Fri-YAY Listicle: Ranking the Notre Dame Stadium Concessions Foods

Welcome, everyone, to the weekly One Foot Down listicle! Each week on Friday, Pat Rick and I will alternate providing for you all a listicle of the greatest/top/best Notre Dame Fighting Irish-related things we can think of. They might be more serious, but mostly they will probably be wacky (what else would you honestly expect from the two of us?). We are AMPED to provide these for you each week.

Time for Some Noms

Today, I will be ranking the concessions stand foods that you can get at Notre Dame games. Now, I know in recent years, especially since the 2017 stadium renovation, there have been fancy foods and some convoluted concoctions that have been provided to fans to enjoy. We’re not getting into those because frankly it’s a little much for this list. Also, I have not had those foods so I can’t fairly rank them. Maybe in the comments you all can let me know which of the newer food options are good ones to try. No, this will be your classic stadium foods that were provided when you wanted to eat your feelings during the Ty or Weis eras.

Let’s Rank The Foods

5. Nachos

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Concession stand nachos anywhere have never been my favorite. But, at Notre Dame Stadium they are not bad. It becomes a little much to deal with dipping the nachos, and you have a high chance of spillage. Plus, if you are bold to put the canned jalapenos on top, that adds an interesting odor to your section especially in those early September games. I’m not saying these are bad by any means, but not my favorite.

4. Soft Pretzel

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Again, this is not a bad option by any means. It’s a pretty classic stadium food. You get the warm soft pretzel (which actually could get a bump from me now because it would be a Ben’s Pretzel, and those are bomb). The cheese or mustard dipping sauce is a choice with it, too. Just your standard pretzel is one where you really can’t go wrong.

3. Hot Dog

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The hot dog that concessions serves is pretty much your standard hot dog, but it is pretty awesome. Just a classic stadium food. A football game is not a baseball game, and especially at Notre Dame you cannot sit at a ballpark with a beer accompanying your hot dog (which, as we know, is the ultimate hot dog meal). Nonetheless, the hot dog is great to eat especially if you need some quick sustenance.

2. Brat

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

I will contend that the gameday brat is the GOAT food on a football gameday. This is not #1 on my list, though, for a specific reason that I will get into when I talk about #1. I think brats might be in my Top 5 (maybe Top 3) foods. They give you more substance, flavor, and a kick than a hot dog. They are just incredible. Especially in the tailgate lots, brats just hit so different. The ND ones are great, too, and also give you a perfect meal to eat right before kickoff to keep you going.

And 1. Popcorn

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Now, if you were just going on the type of food, brat would take the #1 spot. However, the Notre Dame concessions popcorn cannot be beaten. My dad would always call that popcorn the “industry standard” for popcorn. He was correct. It has the perfect amount of butter and salt. It’s usually not too hot nor is it ever stale. It is made so well, and the taste is perfect. While watching a game, it’s the classic and great snack to eat while things are happening. Low stress and low key, because that’s what popcorn is. Plus, I think it is the best stadium popcorn I’ve had.

So, there you go. We have ranked the OG concession stand foods. Let me know in the comments if you would rearrange the rankings or truly if any of the newer foods should make the list.