Recommendations for First Duke Game

[dyemeduke]

Finally, I'm going to attend a basketball game at Cameron. I've been a huge Duke fan the majority of my life, but I've never had the chance to make a game, even though I've visited Durham twice over the years.

Since many of you seem like alumni or live in the area, I have some general questions that I'd love your help with:

1) I'm going to be there for the Yale/Duke game (best weekend for me for a variety of reasons), and tix on Stubhub are around 250. Is scalping tix at the door a good option, or does anyone know if tix go down closer to game time?
2) From my outsider knowledge of Cameron, the place is tidy and feels smaller. Is there any section aside from the obvious ones that I must avoid?
3) Any recommendations for lunch and dinner? I'm sure Google can point the way, but any local suggestions are always appreciated.
4) I remember Durham not being that great, so I'll probably stay in Raleigh...should I rent a car though or is Uber/Lyft pretty accessible and reasonable price-wise?
5) Outside of the game, any recommendations on what I should do in town? I've been to Durham before, but back when I was younger - think we went to Shooters....fun night, but I'm older and not planning on going to college bars.

Thanks for the advice!

[-jk]

Congrats!

It might need updating, but you can start with the DBR Visitors' Bureau (https://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/misc.php?do=page&template=DBRVisit)

-jk

[hallcity]

Finally, I'm going to attend a basketball game at Cameron. I've been a huge Duke fan the majority of my life, but I've never had the chance to make a game, even though I've visited Durham twice over the years.

Since many of you seem like alumni or live in the area, I have some general questions that I'd love your help with:

1) I'm going to be there for the Yale/Duke game (best weekend for me for a variety of reasons), and tix on Stubhub are around 250. Is scalping tix at the door a good option, or does anyone know if tix go down closer to game time?
2) From my outsider knowledge of Cameron, the place is tidy and feels smaller. Is there any section aside from the obvious ones that I must avoid?
3) Any recommendations for lunch and dinner? I'm sure Google can point the way, but any local suggestions are always appreciated.
4) I remember Durham not being that great, so I'll probably stay in Raleigh...should I rent a car though or is Uber/Lyft pretty accessible and reasonable price-wise?
5) Outside of the game, any recommendations on what I should do in town? I've been to Durham before, but back when I was younger - think we went to Shooters...fun night, but I'm older and not planning on going to college bars.

Thanks for the advice!

There are no sections you need to avoid in Cameron. Virtually all the seats are fine. (Someone has compiled a list of a handful of obstructed vision seats but it’s literally a handful.) There’s no need to avoid staying in Durham. Those days are in the past. There are plenty of fine hotels and restaurants in Durham. Tell us about your budget and tastes in food and we can make restaurants. It matters whether you want wings and beer or whether you want tapas or French.

[BLPOG]

Finally, I'm going to attend a basketball game at Cameron. I've been a huge Duke fan the majority of my life, but I've never had the chance to make a game, even though I've visited Durham twice over the years.

Since many of you seem like alumni or live in the area, I have some general questions that I'd love your help with:

1) I'm going to be there for the Yale/Duke game (best weekend for me for a variety of reasons), and tix on Stubhub are around 250. Is scalping tix at the door a good option, or does anyone know if tix go down closer to game time?
2) From my outsider knowledge of Cameron, the place is tidy and feels smaller. Is there any section aside from the obvious ones that I must avoid?
3) Any recommendations for lunch and dinner? I'm sure Google can point the way, but any local suggestions are always appreciated.
4) I remember Durham not being that great, so I'll probably stay in Raleigh...should I rent a car though or is Uber/Lyft pretty accessible and reasonable price-wise?
5) Outside of the game, any recommendations on what I should do in town? I've been to Durham before, but back when I was younger - think we went to Shooters...fun night, but I'm older and not planning on going to college bars.

Thanks for the advice!

My last round-up of prior posts on the topic can be found here (https://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showthread.php?42285-First-visit&p=1089166#post1089166).

