University of Denver athletics fans are not exactly well-known for traveling to distant venues. However, this just might be the year to hit the road to follow the Pios. Here are four great trips to watch the Denver Pioneers and enjoy the local sites and cuisine.
September 2nd and 5th – DU men’s soccer against Maryland & Georgetown
The matches: The Pioneers face two excellent soccer programs in two great Mid-Atlantic cities: College Park, MD and Washington, D.C.
What to do: Take a long weekend with Baltimore as your base. Watch a match on Friday against Maryland in College Park and Monday against Georgetown in Washington, DC. Unlimited options for dining and historical tours in D.C. and Baltimore. In D.C., do a 10+ monument tour and Potomac River cruise. In Baltimore, stay near the Inner Harbor and eat fresh crab at L P Steamers near the Inner Harbor.
August 25th, 2022 – DU Women’s Soccer vs Utah in Salt Lake City
The Match: Denver women’s soccer faces the Utah Utes. Will the Utes still be in the PAC-12 when the whistle blows?
Why not take Amtrak to Salt Lake City from Denver for under $100 and fly back over the weekend?
What to do: Take a boat tour of the Great Salt Lake. If you want something less salty, try a tour of the Red Butte Garden, the largest botanic garden in the west. Can you get a drink in Utah? If you are over 21, yes! Utah does have a reputation for some quirky liquor laws but Salt Lake has laws similar to the majority of states in the US.
September 10th, 2022 – DU Volleyball vs Texas in Austin, Texas
The match: Denver faces what may be the number one team next season, the Texas Longhorns in Austin, Texas
What to do: Bird Bird Biscuit, 1401 West Koenig Lane, Austin. The fast-casual restaurant dishes up biscuit sandwiches in Brentwood and its original location down in Cherrywood. Take a stroll at Zilker Metropolitan Park. Austin’s most popular green space, the 351-acre park is a favorite recreation area that sits alongside Lady Bird Lake. Texas football faces mighty Alabama in football the next day so look for plenty of Crimson Tide fans in the area.
November 10th, 2022 – DU Men’s Basketball vs. UCLA, Pauley Pavilion
The Game: Denver travels to the historic Pauley Pavilion to face the top-10 Bruins in hoops. The Washington Post has the Bruins slotted at #6 heading into the 2022-23 campaign.
What to do: Before the game, head to the Braxton Brewery and Public House in the historic Janns Dome Building in Westwood. Marvel at historic Pauley Pavillion, the Bruins’ home basketball court, where UCLA basketball has produced 11 NCAA Championships – 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1995. From 1971 to 1974, UCLA won 88 consecutive men’s basketball games and 10 titles, an NCAA record for men, under legendary coach John Wooden. Trivia: without cheating and using Google or any other search engine, can you name the school that ended the 88-game winning streak?
Easy… It was The Fighting Irish!
Dunker knows who broke UCLA winning streak, but won’t spoil the fun. There are actually 3 possibilities. Maybe a cocktail party in LA at the AF mansion could be planned. It will be aglow with celebrities. Worth going to game. Perhaps the biggest upset in college basketball history will occur. Austin supposed to be beautiful. Bring lots of cash to grab a ticket to the Ala@Tx game. 5bwest, we don’t want fans to forget DU Hockey@UMass Amherst October 14-15. Great chance to wear our Boone gear.
You mean UMass-Amherst or the other?
Not one regular season hockey road trip? Seriously? I’d rather go to godforsaken Grand Forks, which I did last year, than any of these four snoozefests.
We almost added UMass-Amherst but have you ever been to western Massachussetts?
Some good options here. Purpose of a road trip is the journey, not the sports event to be attended. But sports events such as these could provide an inspiration for the journey. Good stuff. And, oh my, imagine the surprise if we don’t get slaughtered by UCLA and Texas!