Harvard-Yale

Cheer on the Crimson in the 139th playing of The Game hosted at the Yale Bowl! 
 

Harvard-Yale Football Game

On this page:

History

The Harvard-Yale football rivalry began on November 13, 1875 at Hamilton Field in New Haven (a 4-0 Harvard win) and was first rivalry in all of college athletics. The series is the third-most-played in college football history and is now referenced around the country simply as “The Game.”

Football Tickets

The Game 2023 will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Yale Bowl.

Currently enrolled Harvard undergraduates will have the opportunity to purchase one ticket in the designated Harvard student section at the Yale Bowl while supplies last. If you have any questions regarding game tickets, please call the Harvard Athletic Ticket Office at 617-495-2211.

  • All tickets must be purchased before The Game. 
  • Please do not lose your tickets. There are no electronic tickets, and no replacements can be issued in the event a physical ticket is misplaced.  

Tickets will cost $25 and can be purchased from the following locations:

The Murr Center

  • Dates: Monday, Nov. 13 – Friday, Nov. 17
  • Times: 9am – 5pm

The Smith Center

  • Dates: Tuesday, Nov. 14 – Friday, Nov. 17
  • Times: 10am – 4pm

Annenberg Dining Hall (First-Year students only)

  • Dates: Wednesday, Nov. 15
  • Times: 5pm – 8pm

Transportation

Shuttle bus tickets are now sold out. After you have purchased a ticket, be sure to fill out the dietary preferences, allergies, and accessibility requirements form.

Shuttle Bus Ticket Pick-up:

If you purchased a shuttle bus ticket, you must pick it up by 3:00pm Friday, November 17 at the Smith Campus Center Box Office. Tickets will not be available for pick-up at the buses. 

Shuttle Bus Departure Times:

Shuttle buses will pick up near the Science Center Plaza and will depart directly from the Yale Bowl. If you have questions regarding shuttle departures or locations, please contact the shuttle hotline on game day at 617-999-2663. 

importantImportant: You can only get on the bus at the time that you purchased a shuttle ticket for. 

  • Most buses will depart on Friday, November 17
  • A small number of buses will depart on the morning of Saturday, November 18
  • All buses will return to campus following the conclusion of The Game

Other Transportation:

If you are opting to take other transportation to The Game (train, personal vehicle, etc.) please be sure you are doing this safely!  

Overnight Housing

Harvard Houses are partnering with Yale Colleges to offer overnight housing on Friday night only. More information about this will be shared by the individual Houses and residential communities with their sister colleges. Any overnight guests should be aware of any rules, policies, and procedures set forth by the residential colleges at Yale, as well as remembering to abide by policy set forth in the Harvard College Student Handbook.  

Housing has been claimed for The Game 2023. If you did not receive housing or are not staying with a friend, please plan to arrive on Saturday. 

importantBring overnight bags to The Game: Remember to bring any bags from your overnight stay to the Yale Bowl. We will have a designated storage space at the Westville Music Bowl for Harvard students to store bags. Buses heading back to Cambridge will depart directly from the Yale Bowl so ensure you bring your belongings with you for The Game. 

Map: Important Locations

Check out the google map of important locations to help you navigate your way around Yale. Locations include:  

  • Bus drop off sites 
  • Housing locations 
  • Event locations 

  

Harvard-Yale Google Map

 

Activities at Yale

Yale will be providing a number of social activities and events for Harvard College students.

importantWristband Required: All Harvard College students will receive a wristband that they must wear for entry into any Yale events. These will be distributed to students on the shuttle buses and at various distribution points at both Harvard and Yale on Friday, November 17. 

Friday, November 17

  • 7:00-9:00pmHarvard Women's Volleyball vs. Yale in John J. Lee Amphitheater: Cheer on the Harvard Women's Volleyball team as compete in the Ivy League Championships! Student tickets are free.
  • 7:30pm – Yale Harvard Glee Club Concert in Woolsey Hall: Enjoy the Yale and Harvard choruses as they come together in song. Free admission, no tickets required.
  • 10:00pm-1:00am – Yale/Harvard Party at College Street Music Hall: Featuring Yale and Harvard student DJs: Eduardo Velasco Wichmann, Maximillian Velasco, Alex Aldrich, and Nathenael Kebede Hundie. Geronimo’s tacos and other bites will be served. The event is free and open to all Yale and Harvard undergraduates. Y/H wristband required.
  • 10:00pm-1:00am – Movies, Mario Kart, and Maker Space in Old Campus: There will be fresh popcorn, doughnuts, hot chocolate, and apple cider!
    • LC 101 – Yale/Harvard Movie Marathon
    • LC 102 – Mario Kart!
    • Dwight Hall Chapel – Student organization performances
    • Dwight Hall Common Room – Swifty friendship bracelets and board games

Learn more on the Yale website

 

College Events Board (CEB) Spirit Week at Harvard

The College Events Board (CEB) will be hosting a full week of festivities here on Harvard’s campus in the days leading up to The Game! Beginning on Monday, November 13, a wide range of events will take place across our campus to bring our community together and get ready to cheer on the Harvard Crimson. The CEB event list will be shared soon. 

