Table of Contents
Scouting Report
Before you arrive, here’s the rundown on how to prepare for victory…
Flights – Fly into Kansas City (MCI) or directly into Manhattan on American Airline via DFW or ORD.
Accommodations – See our recommendations here.
Tickets – See our recommendations here.
Reservations – No dinner/drink/event reservations are needed in Manhattan.
Arrival
Arrive on a morning flight into the new KCI airport, grab a rental car, and head West on I-70. On your way to Manhattan, you’ll pass directly by K-State’s Sunflower Showdown opponent, the Kansas Jayhawks. Lawrence is well worth a stop so grab lunch on Mass at Free State Brewing Company and take a few minutes to learn about John Brown. Before you leave Lawrence, you’ve got to check out historic Allen Fieldhouse and the Original Rules of Basketball.
Welcome to Manhattan…
As you pull off I-70, there’s nothing more fitting than to drive on Bill Snyder Highway as you roll into MHK.
We’ve got an afternoon round of golf at Colbert Hills, a top 20 collegiate golf course set in the beautiful Flint Hills. This top-ranked Kansas course is named after none other than K-Stater and overall mensch, Jim Colbert. As you settle your bets from golf, grab a round on the patio and watch the sunset.
Grab dinner Downtown on Poyntz at Bourbon & Baker, followed by a nightcap at Manhattan Brewing Company. As you get back to Aggieville, you’ve got a pivotal decision to make. Are you going to turn in and be fresh for the morning or turn it up? Porters and Johnny Kaws – The Barn.
Gameday
Morning
To establish a solid foundation, grab coffee and breakfast to go from Radina’s Bakehouse, a nationally recognized bakehouse. Take your breakfast to campus and park near Anderson Hall. Walk around and get a feel for the campus, from the wonderful limestone buildings to the Art Gallery. Head back to watch some of the early games in Aggieville before heading out to the stadium.
Tailgate
Unless you’re a grill warrior, we recommend grabbing some Rock-a-Belly to go for your tailgate. K-Staters are as friendly as it comes when welcoming visitors, make yourself known. If you are a tailgate titan, Booth Creek Wagyu is run by K-Staters and they’ll treat you like family. Depending on gametime, make sure you visit Call Hall for some K-State Ice Cream on the way to or from the game.
We recommend arriving two hours before gametime, parking on the north side of the stadium. Be sure to enter from the West Side of the Stadium to pay homage to the Bill Snyder Statue.
Night
After the game, head back to Aggieville. They say to meet your friends at Kites and who are we to disagree? It can be very difficult to eat dinner in Aggieville on gameday, WE ADVISE GRABBING A TABLE EARLY. If you can, grab So Long Saloon but if not Tanners, Kites and worthy college grub spots. Head to Tanners before Johnny Kaws – House Party.
Get Away Day
Start the morning by taking inventory of your friends and wallet in Aggieville at Varsity Donuts or Bluestem Bistro. Afterwards, walk a loop around campus or City Park which will help some of the cobwebs clear out before heading East on I-70.
After checking all these boxes, you’ll be screaming EMAW (Every Man a Wildcat) and planning your next visit to the Little Apple.
Accommodations:
It can be more difficult to get a good hotel room in Manhattan than tickets to the game. Prioritize a hotel in Aggieville which means the Courtyard or Bluemont.