1. You will probably be able to get scalped tickets for under $200. I don't recommend it. Suck up the hundred dollars you might save and avoid the frustration and risk.
2. As a practical matter, you only risk a bad seat in Cameron if you are short and in the back, end-area of section 17.
4. Stay in Durham unless it's expensive for some reason, which it shouldn't be at that time. Probably no need to rent a car. Durham is transformed. These days there's essentially nowhere you'd be interested in going that would present the physical risks of even 10 years ago.

3 & 5 are covered extensively in the links in my round-up, but many of those threads are old enough to miss out on a lot of great new options, which people will mention here, I'm sure. Any info you can give on your preferences for food, beer, price range, and activities will help people send you towards the best options. Don't go to Shooters II unless you want to have a bad time.

Edit: Here's the link (https://forums.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showthread.php?39177-The-Worst-Seats-In-Cameron-A-Photographic-Compendium) to uh_no's analysis of the worst seats in Cameron. There aren't many, and I'd wager the list has gotten smaller since the renovation to the crow's nest. As I mentioned before, the only real concern about a "bad" seat is if you're a short person standing at the back/end of the student section.

[KenTankerous]

Stay at the Washington Duke Inn. It is glorious and you have a pretty good shot of running into Duke players as their parents stay there. We met Jon Scheyer and his parents there (they are GORGEOUS, seriously, like hollywood beautiful, but smart and funny). I also met Nolan Smith (we are both from Louisville, I met his neighbour when I was an abortion clinic escort, but that is controversial AF on this board,HA!)

[OldPhiKap]

Agree on the Wash Duke. Easy walk to Cameron.

[sagegrouse]

Finally, I'm going to attend a basketball game at Cameron. I've been a huge Duke fan the majority of my life, but I've never had the chance to make a game, even though I've visited Durham twice over the years.

Since many of you seem like alumni or live in the area, I have some general questions that I'd love your help with:

1) I'm going to be there for the Yale/Duke game (best weekend for me for a variety of reasons), and tix on Stubhub are around 250. Is scalping tix at the door a good option, or does anyone know if tix go down closer to game time?
2) From my outsider knowledge of Cameron, the place is tidy and feels smaller. Is there any section aside from the obvious ones that I must avoid?
3) Any recommendations for lunch and dinner? I'm sure Google can point the way, but any local suggestions are always appreciated.
4) I remember Durham not being that great, so I'll probably stay in Raleigh...should I rent a car though or is Uber/Lyft pretty accessible and reasonable price-wise?
5) Outside of the game, any recommendations on what I should do in town? I've been to Durham before, but back when I was younger - think we went to Shooters...fun night, but I'm older and not planning on going to college bars.

Thanks for the advice!


Re: staying in Durham

I go to Durham 4-5 times a year for meetings at Duke. I never rent a car -- Uber is fine, and what would I do with a car on the Duke campus? I stay at either the Wash Duke, the J.B. Duke -- both within a few minutes of Cameron by foot -- or the 21C Museum Hotel downtown. All are classy. Treat yourself. The bar at the Washington Duke is a lively place before and after games. There is "no game parking" at the Wash Duke -- so arrive without a car or make a dinner reservation at the Fairview Restaurant before or after. If you have a car for touring the area, parking for hotel guests is free at the WaDu and JB Duke. Also, even after 50+ years, I still find the streets downtown to be perplexing -- but everything is close, and there is GPS. Chapel Hill is simple, simple. Unless you brave the heart of the UNC campus, pretty much everything is on Franklin St. or a block away.

Lots of good choices on restaurants in Durham, and everything seems to be within ten minutes by cab or Uber. Don't miss a chance to look at the food options in the West Campus Union -- the Brodhead Center -- and there is a place to get a beer downstairs.

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

Two other good hotel choices in downtown Durham include 1) The Durham Hotel and 2) Unscripted. Both are cool boutique hotels on par with the 21c.

[KenTankerous]

was good food. Maybe I'm spoiled because here in Louisville we have great eats. I mean every section of town has great food - Mexican, Italian, Polynesian, Basic American, soul food, - We even have Mayan food. You can not throw a rock in this burg without hitting a great place to eat. Bourbon and Beer fuels this town

When you folks hit the ville in February for the Duke smackdown at the Yum Center y'all oughtta stay at 21c(y'all have one there too, I hear) and y'all need to hit Con Huevos for breakfast. The Cafe for lunch and Cafe LouLou for dinner. Then O'Shea's on Baxter to top out your evening.

