Centerville: 5 E. Franklin St., Centerville
Contact:
Beavercreek: 937-320-0000
Centerville: (937) 312-1350
Hours (Both locations):
Mon - Sat: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
BULLWINKLE'S (Miamisburg)
Location: 19 N. Main St., Miamisburg
Contact: (937) 859-7677
Hours:
Mon-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri-Sat: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sun: Noon to 9 p.m.
3. Or just eat barbeque
If you don't feel like having all those people in your house and you're really just looking for great places to get a burger or some grilled food, you have many, many options. In addition to some obvious choices like Buffalo Wild Wings and Frickers, any of the restaurants listed below are well-suited for game-day fun. They all have great atmospheres and lots of TV monitors so you won't miss the most anticipated games:
T.J. CHUMPS
Locations in Dayton:
Fairborn
Location: 1100 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Fairborn, OH 45324
Contact: 937-318-1250
Miamisburg
Location: 12 E. Linden Ave., Miamisburg, OH 45342
Contact: 937-859-4000
Englewood
Location: 559 S. Main St., Englewood, OH 45322
Contact: 937-836-4300
Huber Heights
Location: 7050 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights, OH 45424
Contact: 937-610-3900
Hours (ALL Locations): Sunday, 11 a.m. -10 p.m.; Mon-Fri, 11 a.m. -11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m.
HARRIGAN'S TAVERN
Location: 4070 Marshall Road, Kettering, OH 45429
Contact: (937) 294-7474
Hours:
Kitchen hours:
Mon-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. to midnight
Sun: 1-10 p.m.
Bar hours: Open every day until 2:30 a.m.
BUNKERS BAR & GRILL
Location: 893 E. National Road, Vandalia, OH 45377
Contact: (937) 890-8899
Hours:
Mon: 10 a.m. to midnight
Tues-Thurs: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Fri: 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Sat: 8 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Sun: 8 a.m. to midnight
WINGS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
Location: 7902 N. Dixie Drive, Dayton, OH 45414
Contact: (937) 898-0280
Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m.
Sun: Noon – 2:30 a.m.
4. Have a cold brew!
There is nothing like a cold brew right before you watch your favorite team play a rival. We have some awesome listings of great places to have a beer.
We've got all the best beer establishments and breweries in the Dayton area along with the latest crowd favorites at each establishment. Here are some highlights:
WARPED WING BREWING COMPANY
Warped Wing Brewing Company, 26 Wyandot St., Dayton
Space Food American IPA: "If astronauts could drink beer in space, this is what they'd drink," says Nick Bowan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Warped Wing.
The Space Food American IPA is a golden yellow in color, with a citrus and fruity aroma and flavors from Citra, Vic Secret and Mosaic hops. It is light, nutty and finishes very bitter. For the beer connoisseurs, it's 7% ABV and clocks in at 96 IBU.
The Radler: A German summer-style lager brewed with organic grapefruit juice
TOXIC BREW COMPANY
431 E. Fifth Street Dayton, OH 45402
Toxic Blonde: This beer is light and crisp, with a slight raspberry flavor, mild hop and malt character, and light body.
Practice Yoga: Named after our friends down this street, this IPA is lacking in alcohol but not flavor, with a lovely hop finish and mild body.
Hanger 18: This porter is black in color, with plenty of roasty flavor, almost no hop character, and a nice quaffable body.
YELLOW SPRINGS BREWERY
305 Walnut St., Yellow Springs, OH 45387
Breaking Edge IPA: This intensely hopped American IPA carries just enough body to balance a serious hop flavor and bitterness. The aroma of pine and citrus delivers the signature beauty of this style.
Captain Stardust Saison: With a smooth American citrus hop to balance the juicy and spicy yeast character, this Saison is eminently drinkable. Even with the dry finish the bready malt character balances this Saison.
