That time of year again, guys! It's been two long years since I posted the original visitors guide on the board, but took some time to update it a little for everyone making the trip to Motown this weekend!
Welcome to Morgantown, West Virginia!
Odds are if you came to Morgantown two years ago, things are going to look a little bit different. There are numerous construction sites on campus as WVU is in the middle of a $750 million fundraising campaign which successfully surpassed the goal and finished at $772 million. The foundation has since extended the goal to $1 Billion and a new timetable ending in 2017. Links to construction projects, including our new $16 million baseball facility can be found here: http://construction.wvu.edu/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So let's talk a little about the city of Morgantown:
This video from the WV Chamber of Commerce just turned 5 years old, but I think it's still as relevant today as it was then and does a good job showcasing the state of West Virginia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI65sGCFNrw
The City
Morgantown[/B] is a city in and the county seat of Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit system.
The PRT
During the 1970s, the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) has been in use since 1975. University students use the system for free to travel between the spread-out campuses.
**The PRT runs free for everyone on gamedays. You can use it to get around down or take it for a full loop to view the city.**
Following Census 2010, Monongalia County (with county seat Morgantown) and neighboring [21]
West Virginia University constitutes 913 acres (3.69 km2) of the city and vicinity, and with the fall 2012 enrollment added an additional population of 29,707 students.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Morgantown has amongst the lowest unemployment rates in the United States as of early 2009.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some information about West Virginia University
West Virginia University (WVU) is a [6]
Enrollment for the fall 2013 semester was 29,466 for the main campus, while enrollment across all campuses totaled 32,348.[3]
WVU has already produced 24 [3]
Under the terms of the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, the West Virginia Legislature created the Agricultural College of West Virginia on February 7, 1867. On December 4, 1868, lawmakers re-named it West Virginia University. In the 1990s, WVU developed several recreational activities for the students, such as Fall Fest, a concert that welcomes students back to classes. In 1998, WVUp All Night launched to offer free weekend entertainment to students. The popular Student Recreation Center was completed in July 2001.WVU is designated as a Research University (High Research Activity) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Funding from external sources for total sponsored programs is $138 million. WVU is affiliated with the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, dedicated to the study of Alzheimer's and other diseases that affect the brain. WVU is also a leader in biometric technology research and recently became the Federal Bureau of Investigation's lead academic partner in biometrics research. James P. Clements became WVU's 23rd president on June 30, 2009. He previously served as provost at Towson University. WVU has been listed as one of the top party schools in the United States.
The Morgantown campus comprises three sub-campuses. The original main campus, typically called the Downtown Campus, is in the Monongahela River valley on the fringes of Morgantown. This part of campus includes eight academic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The Downtown Campus comprises several architectural styles predominantly featuring red brick including Victorian Second Empire, Federal, Neoclassical, and Collegiate Gothic among others. The Evansdale Campus, a mile and a half nort
h-northwest, on a rise above the flood plain of the Monongahela River, was developed in the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate a growing student population, since space for expansion was limited at the Downtown Campus. The Health Sciences Campus, in the same outlying area (but on the other side of a ridge), includes the WVU Health Sciences Center, Ruby Memorial Hospital, Chestnut Ridge Hospital, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, UHA Physicians Office Center, Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, WVU Eye Institute, WVU Center on Aging, and WVU Children's Hospital.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What To Do While You're In Town
One of the must see items I always tell visitors is to pay a visit to Cooper's Rock, which is about 20 minutes from the main part of Morgantown. The view is incredible.
Moving along to restaurant suggestions. Here are the popular options in town:
If you want the authentic Morgantown feel, hunt down Mario's Fish Bowl - a little dive restaurant with beers the size of your head!