[BLPOG]

was good food. Maybe I'm spoiled because here in Louisville we have great eats. I mean every section of town has great food - Mexican, Italian, Polynesian, Basic American, soul food, - We even have Mayan food. You can not throw a rock in this burg without hitting a great place to eat. Bourbon and Beer fuels this town

When you folks hit the ville in February for the Duke smackdown at the Yum Center y'all oughtta stay at 21c(y'all have one there too, I hear) and y'all need to hit Con Huevos for breakfast. The Cafe for lunch and Cafe LouLou for dinner. Then O'Shea's on Baxter to top out your evening.

If you visited Durham during the Scheyer/Smith player-era and didn't find good food, I weep for your truly terrible luck.

Doubly so these days.

On the subject of ethnic foods, my two favorite Mexican joints in Durham are Cosmic Cantina and Torero's. Cosmic has lost some of its "am I entering a crack-den?" charm over the years, but is still a favorite late-night option for students and locals alike. Torero's is more of a typical restaurant, but the food is good and the staff is very accommodating even to terrible guests (I may or may not be affiliated with that group), which I think is very nice of them.

[KenTankerous]

was good food. Maybe I'm spoiled because here in Louisville we have great eats. I mean every section of town has great food - Mexican, Italian, Polynesian, Basic American, soul food, - We even have Mayan food. You can not throw a rock in this burg without hitting a great place to eat. Bourbon and Beer fuels this town

When you folks hit the ville in February for the Duke smackdown at the Yum Center y'all oughtta stay at 21c(y'all have one there too, I hear) and y'all need to hit Con Huevos for breakfast. The Cafe for lunch and Cafe LouLou for dinner. Then O'Shea's on Baxter to top out your evening.

[Acymetric]

Can we lay off the "Durham is safe (now, anyway!)" rhetoric? Durham was never that unsafe. The places that were unsafe are still places you wouldn't recommend anyone go now (as is the case for any small, mid-size, or large city) and those of us with families who have been in Durham for 40+ years without having been shot, stabbed, robbed, or otherwise assaulted find it tiresome. The whole "Durham is dangerous mythos" was overplayed by other cities (looking at you, Triangle fam and nearby rural NC) and played up by a lot of residents for the "street cred".

Incidentally, this attitude from non-local Duke fans might inform why the community doesn't embrace the University and its sports teams, FWIW..

[howardlander]

On the subject of ethnic foods, my two favorite Mexican joints in Durham are Cosmic Cantina and Torero's. Cosmic has lost some of its "am I entering a crack-den?" charm over the years, but is still a favorite late-night option for students and locals alike. Torero's is more of a typical restaurant, but the food is good and the staff is very accommodating even to terrible guests (I may or may not be affiliated with that group), which I think is very nice of them.

Those places are not too bad but there are a number of Mexican places in Durham where you will be one of the few English speakers. Super Taqueria for one is great but there are others.

[BLPOG]

Can we lay off the "Durham is safe (now, anyway!)" rhetoric? Durham was never that unsafe. The places that were unsafe are still places you wouldn't recommend anyone go now (as is the case for any small, mid-size, or large city) and those of us with families who have been in Durham for 40+ years without having been shot, stabbed, robbed, or otherwise assaulted find it tiresome. The whole "Durham is dangerous mythos" was overplayed by other cities (looking at you, Triangle fam and nearby rural NC) and played up by a lot of residents for the "street cred".

Incidentally, this attitude from non-local Duke fans might inform why the community doesn't embrace the University and its sports teams, FWIW..

While I mostly agree with this sentiment, especially* with regard to other Triangle residents' attitudes in the past...

It really is worth noting that Durham is safer now than is was for a long time. I was "asked" for money at knifepoint outside of Cosmic in 2008. I know people that were shot at around the same time. People have overestimated the safety risks, but that doesn't mean they weren't greater relative to many other places. I've lived or worked in three urban areas that have ranked fairly high in terms of violent crime during my lifetime; IIRC Durham was in the middle of the three while I was a resident. The absolute decline from then to now is not insignificant.