FIFTH STREET BREWPUB
1600 E. Fifth St, Dayton, OH 45403
FSB Cure-All Cream Ale: Pleasant to drink and magical in its effects! Dr. Darren's homespun Cure-All Cream Ale will soothe your session-able cream ale needs…and most anything else that "ales" you! Light, clean, crisp, and refreshing, this traditional cream ale was crafted using the best corn and rice. Low in alcohol; little to no hoppiness. This "cure-all" relieves your thirst INSTANTANEOUSLY! 100% Guaranteed.
Mt. Carmel Summer Wheat Ale: Bright, citrusy and hoppy, this summertime ale salutes the flavor of the American hop and gives way to a smooth refreshing finish.
EUDORA BREWING COMPANY
4716 Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH 45440
Sundowner: Our blonde ale is our easiest-drinking beer, and should appeal to those who aren't big fans of hoppy, bitter, or dark beers. Brewed with a small amount of wheat malt and an even smaller amount of caramel malt, this beer is refreshing and satisfying.
STAR CITY BREWING COMPANY
319 S 2nd St, Miamisburg, OH 45342
Blonde Ale: A creation from the craft-brewery movement, and also reminiscent of the German style Kölsch. Pale straw to deep gold for color. An all malt brew, well attenuated with a lightly malty palate. Subdued fruitiness. Hop character it leaves is a light to medium bitterness. A balanced beer, light bodied and sometimes lager like.
Old Mill Stout: Full bodied stout that has a nice smoothness from the addition of oats to the mash. The oats also add a touch of sweetness that is unlike many other types of stout. Nice levels of roasted flavor and hop character.
LOCK 27 BREWING
1035 S Main St, Dayton, OH 45458
Mouth Breather: Lock 27 Brewing's signature IPA, full of citrus hop flavors on top of a malt backbone with clean finish and subdued bitterness.
Oat Rodeo: Jet black in color but with a pleasantly light body and complex flavors of chocolate and dark fruits.
HAIRLESS HARE BREWERY
738 W. National Road, Vandalia, OH 45377
Hop*pocrisy Session IPA: Weighing in at 5.2 ABV this session IPA resonates big bold hops throughout with a dry grapefruit finish. Crisp and refreshing, this is a great summertime IPA. Come and get ya some while it lasts.
CARILLON BREWING CO.
1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, OH 45409
Coriander Ale: This 1831 recipe is a mild, pale ale of a biscuity base with notes of citrus and peppercorn. Hot peppers provide a slight finish of peppery warmth to cure what ails you.
THE DAYTON BEER COMPANY
912 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, OH 45419
Brown Street Ale: An American style brown ale that combines toasted and biscuit flavored malts with a moderate hop bitterness that comes from 3 different hop strains. We use a special roast malt to give this brew a very unique flavor that truly sets it apart from other beers.
Oregon Alley IPA:
This Imperial India Pale Ale is loaded with hops. A combination of spicy, citrus and herbal hopes deliver lots of bitterness while our blend of Marris otter, Caramel 120, and a hint of roasted barley malt lend a supporting backbone to this highly hopped IPA.
5. Have a watch party
Now, this might be a stretch but, you can begin scouting out where you’re going to host your next Super Bowl watch party. We personally believe that the following list has the best places to go if you’re looking to host game-day somewhere other than your home. If you’re interested in hosting one of your own, you should totally do it, as long as we’re invited.
The establishments listed above all have wonderful game-day specials and massive monitors for your viewing pleasure
If you’re looking to host a watch part in your home, Winans and Dorothy Lane have our favorite party treats—B uckeyes premade: they are an Ohio Classic. Hand rolled, creamy peanut butter confection dipped in milk chocolate.
We think they are the perfect way to impress your guest while getting into that tailgating zone.
