What to expect as Notre Dame Stadium welcomes Zach Bryan Saturday
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- On Saturday, Sept. 6, Notre Dame Stadium will host Zach Bryan, Shane Gillis, and Dermot Kennedy for a concert. It starts at 7 p.m.
Lee Sicinski, the Executive Director of University Events at Notre Dame, says the show is basically sold out.
"We had incredible attention at the point of on-sale, basically selling out at that point. I think they're releasing, as they typically do, they release some production holds and things like that, late in the game. So, tickets can be found online, but for all intents and purposes, it's a sold-out show," said Sicinski.
He says they want to do more events like this in the future, with a goal to consistently have two to three of these major events a year---already having luck with concerts, international soccer matches, and the NHL Winter Classic.
I'm told this is the fourth concert at Notre Dame Stadium, having done Garth Brooks twice and Billy Joel.
"I'm excited for the artists to take the stage, you know? I'm excited for the crowd reaction. I'm excited for people to come here. I'm really excited for so many people who probably don't know what touchdown Jesus is, to experience Notre Dame, right? I think that's what it's all about, and our community. I think people who may not have otherwise been to Notre Dame and been to South Bend and our local community getting a chance to experience how wonderful it is here. That's what I'm excited about," said Sicinski.
The Notre Dame Police Department says it's expecting a big crowd, likely in excess of 80,000 people. Bill Thompson, Deputy Chief with the Notre Dame Police Department, says that's even a shade bigger than what they'd see on a football Saturday.
Thompson says a concert is a bit different than a football game.
"Football folks tend to come in earlier and tailgate, and they kind of dribble in throughout the day, and then it gets really busy a couple of hours before kick. For this, folks are probably going to come in at all about the same time. However, our parking lots will open at noon, so folks can come in a little early, and if they choose to come early and enjoy campus on what's going to be a pretty nice fall feel kind of day, we're certainly open to that," said Thompson.
Notre Dame, South Bend, and St. Joseph County Police Departments are working together to prepare for the event and keep everyone safe. Thompson says the traffic pattern they've designed has been worked on for decades and aims to get people in and out as efficiently as possible.
"There's obviously a lot of activity on campus. There's a lot of stuff going on on the field, getting ready for this show. We're anticipating a really big crowd, probably in excess of 80,000 folks. So that's going to be a little bit, just a shade bigger than what we get even on a football Saturday," said Thompson.
Thompson says since it's a concert, there may be people visiting the area for the first time but adds there is plenty of signage and help to get people to the parking lots efficiently. I’m told most of their lots will be open and available, and they anticipate having plenty of space for cars.
"For folks traveling just in the area, even if they're not coming to Notre Dame on that day, our neighbors get kind of used to the cadence of football traffic, so they know when the best times are to come and go. One of the challenges with a concert, it's a different kind of crowd, different kind of arriving crowd, and we also know that a lot of folks who are coming to this concert probably have never been to Notre Dame or Notre Dame Stadium before, so we want to make sure that they give themselves a lot of time. For our local community that may not be visiting us that day, please understand there's going to be some folks driving around. They may look a little bit confused, just because they haven't been here before, but there's plenty of signage and plenty of help around to get them into the parking lots efficiently," said Thompson.
Ahead of the concert, there will be tailgating allowed in the typical lots.
"Certainly, there are some restrictions around it, and one of the biggest ones is we want to make sure that things are safe, so there's no open flames or those kinds of things. But the general kind of tailgating picnic-sorts of things that folks do at events like this, we welcome that. We understand that folks are going to do that. We want them to enjoy their day and enjoy our campus," said Thompson.
Thompson says roads will be busy when leaving the stadium.
If you are trying to use a rideshare app, here's Thompson's advice for the best areas to do so:
"If you're in the south lots, or moving toward the south, it's going to be basically down toward Trader Joe's on Eddy Street. If you're anywhere wanting to go to the east side, it's going to be kind of across Twyckenham. The Bulla and Ivy area are the best spots," said Thompson.
Lt. Brad Rohrscheib with SBPD says officers will also be out helping in the stadium and the lots, but also with traffic.
"We'll have an additional 50 to 60 police officers on the south side of campus, on all the major intersections as folks come in for the event. Our inbound pattern will start at 4:30 p.m. and will likely lead up until close to 7 o'clock for the concert start," said Rohrscheib.