Regardless, if people incorrectly hold that view, they are still probably more likely to convince them to stop holding it by hearing it's a safe place today.

I don't think you're correct about reasons for the local community not embracing the university, though. I've heard something like that idea repeated for years and it's never matched with my experience of students'/alumni attitudes or locals' comments. The locals that perceive something like that and react negatively always seem to me to be describing (while attributing them specifically to the Duke crowd) the attitudes of people I've known from Chapel Hill, or Raleigh, or Cary, etc. who are usually Heels fans - same as most locals.

*In 2010, I saw I co-worker (at an RTP tech firm) remark to another who was considering moving to Durham, "Really? You want to have that zip code?" I'm still aggravated about it. I understand your point, but you can fail in estimates in the other direction as well.

[OldPhiKap]

A friend of mine was brutally assaulted on the edge of Central Campus the night of the 1986 National Championship game.

Glad Durham has come a long way, but it has not always necessarily been safe.

[dukelifer]

Finally, I'm going to attend a basketball game at Cameron. I've been a huge Duke fan the majority of my life, but I've never had the chance to make a game, even though I've visited Durham twice over the years.

Since many of you seem like alumni or live in the area, I have some general questions that I'd love your help with:

1) I'm going to be there for the Yale/Duke game (best weekend for me for a variety of reasons), and tix on Stubhub are around 250. Is scalping tix at the door a good option, or does anyone know if tix go down closer to game time?
2) From my outsider knowledge of Cameron, the place is tidy and feels smaller. Is there any section aside from the obvious ones that I must avoid?
3) Any recommendations for lunch and dinner? I'm sure Google can point the way, but any local suggestions are always appreciated.
4) I remember Durham not being that great, so I'll probably stay in Raleigh...should I rent a car though or is Uber/Lyft pretty accessible and reasonable price-wise?
5) Outside of the game, any recommendations on what I should do in town? I've been to Durham before, but back when I was younger - think we went to Shooters...fun night, but I'm older and not planning on going to college bars.

Thanks for the advice!
Durham is much nicer now- several good to excellent restaurants- definitely worth a look. A lot of new hotels downtown. The JB Duke on campus is nice as well. A lot depends on what you want to spend.

[dyemeduke]

Thanks everyone! My budget isn't really set - I'm not a millionaire, but do well enough to take a random trip to watch my favorite bball team play. I figure Fri night maybe have a nice dinner, and Sat will be more local joints? Carolina bbq??

I never found Durham unsafe, but the two times I was there was in the 00s...and it was just...outside of campus and a few areas, nothing I'd return to. I'm not trying to be critical, but that's great to read it's been rejuvenated. I'll plan on Durham and no rental car then. Thanks again everyone.

[chris13]

Thanks everyone! My budget isn't really set - I'm not a millionaire, but do well enough to take a random trip to watch my favorite bball team play. I figure Fri night maybe have a nice dinner, and Sat will be more local joints? Carolina bbq??

I never found Durham unsafe, but the two times I was there was in the 00s...and it was just...outside of campus and a few areas, nothing I'd return to. I'm not trying to be critical, but that's great to read it's been rejuvenated. I'll plan on Durham and no rental car then. Thanks again everyone.

Durham 2018 is so different than Durham 10 years ago. The downtown has been completely gentrified. One other place that I would mention as a place to stay is the Kings Daughters Inn on the southeast corner of East Campus.

[dukie’s_daughter]

... anybody have suggestions / advice about experiencing Saturday night’s game at Clemson?

My son tells me it’s a bucket list experience.

Game day musts? Restaurants? Places to avoid?

TIA

[Acymetric]

3) Any recommendations for lunch and dinner? I'm sure Google can point the way, but any local suggestions are always appreciated.
4) I remember Durham not being that great, so I'll probably stay in Raleigh...should I rent a car though or is Uber/Lyft pretty accessible and reasonable price-wise?
5) Outside of the game, any recommendations on what I should do in town? I've been to Durham before, but back when I was younger - think we went to Shooters...fun night, but I'm older and not planning on going to college bars.

Thanks for the advice!

