Mark your calendars—the first home game of the 2025 football season is playing at Peden Stadium on Saturday, September 6th. The West Virginia Mountaineers will descend upon the foothills of Athens to battle with the Bobcats. If you’re a Bobcat, it’s basically a rite of passage to attend a football game on your home field. It’s as much of a social event as it is a sporting event. Sure, you could always watch the game at home in your Ohio University student rental housing, but it’s really all about the authentic, in-person experience. Here’s what you’ll get:
Tailgating is a College Tradition
Tailgating is a quintessential American pastime where fans gather in the parking lots outside of stadiums and set up a mini party, basically. Friends gather and bring potluck-type food, drinks, and games while they get themselves amped up for the game and to cheer on their team. In Athens, the university is fortunate to have TailGreat Park right across from the stadium. As you can probably guess from the name, it’s a prime spot for tailgating and hosting pre-game parties.
Securing a good spot to set up is easy, especially when you live in one of the many apartments near Ohio University. Chances are, you won’t even have to worry about driving to Peden Stadium and can haul food, drinks, and seating on foot. Parking is arguably the worst part of a football game, so why not skip it if you can? Just another reason Ohio University apartments close to campus are unbeatable. Alternatively, shuttle services like CATS can get you from point a to point b in a jiffy.
The Experience in the Stadium is Electric
Peden Stadium on game day is extraordinary. You’ve got roaring, eager fans ready to see their team (hopefully) dominate on the field. Before the game starts, the OU marching band takes to the field to jazz up the crowd and play bombastic tunes. From there, the game begins. While a lot of it is watching your team in eager anticipation of a touchdown, you’ll still be able to talk and party with friends from your seats. Once the Bobcats score, the stadium erupts in uproarious cheers. It’s the whole college football experience that really necessitates attending a game in-person at least once.
Explore Athens with Family
It’s no secret that families like to come visit their children who are students at Ohio University as an excuse to go to a college football game and have a wild time. Students and their parents and guardians take the town after the game and fill the streets. This is the chance to show your family everything that you love about your second home. Stop by your spacious student rental that you share with friends to show them what an adult you are. And then take them to one of the many restaurants and bars in the area—hopefully on their dime—and show them how the Bobcats party for the start of football season.