Here’s who is selling them:
WINANS
Locations:
Winans Piqua
Location: 310 Spring St., Piqua, Ohio 45356
Contact: (937) 381-0247
Winans Piqua, Looney Road
Location: 8090D Looney Road, Piqua, Ohio 45356
Contact: (937) 606-2817
Winans Troy Downtown
Location: 10 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio 45373
Contact:(937) 335-9119
Winans Troy, Bookstore
Location: 1201A Experiment Farm Road, Troy, Ohio 45373
Contact: (937) 332-7014
Beavercreek
Location: 3510c Pentagon Blvd., Beavercreek, OH 45432
Contact: 937-320-9090
Dayton Mall
Location: 2806 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton, OH 45459
Contact: 937-610-4555
The Greene
Location: 45 Plum St., Beavercreek, OH 45440
Contact: 937-912-5446
Vandalia
Location: 6735 Miller Lane, Dayton, OH 45414
Contact: 937-890-0705
DOROTHY LANE MARKET
Locations:
Oakwood
2710 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45419
Contact: (937) 299-3561
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Washington Square
6177 Far Hills Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45459
Contact: (937) 434-1294
Hours: 6AM – 11PM
Springboro
740 N. Main Street, Springboro, Ohio 45066
Contact: (937) 748-6800
Hours: 6AM-11PM
6. Get into some fantasy football
There are some BALLIN’ places to host a fantasy football shindig right here in the Dayton area. The following places boast atmospheres on ‘championship-level,’ and it’s the perfect way to get your head in the game.
HOOTERS
Location: 6851 Miller Lane, Dayton
Contact: (937) 890-0467
Hours:
Mon - Thur: 11AM - 12:00AM
Fri - Sat: 11AM - 1AM
Sun: 11AM – 11PM
DAVE AND BUSTERS
Location: 11775 Commons Drive, Springdale
Contact: (513) 671-5501
Hours:
Sun-Tues 11:30AM-11PM
Wed-Thurs: 11:30Am-12AM
Fri-Sat 11:30AM-2AM
SCENE 75
Location: 6196 Poe Ave, Dayton
Contact: (937) 619-3200
Hours:
Wed: 11AM -10PM
Thu: 11AM- 11PM
Fri-Sat: 11AM - 1AM
Sun: 11AM- 10PM
BRIXX ICE COMPANY
Location: 500 E 1st St, Dayton, OH 45402
Contact: (937) 222-2257
Hours:
Mon-Sun: 11AM-11PM
MILANO'S
Location: 1834 Brown St, Dayton, OH 45409
Contact: (937) 222-7072
Hours:
Mon - Wed: 11AM - 12AM
Thurs. - Fri: 11AM - 1AM
Sat: 11AM - 12AM
Sun: 11AM – 11PM
BJ'S RESTAURANT AND BREWHOUSE
Location: 10563 Innovation Drive, Miamisburg, OH 45342
Contact: (937) 859-6000
Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 11AM - 11PM
Fri - Sat: 11AM - 12AM
Sun: 11AM - 11PM
CADILLAC JACKS
Location: 9400 N Springboro Pike, Miamisburg, OH 45342
Contact: (937) 610-3200
Hours:
Mon-Sun: 11AM - 2AM
WRIGHT WING
Location: 1864 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn, OH 45324
Contact: (937) 318-8525
Hours:
Mon - Sun: 11AM-12AM
ROOSTERS
Locations:
Dayton
Location: 3501 N Main St., Dayton, Ohio 45405
Contact: (937) 277-0114
Huber Heights
Location: 5571 Merily Way, Huber Heights, Ohio 45424
Contact: (937) 236-9464
Miamisburg:
Location: 103 North Springboro Pk, Miamisburg, Ohio 45449
Contact: (937) 433-4630
Hours (All Locations):
Mon-Thu: 11AM – 1AM
Fri-Sat: 11AM-2AM
Sun: 11AM – 12AM
7. Buy some football gear!
Enough said? Just do it. It will make you feel better.
If you don't know where to stars, here are some fun options that will make you the envy of the crowd:
Dayton Flyers Pop Up Tent
Order Now
Dayton Flyers Stadium Seat
Order Now
NCAA CROCK-POT® Cook & Carry™ Slow Cooker
Order Now
Dayton Flyer's Elite Folding Chair
Order Now
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