3) Durham has become a bit of a foodie town (some might say hipster, FWIW), is there any type of food you are particularly interested in?

4) Stay in Durham, there are some pretty nice hotels there and plenty to do downtown. The longish trip to Raleigh isn't worth it (although Uber/Lyft are very accessible in both cities so regardless of where you stay no need to rent a car unless you really want to). If you really don't want to stay in Durham, stay somewhere near the airport or in Cary. Staying in Raleigh adds ~15 minutes to your trip that isn't necessary unless you want to be in Raleigh for other reasons (there are some cool places in Raleigh, so that very well may be the case).

5) I can't remember names but will try to get in touch with friends who can remind me, there are some pretty nice downtown hotels that also have some (non-college) night-live (nice rooftop cocktail bars and such).

[OldPhiKap]

... anybody have suggestions / advice about experiencing Saturday night’s game at Clemson?

My son tells me it’s a bucket list experience.

Game day musts? Restaurants? Places to avoid?

TIA

I think most of the places to eat are in Tiger Town right off campus. Seems to be mainly bar food things.

Death Valley is a great venue, and Clemson is gorgeous when the leaves are changing. A VERY hilly campus so be aware.

Gonna be cold.

[OldPhiKap]

3) Durham has become a bit of a foodie town (some might say hipster, FWIW), is there any type of food you are particularly interested in?



Q: how did the hipster burn his mouth?

A: he ate pizza before it was cool.

[dyemeduke]

3) Durham has become a bit of a foodie town (some might say hipster, FWIW), is there any type of food you are particularly interested in?

4) Stay in Durham, there are some pretty nice hotels there and plenty to do downtown. The longish trip to Raleigh isn't worth it (although Uber/Lyft are very accessible in both cities so regardless of where you stay no need to rent a car unless you really want to). If you really don't want to stay in Durham, stay somewhere near the airport or in Cary. Staying in Raleigh adds ~15 minutes to your trip that isn't necessary unless you want to be in Raleigh for other reasons (there are some cool places in Raleigh, so that very well may be the case).

5) I can't remember names but will try to get in touch with friends who can remind me, there are some pretty nice downtown hotels that also have some (non-college) night-live (nice rooftop cocktail bars and such).

Apparently I have given too much positive reputation today, so I can't give more.

I'm pretty open about food - I'm Korean, so I have my biases towards Asian foods, but I love Latin American, French, Italian, Ethiopian, etc. I look fwd to checking out this new Durham. I wasn't really set on Raleigh, but from my last trip about 11 years ago, Raleigh had more places to go. I'll look into Durham.

Thanks again everyone!

[Truth&Justise]

For great food on a budget would highly recommend Taqueria La Vaquita. There's no indoor seating, but excellent tacos at a reasonable price.

Other favorites include: Dame's Chicken and Waffles (expect a wait), Parker & Otis (combo restaurant / grocery), Foster's (same), Rise (biscuit sandwiches and donuts) and
Bull City Burger.

Of course, no North Carolina experience is complete without a trip to Cook-Out.


Thanks for giving me an excuse to be nostalgic about food today.

[Nepos]

Apparently I have given too much positive reputation today, so I can't give more.

I'm pretty open about food - I'm Korean, so I have my biases towards Asian foods, but I love Latin American, French, Italian, Ethiopian, etc. I look fwd to checking out this new Durham. I wasn't really set on Raleigh, but from my last trip about 11 years ago, Raleigh had more places to go. I'll look into Durham.

Thanks again everyone!

I've lived in Durham for a long time. If it were me, I'd be looking at these restaurants in those categories:

Asian - M Sushi
Latin American - Luna
French - Rue Cler
Italian - Goccialina
Ethiopian - Goorsha

Of those, I think M Sushi is the best.

[BandAlum83]

For great food on a budget would highly recommend Taqueria La Vaquita. There's no indoor seating, but excellent tacos at a reasonable price.

Other favorites include: Dame's Chicken and Waffles (expect a wait), Parker & Otis (combo restaurant / grocery), Foster's (same), Rise (biscuit sandwiches and donuts) and
Bull City Burger.

Of course, no North Carolina experience is complete without a trip to Cook-Out.


