New to the roster this season, we’ll be taking a look at the various college towns of Wisconsin opponents. We will answer all important questions: is it a state capital? What is the population? Does he have a Culver’s?

Facts:

City: Bloomington, Indiana

Cut: 23.42 square miles

Site: 39 ° 09′44 ″ N 86 ° 31′45 ″ W

Population: 79 168 (2020)

State capital? No

Time zone: East

Landmarks: Indiana University, Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, Buskirk-Chumley Theater

On:

Bloomington is an “attractive” progressive community according to its own city’s website and is the “gateway to scenic southern Indiana.”

Of course, call yourself that …

Bloomington was established in 1818 by settlers from Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia. The town got its name from the fact that the settlers were so impressed with the ‘haven of flowers’. Bloomington was recently designated “Tree City USA”.

The region includes a number of state parks, state and national forests, city and recreation parks.

Indiana University was founded in Bloomington in 1820, making it one of the oldest universities in the country. Bloomington’s early settlers made a living from agriculture, timber for the furniture industry, and limestone mining, which makes up most of the buildings on campus.

Limestone mills were opened near Stinesville in 1827 and more were built in the area in the 1860s. Limestone transportation was made easier when the railroad arrived in the area in 1853-54.

The many changes of the 1900s to the area with improved roads, postal service, more trains, a hospital and more and increased development, led to the Bloomington that we know and tolerate a little bit today, as some think that it is quite pleasant. For example, Bloomington was ranked # 21 in the 100 Best Places to Live in America according to Livability in 2021.

Bloomington also achieved a perfect score of 100 points on the Human Rights Commission Municipal Equality Index from 2015 to 2020. The city also received a bronze level honor by Walk Friendly, for its commitment to improve and maintain pedestrian potential and pedestrian safety in 2020.

However, I am not buying it. There’s no way a city can be this Well. I mean, their school’s mascot is a Hoosier… that’s just a name for the people of Indiana, named after a Native American word for corn.

But?

Did you know that corn has no nutritional value? .

Oh and listen to this… Indiana thinks ‘Ope’ is their thing. Uh, I don’t agree, gentlemen, I’ve been saying “ope” my whole life. “Ope, let me slide past you” was something I said regularly in the crowded rooms of my various schools while growing up… IN WISCONSIN!

Bars:

Thanks to the unofficial guide to drinking in Bloomington, they’ve provided a list of the best places to have a drink near Indiana University.

According to this site, Kilroy’s on Kirkwood is the best place on earth… with great breadsticks and Water Longs, which are long islands of water, which are magical concoctions made from water, sugar and water. ‘a bunch of different spirits. Sorry, but there’s no way they’re better than Red Shed’s Real Thing.

Kilroy’s even made it on a Buzzfeed list of top college bars, ranking seventh. Nick’s English Hut, also in Bloomington, came in at number 12 on the list.

Nick’s English Hut is the bar where the drinking game, Sink the Biz comes from. The game is played using a metal bucket filled with beer and a beer glass floating inside. The players take turns pouring beer into the glass. The one who sinks it, must drink it.

Sounds like… fun…?

Good news though, Bloomington has Culver’s, so Hoosiers can settle for butter burgers and frozen custard.

Arena:

The Simon Skjodt meeting room was renamed and reopened on October 14, 2016 under its current name, following a $ 40 million donation from Cindy Simon Skjodt to carry out renovations to the stadium.

Previously known as simply Assembly Hall (as it is still commonly known), the old arena opened in 1971 and can seat 17,222 people.

Assembly Hall is well known as one of the loudest venues in college basketball, helped by its passionate fan base and unique design of steep sides. It sounds like a nightmare for someone with waist dislikes.

Assembly Hall was named ESPN’s third best home court in 2012.

Does your college town suck?

You know Bloomington seems like a safe city, but maybe too safe? Plus, their Sink the Biz drinking game looks like a Petri dish, teeming with the next germs of the next pandemic.

Yes, that sucks. And I know what you’re thinking, what about the Indiana Hoosiers, but in the words of the MRI technician, Chris… No, Badgers.