Rent a House for Game Day Weekend

Jesse | Published on Sep 3, 2009

Poor planning during college football season can spell disaster for out-of-town games. Nearby hotels are over-priced and over-booked. Heavy traffic plus accident-prone party goers on the roads are a given. So what is the best way to enjoy a lavish, stress-free game day? Location, location, location!

Forget hotels! How would you like to start game day off to the exciting beat of the marching band’s drums and French horns -from your house rental driveway? If you know where to look, you could score a game day weekend rental home within walking distance of the college football stadium.

Many people are choosing to rent their homes out for big college football weekends. Some home owners, who have gotten quite good at being game day landlords, offer such generous accommodations that they make hotel rooms look like prison cells. Spacious backyards with a fire pits, Jacuzzis, free wi-fi, large kitchens, multiple flat screen TVs and even welcome baskets are some of the things you may find in your weekend home rental. The only thing missing is someone to turn down your bed. But seriously, who needs chocolate on the pillow when you rent a home that is just a five minute walk from the stadium?

Chris Brusznicki and his partner Jeff Polk run an event-based vacation rental site called Gamedayhousing.com. Their site offers a place where home owners can list their houses for rent during game weekend nationwide. Renters can browse the houses for rent listed by game. Chris, who graduated from Notre Dame in 2002, saw a need for this market when he was a Notre Dame student.

“For the big Notre Dame games, people were getting gauged on hotel rentals that can go for as much as $3,000. I saw a need for weekend housing and figured out that I could offer a better price with superior quality by renting out a home,” says Chris, co-founder of Gamedayhousing.com.

He adds, “I’ve listed some homes where you can see the stadium dome from the front porch of the house. For many Notre Dame fans, the view and atmosphere is the pinnacle of the college football experience. These people are getting together for 20-year reunions. The experience is very precious to them.” According to Chris, people book their game day houses up to two years in advance.

Of course renters are not the only people who profit from the home rental listing services. An increasing number of investors and home owners recognize the value of leasing their homes out for big event weekends. Mike Stockrahm, from South Bend, IN has been renting out his own house for game day weekends for over two years. “We’ve been averaging about 3 games per year, but we’d do more. The income is welcome since we use most of it to offset the maintenance needs of the house,” says Mike.

Mike says he uses game day weekends as a benchmark and a motivator to spruce up his house. “We painted the house this summer. I painted our old faded rattan patio furniture and bought new cushions to spruce up the back porch this year. We’re finishing a bathroom remodel with this year’s proceeds,” says Mike. Less than 2 miles away from the Notre Dame stadium, Mike’s four-bedroom house sleeps 10 people and runs about $1,800 per night.

Another great resource for renting or listing a home for the big game weekend is Rentals.com. As a vacation home rental listing site, Rentals.com has houses that are available for just one night or up to several months. If the college football game is just a part of your vacation experience, you may want to consider renting a house more centrally located near other activities. Rentals.com allows you to search for homes for rent based on other activities such as hiking, skiing, shopping or golf.

Bob Clouser, Director of Business Development of Rentals.com addresses the need for short-term housing options. “People are looking for alternatives to pricey hotels for their vacations, weekends, and even business trips,” says Bob.

Consider, for example, visiting Austin, Texas for the weekend. Hotels in downtown Austin run an average of $150-$275 per night. But if you are looking on a site like Rentals.com, you could come across a home rental listing like “Hancock Guest Nest Unique Urban Escape,” a studio loft located in the heart of Austin for a mere $100 per night. Hey Texas Longhorn fans, this house also happens to be located just a few miles from the football stadium!

April Lentini writes for apartmentguide.com