Thanks for giving me an excuse to be nostalgic about food today.

This is the only Parker's in my book. Best hush puppies and banana pudding ever!

Parker's Restaurant (http://www.opendurham.org/buildings/706-east-main-st-parkers-restaurant)

8818

[dyemeduke]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their recommendations. I had a blast at Cameron - I could have spent another full hour just looking around the arena; I was definitely geeking out on all the memorabilia. Also, a HUGE shout out to plimnko for helping me out with tickets. That level of hospitality was not expected and speaks highly of the Duke community. Go DUKE!

[OldPhiKap]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their recommendations. I had a blast at Cameron - I could have spent another full hour just looking around the arena; I was definitely geeking out on all the memorabilia. Also, a HUGE shout out to plimnko for helping me out with tickets. That level of hospitality was not expected and speaks highly of the Duke community. Go DUKE!

Glad you had a great time!!!!!!!!!!!

[elvis14]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their recommendations. I had a blast at Cameron - I could have spent another full hour just looking around the arena; I was definitely geeking out on all the memorabilia. Also, a HUGE shout out to plimnko for helping me out with tickets. That level of hospitality was not expected and speaks highly of the Duke community. Go DUKE!

After reading some of this thread...have to ask: Where'd you eat? Any of these great suggestions work out?

[HereBeforeCoachK]

I think it was still called Duke Indoor Stadium at the time, but i'm not sure....anyway, it was a South Carolina team that was loaded and ranked in the top 5...against a middling Duke team with Randy Denton and some others. I still remember vividly, even though I was very very young...SC led 42-21 late first half when Duke went on a 14-0 run to end the half, led by - if I remember the name, a guy named Rick Katherman...known as the "rifleman" - as he wore 22 and was a deadly shooter. Skinny as a pencil, but the dude could skim the glass on purpose almost from the corner. He'd have killed in the 3 point era.

Alas, in the second half, Duke could not keep pace with the loaded Gamecocks...I think this was a Roche Ribock team.

The point is....you always remember your first Cameron...

[dyemeduke]

After reading some of this thread...have to ask: Where'd you eat? Any of these great suggestions work out?

In this thread, I only tried Dame's. It was good, but personally, I did not think it was worth the long wait. I love fried chicken, but it did seem a little too much early in the day for me too (I'm not used to continuous amounts of heavy food I ate that weekend).

In another thread about recommendations I found in these boards, someone mentioned Angus Barn. I tried going there 20 minutes after it opened on Friday, and I usually have good luck as a solo traveler finding a place at the bar. Nope...this place was slammed, so I went to another recommended restaurant - a bbq joint named Bullocks. The place was good - brisket stood out, but most of the rest was just normal-good.

Sat, was Dame's and then in another thread on these boards, someone mentioned Elmo's. I was about to go there, but since I didn't get a "nicer" meal Fri night at Angus Barn, I went across the street to Juju Durham...just because it looked nice. It was okay - I would quite give it the 4.6 stars on Google, but I still would give it a solid 4.

Sunday, I flew out early, luckily for me, because there was some snow that day...not sure if later flights made it out of Raleigh/Durham.

[chrishoke]

I think it was still called Duke Indoor Stadium at the time, but i'm not sure...anyway, it was a South Carolina team that was loaded and ranked in the top 5...against a middling Duke team with Randy Denton and some others. I still remember vividly, even though I was very very young...SC led 42-21 late first half when Duke went on a 14-0 run to end the half, led by - if I remember the name, a guy named Rick Katherman...known as the "rifleman" - as he wore 22 and was a deadly shooter. Skinny as a pencil, but the dude could skim the glass on purpose almost from the corner. He'd have killed in the 3 point era.

Alas, in the second half, Duke could not keep pace with the loaded Gamecocks...I think this was a Roche Ribock team.

The point is...you always remember your first Cameron...

Katherman was called the Manchester Rifle.

[howardlander]

This is the only Parker's in my book. Best hush puppies and banana pudding ever!

Parker's Restaurant (http://www.opendurham.org/buildings/706-east-main-st-parkers-restaurant)

8818

I loved that place. It's a parking lot now. Did yawl get everything you ordered?