Primer for SMU Tailgating for ACC Fans

[EastStang]

It is complicated. On the East side of Central Expressway from SMU is Dallas. On the West side, is Dallas, University Park and Highland Park. I don't know if University Park annexed any of Mrs. Baird's bakery when we bought it and turned it into the Tennis Center which used to be in Dallas. The stadium and main campus is in University Park. Down Mockingbird, you run into Highland Park. Most of the great restaurants are in Dallas and Highland Park because University Park was and may still be dry.

[PerunaPunch]

In-N-Out burger is gross. I wouldn't feed that to my cat(s).

For complete information on digestible food in reasonable proximity to SMU, please visit viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1472

[PlanoStang]

Whataburger is not awful It tastes like you are a good cook and just got it off of your home grill. 30000000 Texans canΓÇÖt be wrong. Double meat double cheese, and you are in heaven. Fries with WhataburgerΓÇÖs special ketchup are not beat,anywhere. The ketchup is so,good its available in grocery stores. Chocolate malts to go with.

You might find a bad franchise here or there.

[HarvCrimYaleBlue]

Bump

Hopefully more tailgating info will come out

That’s the thing, SMU doesn’t “tailgate”…we “boulevard”. If you are looking for a traditional parking lot tailgate, that doesn’t really exist at SMU. The whole tailgate scene is littered up and down Bishop Blvd with a series of tents and tables. If you want the experience you will want to rent a boulevard spot.

Maybe you can see if you can get parking in the Washburne parking lot. ItΓÇÖs a surface lot close to the stadium. Opposing team fans may squat in a parking lot somewhere and tailgate but I am not aware of a specific area.

Dallas food, I think personally, as good as you will find anywhere. I am constantly unimpressed by the best thing in specific parts of the country. Dallas staples (reiterating some of prior):

TexMex - MiCocina nachos al carbon, tacos habana, anything with sunset sauce, and a Mambo Taxi (or Limo if you want a shot on top) or maybe JavierΓÇÖs for the scene (overpriced).
BubbaΓÇÖs - breakfast is awesome and even the fried chicken and tenders at lunch are great.
Pizza - Olivellas or Cane Rosso, both Neapolitan style and at CR the owner trained in Italy.
Burgers - get you some In/Out but know itΓÇÖs not the same as Cali. Burger House and Snuffers are SMU staples but Haystack is great. Locally owned and their signature burger is legit.
BBQ - Pecan Lodge for the Deep Ellum atmosphere but Cattleack I think is better.

[Charleston Pony]

Whataburger is not awful

Chad Morris agrees

[Bergermeister]

Most of the great restaurants are in Dallas and Highland Park because University Park was and may still be dry.

University Park: Drink up! Pony up!

[PerunaPunch]

No conversation about SMU and pizza can be held without featuring Campisi's. LONG-term SMU supporters, close to campus, decades of Mustangs have grazed there, and the place oozes Dallas history. I'm in my 50s now, and dad took mom there on dates when they were at SMU. And fabulous pizza too! We were there last night with Mr. and Mrs. PK.

[Pony ^]

Only tip is walk the blvd with a beer and enjoy the scene. You will not be disappointed and you will be in shock to be honest. The only comparison is the Grove at Ole Miss but a bigger area. Good looking people, lots of people, bands, silver platters and chandeliers everywhere you look. I'd bet a lot of money you say it's among the best tailgating in not just the ACC, but the country by the time you leave. Another tip: watch the team walk right down the heart of it on their way to the stadium.

[BUS]

S.M.U.

Super
Model
University

Walk to Boulevard and enjoy God's good work. The trees, beautiful buildings and the people.

[TexanMark]

Any updates on parking lots that sell spots either in advance or on gameday?

I'd like to do a traditional tailgate early and shut down early to walk the Boulevard

[TexanMark]

Hi just giving you an update, I was the O.P.

Time is getting near. I did purchase a Boulevard spot #410 and 77 tickets in Section 222. I also bought parking passes for our fans in a nearby lot. Thanks for your advice above in the this thread it helped. We'll be at the north end of the Boulevard on the east side. Just look for Orange. I will have a blue canopy but we'll be wearing a nice Orange color...no burnt crap allowed.

BL: once the TV time is dropped, I'll need some advice of when we should set up.

Are the tailgate spots we'll marked if we arrive later in the set up window? Generally we set up 4-5 hours prior and that might be later than you guys normally set up.

[PonyTales]

Restaurants - California In-N-Out is much better than the Texas version - the fries at In-N-Out Texas are horrible. If you are looking for fast food, then you have to try Whataburger while you are here. More importantly, Dallas is famous for number and quality of restaurants, so a million options to choose from. From an SMU perspective, Campisi's, Bubbas and Snuffers are historic SMU standards.

Respectfully disagree. In-and-Out and Whataburger (which shouldn't even be fed to a coyote you want out of the neighborhood) can be found anywhere, and we want our guests to come back. Those places won't do it.

Snuffer's is where countless SMU students have spent way too many late nights. Great stuff.
Campisi's is an SMU institution. There's no truly great pizza in Dallas, but it's pretty darned good.
Liberty Burger and Haystack are really good nearby pizza joints.
Meso Maya, Javier's and Chuy's (chain) are good nearby Tex-Mex choices.

https://www.ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtop ... urger+Wars

[Charleston Pony]

Looking back at that Burger Wars thread I am reminded of Jack's Burger House on Hillcrest. Some of the best fries I've ever had and if our visitors want to sample a favorite "campus/student" burger they should definitely hit the Burger House. It's a relative hole in the wall so don't think you can arrive with a large group and hope to find any place to sit.

I moved away from Dallas in 1987 but used to hit Snuffers on occasion. It says a lot that the place is still open after all these years.

Kudos to Texan Mark for organizing a relatively large group to attend a road game so far from Syracuse, although I assume several attending Cuse fans live in the DFW area or close. Mrs CP and I moved here (near Charlotte) in 2016 and have a neighbor across the street (who has since passed) who backed up Ernie Davis on the FR team at Syracuse back in the day.

[TexanMark]

Looking back at that Burger Wars thread I am reminded of Jack's Burger House on Hillcrest. Some of the best fries I've ever had and if our visitors want to sample a favorite "campus/student" burger they should definitely hit the Burger House. It's a relative hole in the wall so don't think you can arrive with a large group and hope to find any place to sit.

I moved away from Dallas in 1987 but used to hit Snuffers on occasion. It says a lot that the place is still open after all these years.

Kudos to Texan Mark for organizing a relatively large group to attend a road game so far from Syracuse, although I assume several attending Cuse fans live in the DFW area or close. Mrs CP and I moved here (near Charlotte) in 2016 and have a neighbor across the street (who has since passed) who backed up Ernie Davis on the FR team at Syracuse back in the day.

You are correct: about 40% are within 2 hours of DFW. The rest are flying or driving in.

SMU fans who don't know the Ernie Davis story should read about him. A sports movie called, The Express, starring Texan Dennis Quaid was released in 2008 and is a decent sports movie.