Harvard State Fair
Date: Monday, November 13 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Harvard Yard
Kick off Harvard-Yale Spirit Week with the first annual Harvard State Fair! Join us to watch performances, enjoy carnival games, eat free food, and grab free merch as we get hyped for Harvard-Yale! Performers include the Harvard University Band, The Crimson Dance Team, Dexter and more!

Harvard-Yale Ride or DIY
Date: Tuesday, November 14 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: Smith Campus Center
Do you like being crafty and showing school spirit??? We will be doing shirt, phone charm, bracelet, and poster decorating, specifically geared toward Harvard spirit! Additionally, we will have Harvard-Yale themed Stuff-a-Plush! Come for 30 minutes or the whole 2 hours to design and decorate any and all the merch/posters you please!  

Harvard-Yale Bulldog Roast
Date: Thursday, November 16 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Location: Sanders Theater
Come to the annual Harvard-Yale Bulldog Roast hosted by the College Events Board and Professor Andrew Berry on Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 7:00-8:30pm in Sanders Theater! Featuring performances from THUD, HUSUCS, Professor Berry, come prepared to show some school pride and have a good laugh!

 

Safety and Emergencies

importantUniversity ID required: Harvard students will need their HUID and should bring it with them for The Game. 

Safety Phone Numbers

We encourage all participants to add these important safety phone numbers to your contacts so that you are prepared in case of an emergency.

Harvard Phone Numbers 

  • SHARE Crisis Hotline: 617-495-9100 
  • HUPD Emergency Numbeer: 617-495-1212 
  • Shuttle Info: coming soon

Yale Phone Numbers 

  • Yale Police: 203-432-4400 
  • Sexual Assault Response: 203-432-2000

Community of Care 

Take care of yourself and each other by making a plan and being an active bystander. Remember the Four D’s of bystander intervention – delay, distract, direct, and delegate – and prepare by: 

  • Having a buddy, dressing appropriately for cool weather 
  • Ensuring that you are getting enough to eat. 
  • Staying hydrated with water

Nothing is more important than ensuring your safety, and the safety of those around you. Should you find yourself in a situation where you need immediate assistance, please see the safety information above for some numbers that you should keep handy. 

Emergency Alcohol Intervention

If you notice a friend or peer exhibiting signs of alcohol poisoning, step up and seek help! Call Yale Police (203-432-4400) or 911 and lay them on their side while you wait for help. Don't leave them alone! Remember, cell service can be spotty during the Game. All uniformed staff members at the Yale Bowl will have access to a walkie-talkie. 

And don't forget that Harvard has a Help-Seeking Policy.

Signs of alcohol poisoning: 

  • Cold, clammy, or blue skin
  • Unconscious or unresponsive
  • Slow or irregular breathing
  • Puking repeatedly

Preparing for Inclement Weather

It is currently expected to rain on Saturday in New Haven. Umbrellas are not permitted in the Yale Bowl. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather

Yale Bowl Policies

  • If you are not feeling well or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you should not attend The Game 
  • Backpacks, purses, camera bags, binocular cases and diaper bags are no longer allowed into the Yale Bowl 
  • Only gallon-sized Ziploc bags or official Yale Athletics Clear Bags may be brought into the Bowl 
  • Items prohibited at the Bowl include alcohol, tobacco, weapons, noisemaking devices and any item deemed dangerous or inappropriate 
  • Purses that are 6.5” x 4.5” or smaller and have no strap may be brought into the stadium 
  • Any unauthorized bags may be stored in personal vehicles or through the Yale bag check service 
  • Once admitted into the Yale Bowl, no ticket holder will be permitted to leave and reenter the facility 
  • Containers of alcohol being brought into the Yale Bowl will be confiscated 

Social Media

Share your Harvard-Yale content with us using #HarvardYale and follow Harvard College on Instagram and Tik Tok for all things Harvard-Yale!

Information for Alumni and Graduate Students

  • Alumni should visit the Harvard Alumni Association website for Harvard-Yale alumni events. 
  • If you are a graduate student, be sure to check with your Dean of Students Office (or its equivalent) to find out about your school's Harvard-Yale plans.

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