OMAHA, Neb —
WhileTD Ameritrade stadium offers only 35,000 fans a seat, the area directly around the park offers the chance for fans who couldn’t procur a ticket.
For those LSU fans staying downtown, the place to check out is Barret’s Barleycorn — the downtown bar which flies an LSU flag and provides a safe haven for Tiger fans to watch the games — if you’re looking for an experience closer to the action these are the places you should check out.
1. The Old Matress Factory
Don’t let the name fool you, the only people you’ll find looking for a resting place are those too inebriated to stand any longer. The actual building offers the classic sports bar vibe with plenty of beer selections and the usual offerings of game-day food. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on the walls, so you won’t miss the action if you want to enjoy a little air-conditioning.
But the real jewel of the Matress Factory is the massive parking lot which they rent out to many restaraunts and cooperate sponsers turning the parking lot into a beer garden Coors light set up a giant tent with flat screen TVs and ample places to enjoy a beer while watching some baseball in the shade. They provide daily live music with a stage courtesy of Bud Light for those who like the to have a little dance with their baseball.
2. Blatts
Blatts has the best location on the list, with an upper deck patio with direct sightlines to the stadium. The motto behind Blatts is “Beer and Tables” and the menu sports upperend bar food — sporting “Bavarian Pretzel Bites” which includes a Gruyere cheese fondue — for those who need a snack in between beers. And beers you will drink, as Blatts has the greastest selection of beers around the stadium with over 50 beers on the menu ranging from Pabst Blue Ribbon to Franziskaner Dunkel-Weisse a german dark beer.
Blatts is connected to Zesto’s, an ice cream shop who’s founder through out the first pitch at the old College World Series Stadium Rosenblatt in 1948.
Blatt’s also sports a beer garden, although it isn’t on the same level as the Matress Factory purely because of space. While the Matress Factory has 40,000 square feet of space to work with, Blatt’s had but a little parking lot in the back. The lack of space is made up for by a larger selection of beer than the typical American light-beer at the Matress Factory.
3. Goodnights
Think of the same concept as Schlitzz and Giggles, but without the 118-inch TV screen. What Goodnights lacks in giant viewing pleasure it makes up for with better food. The crust is a little thicker and crunchier and the menu sports about 18 different types of pizza ranging from the vegetarian margherita pizaa, to the meat lovers “G-Unit” pizza which sports andouille for a little taste of home.
Goodnights has a large patio which serves hotdogs, hamburgers and other assorted treats. No beer garden, though so Goodnights slips behind the other two on the list.