Mario's Fish Bowl: http://www.mariosfishbowl.biz/ (Pub Food)
Blackbear Burritos: http://www.blackbearburritos.com/
Puglioni's Pasta: http://pugspasta.com/ (Italian - very good)
Mountain State Brewing Company: http://www.mountainstatebrewing.com/ (Handmade pizza and beer)
Oliverios Ristorante: http://oliveriosristorante.com/ (also very good Italian)
Keglers: http://keglerssportsbar.com/ (best wings in Motown)
Pies and Pints: http://piesandpints.net/ (Unique pizza/excellent beer selection)
Tilted Kilt: http://www.tiltedkilt.com/ (Pub food - also nice scenery)
Martin's BBQ: http://www.martinsbbqjoint.com/ (as seen on Drivers, Dine Ins, and Dives)
Primanti Brothers: https://www.primantibros.com/ (yeah it's a Pittsburgh based restaurant, but damn they have good sammiches)
Of course there are tons more - just ask around!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now let's talk about GAMEDAY!
Here are quick facts from the Athletic Department (very informative): http://www.wvusports.com/content/files/Marketing/VisitorsGuide_2014.pdf
For live game audio, live stats, scores across the country, etc. you can download the new WVU GameDay App - available in both the Apple App Store and Play Store. For those with FM radios, the local station broadcasting the game is 100.9
WVU fans will be out tailgating pretty much all day long. Your best bet is to park in the lots next to the Coliseum and ride the shuttle to the football stadium. I believe the cost is $4.00 per rider for round trip to and from the stadium and is the fastest way in and out of town. This is also the popular place for visiting fans to park their RVs the night before the game. While you're there make sure to have a look inside at where WVU plays all it's home basketball games.
The majority of tailgating takes place in the Blue Lot which is sandwiched between the football stadium and Ruby Memorial Hospital. There are many many other tailgates that take place all around the stadium. Don't be afraid to interact with our fans as many will offer you free food and beer.
The last thing I need to remind you of is to be in your seats AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to kickoff. The Pride of West Virginia, the Mountaineer Marching Band, which has close to 400 members, will take the field one half hour before kickoff and this is absolutely one thing you do not want to miss during the experience at a Mountaineer football game. Sometimes the crowd gets louder for the band then they do the football team. Here is a link to the history of the band: http://www.wvuband.org/band_history/history.html
The band was awarded the coveted Sudler Award in 1997, which is the Heisman Trophy of marching bands and can only be awarded once. Only 27 schools have been awarded the trophy.
That's all I got, folks. If you guys have any questions at all please let me know and I will get back to you! Looking forward to seeing some of you in Motown!
Welcome to Morgantown, West Virginia!
Odds are if you came to Morgantown two years ago, things are going to look a little bit different. There are numerous construction sites on campus as WVU is in the middle of a $750 million fundraising campaign which successfully surpassed the goal and finished at $772 million. The foundation has since extended the goal to $1 Billion and a new timetable ending in 2017. Links to construction projects, including our new $16 million baseball facility can be found here: http://construction.wvu.edu/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So let's talk a little about the city of Morgantown:
This video from the WV Chamber of Commerce just turned 5 years old, but I think it's still as relevant today as it was then and does a good job showcasing the state of West Virginia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI65sGCFNrw
The City
Morgantown[/B] is a city in and the county seat of Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit system.
The PRT
During the 1970s, the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) has been in use since 1975. University students use the system for free to travel between the spread-out campuses.
**The PRT runs free for everyone on gamedays. You can use it to get around down or take it for a full loop to view the city.**
Following Census 2010, Monongalia County (with county seat Morgantown) and neighboring [21]
West Virginia University constitutes 913 acres (3.69 km2) of the city and vicinity, and with the fall 2012 enrollment added an additional population of 29,707 students.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Morgantown has amongst the lowest unemployment rates in the United States as of early 2009.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some information about West Virginia University
West Virginia University (WVU) is a [6]
Enrollment for the fall 2013 semester was 29,466 for the main campus, while enrollment across all campuses totaled 32,348.[3]
WVU has already produced 24 [3]
Under the terms of the 1862 Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, the West Virginia Legislature created the Agricultural College of West Virginia on February 7, 1867. On December 4, 1868, lawmakers re-named it West Virginia University. In the 1990s, WVU developed several recreational activities for the students, such as Fall Fest, a concert that welcomes students back to classes. In 1998, WVUp All Night launched to offer free weekend entertainment to students. The popular Student Recreation Center was completed in July 2001.WVU is designated as a Research University (High Research Activity) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Funding from external sources for total sponsored programs is $138 million. WVU is affiliated with the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, dedicated to the study of Alzheimer's and other diseases that affect the brain. WVU is also a leader in biometric technology research and recently became the Federal Bureau of Investigation's lead academic partner in biometrics research. James P. Clements became WVU's 23rd president on June 30, 2009. He previously served as provost at Towson University. WVU has been listed as one of the top party schools in the United States.
