Hello Gophers and Gopherettes

I am making a trip to The Bank (do you actually call it that? just curious) for the Northwestern-Minnesota game in October. My NU friends and I (yes we do exist) are flying up from Chicago for the weekend and will be staying at a hotel near the stadium.

Northwestern's Alumni Association is hosting a "tailgate event" at the University Hotel, I use the quote marks because it appears that it will be indoors in a hotel ballroom and hence not really what we're looking for. Normally we would have a car, find a lot and set up shot with some beers, throwing a football around, eating whatever, etc.

The question is if we do not have a car what should we do? Is there a decent tailgating scene near the stadium, any lot that is preferred? Can we walk into a lot (as opposed to not having a car) and grab some real estate with a case of beer or will we not be allowed in if we're not paying for parking? Should we just go to a bar near the stadium (if so, which one?)?

We're all looking forward to the trip, any help is much preferred, see you there and GO CATS!