He says there's been a lot of preparation for this event.
"So, it's been months in preparation. I also look back to previous concerts, back in 2022, that were held here. Things that we learn from those, and things that we can tweak and make it better for everybody's experience," said Rohrscheib.
Rohrscheib is urging people to leave early to get to the concert as well.
"Don't trust your GPS time that it's going to take you to get from your hotel or your Airbnb to the stadium. Know that there are going to be some roads closed. They're also ---during inbound pre-concert will be kind of a one-way detour of the stadium, and then after the concert, it'll be the opposite, and be one way, going away from the stadium and away from campus. So again, if your GPS is saying, 'Hey, go this way,' just know that that might not be an option, and there is a reason for that. We close roads and direct traffic for everyone's safety, and we will have officers at all the major intersections, assisting pedestrians in crossing as well," said Rohrscheib.
Sgt. Aris Lee with the SJCPD says their department will have officers in the northern and eastern parts of campus.
TRANSPO:
The South Bend Public Transportation announced service to Notre Dame Stadium for the Zach Bryan concert through their Game Day Express route, which runs for home Notre Dame football games. This is funded by Visit South Bend / Mishawaka.
Ahead of the concert, the Game Day Express will run three hours before the concert starts, with the last departure one hour before (3-6 p.m.). The service will also run for two hours after the concert (approx. 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.). Transpo says this route is free for all people using it, and there will be free parking available as well in the Century Center Parking Lot. Other stops they list are the Aloft Hotel, the Century Center across from Courtyard Marriott, and the DoubleTree Hotel along Washington St.
The following service adjustments and detours will be in place on Saturday, September 6, 2025:
#5 North Michigan – The 4:33 p.m. and 5:33 p.m. trips will be canceled.
#7 ND/UP Mall/Mishawaka – Buses will bypass the Notre Dame campus starting with the 10:33 a.m.
Departure from South Street Station and the 10:26 a.m. departure from the Mishawaka Transfer Center. This detour will continue for the remainder of the service day.
Outbound – From South Bend Ave, buses will turn right on Campeau, left on Eddy St to SR 23, resuming the regular route to University Park Mall.
Inbound – From University Park Mall, buses will turn left on SR 23 to Eddy St, turn right on Campeau, left on South Bend Ave, resuming the regular route.
Holy Cross:
Holy Cross College says it is opening its lots and shuttle service for the Zach Bryan concert, as well as during football season.
“There is no better place to start your gameday experience than at Holy Cross College, literally the site where the original bricks of Notre Dame were made,” said Andrew Polanecki, Associate Vice President of Campus Operations. “Holy Cross College is here to welcome you into the tradition and the glory that is Notre Dame football — and this fall, that includes the excitement of a major stadium concert.”
Below are parking details and dates provided by Holy Cross College:
Parking Details:
- $40 per vehicle — far below most campus-adjacent lots
- $100 per camper; $250 per bus/RV
- Shuttle service: continuous loop between Holy Cross and McKenna Hall on Notre Dame Avenue, beginning three hours before kickoff (or concert start time) and running until one hour after the event
- Restrooms available onsite
2025 Parking Dates at Holy Cross
- Saturday, September 6 — Zach Bryan concert (7 p.m., lots open at Noon)
- Saturday, September 13 — Notre Dame Football (7:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, September 20 — Notre Dame Football
- Saturday, October 4 — Notre Dame Football
- Saturday, October 11 — Notre Dame Football
- Saturday, October 18 — Notre Dame Football (7:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, November 8 — Notre Dame Football (7:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, November 22 — Notre Dame Football
Special accommodations: Driscoll Society members receive complimentary parking in the James/Chapel/Visitors Circle with a hangtag. Admissions guests may also park in designated areas at no charge.
South Shore Line:
The South Shore Line will also provide additional service for the Zach Bryan concert.
According to the South Shore Line, the regularly scheduled eastbound trains include Tr 503, Tr 505, and Tr 507. Those trains will take people to the South Bend International Airport before the concert. The SSL will also operate a westbound Extra train, which will leave South Bend Airport 90 minutes after the concert ends. The westbound Extra train will make all station stops to Millennium Station.
South Shore Line