The Morgantown campus comprises three sub-campuses. The original main campus, typically called the Downtown Campus, is in the Monongahela River valley on the fringes of Morgantown. This part of campus includes eight academic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The Downtown Campus comprises several architectural styles predominantly featuring red brick including Victorian Second Empire, Federal, Neoclassical, and Collegiate Gothic among others. The Evansdale Campus, a mile and a half nort
h-northwest, on a rise above the flood plain of the Monongahela River, was developed in the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate a growing student population, since space for expansion was limited at the Downtown Campus. The Health Sciences Campus, in the same outlying area (but on the other side of a ridge), includes the WVU Health Sciences Center, Ruby Memorial Hospital, Chestnut Ridge Hospital, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, UHA Physicians Office Center, Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, WVU Eye Institute, WVU Center on Aging, and WVU Children's Hospital.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What To Do While You're In Town
One of the must see items I always tell visitors is to pay a visit to Cooper's Rock, which is about 20 minutes from the main part of Morgantown. The view is incredible.
Moving along to restaurant suggestions. Here are the popular options in town:
If you want the authentic Morgantown feel, hunt down Mario's Fish Bowl - a little dive restaurant with beers the size of your head!
Mario's Fish Bowl: http://www.mariosfishbowl.biz/ (Pub Food)
Blackbear Burritos: http://www.blackbearburritos.com/
Puglioni's Pasta: http://pugspasta.com/ (Italian - very good)
Mountain State Brewing Company: http://www.mountainstatebrewing.com/ (Handmade pizza and beer)
Oliverios Ristorante: http://oliveriosristorante.com/ (also very good Italian)
Keglers: http://keglerssportsbar.com/ (best wings in Motown)
Pies and Pints: http://piesandpints.net/ (Unique pizza/excellent beer selection)
Tilted Kilt: http://www.tiltedkilt.com/ (Pub food - also nice scenery)
Martin's BBQ: http://www.martinsbbqjoint.com/ (as seen on Drivers, Dine Ins, and Dives)
Primanti Brothers: https://www.primantibros.com/ (yeah it's a Pittsburgh based restaurant, but damn they have good sammiches)
Of course there are tons more - just ask around!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now let's talk about GAMEDAY!
Here are quick facts from the Athletic Department (very informative): http://www.wvusports.com/content/files/Marketing/VisitorsGuide_2014.pdf
For live game audio, live stats, scores across the country, etc. you can download the new WVU GameDay App - available in both the Apple App Store and Play Store. For those with FM radios, the local station broadcasting the game is 100.9
WVU fans will be out tailgating pretty much all day long. Your best bet is to park in the lots next to the Coliseum and ride the shuttle to the football stadium. I believe the cost is $4.00 per rider for round trip to and from the stadium and is the fastest way in and out of town. This is also the popular place for visiting fans to park their RVs the night before the game. While you're there make sure to have a look inside at where WVU plays all it's home basketball games.
The majority of tailgating takes place in the Blue Lot which is sandwiched between the football stadium and Ruby Memorial Hospital. There are many many other tailgates that take place all around the stadium. Don't be afraid to interact with our fans as many will offer you free food and beer.
The last thing I need to remind you of is to be in your seats AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to kickoff. The Pride of West Virginia, the Mountaineer Marching Band, which has close to 400 members, will take the field one half hour before kickoff and this is absolutely one thing you do not want to miss during the experience at a Mountaineer football game. Sometimes the crowd gets louder for the band then they do the football team. Here is a link to the history of the band: http://www.wvuband.org/band_history/history.html
The band was awarded the coveted Sudler Award in 1997, which is the Heisman Trophy of marching bands and can only be awarded once. Only 27 schools have been awarded the trophy.
That's all I got, folks. If you guys have any questions at all please let me know and I will get back to you! Looking forward to seeing some of you in Motown!
