Ree4
Well-Known Member
Yeah because baseball can be boring AF, especially the mid season ones that seem meaningless
Stadium amenities
- Thread starter westender
- Start date
kameltoez102
Well-Known Member
I have been watching quite a few older hawkeye games and even from the early 2000's the stadium has changed a lot. In my opinion it is getting better but the food selections could be much better. I haven't been to Kinnick in a couple years but the last time I was there it was easily some of the worst food I have had at an event. The restrooms have been done as well as the scoreboards etc so they have been doing things it is all about prioritizing. I think it would be different as well if the stadium was used for lots of other things but it isn't
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Exactly. The bold is so weird when you think about it.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Don't disagree with you here. This is definitely one area that can be improved for marketing reasons. Good grub could entice people to an extent.
Imagine what could have been.
Ronnie might have hid his phone on the sideline just in case he was about to receive a very important text.
[/QUOTE]That was inconceivable that something wasn't going on. Don't think he has ever been back that I can recall and maybe hasn't been asked. KF would never let a guy fumble that many times and stay in the game.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
The constraints on food service are huge, though. Because the venue only has 8 games a year, you can't put in the stand alone restaurant concept stuff you see in places like the baseball venues or Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta. Which leaves you with stuff you truck in. Which basically then limits your options to burgers, dogs, t-loin sammiches, pizza, etc. And I thought it was a company like Marriott running it, so you ain't gonna get anything great out of them. Basically will be the same crap off a Sysco truck, so even when they add something that sounds good like BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, it is going to just be some slow cooked (but not smoked) pulled pork slathered in a HFCS based "BBQ sauce."
Northwestern and Illinois used to have a lot of local vendors they would set up, but I think the logistics are a nightmare for the school and with the bigger food service providers like I would guess Iowa has, they typically want a monopoly. Northwestern used to get Hecky's in there for BBQ and the guy would have close to 1,000 people in line at halftime. I don't even know where inside of Kinnick you could set up an operation like that even if you could get local restaurants to sign on to a deal.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
He was honorary captain for a game a few years ago.
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
To add to this -
In that kind of situation, the biggest determinant as to whether or not you survive a cardiac event is access to an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator), several of which certainly are easily accessible at Kinnick.
Being able to make a phone call and wait for EMS is important, but, not the biggest factor. Besides, you wouldn't save all that much time anyway. Back in the day, someone would run out into the lobby area and grab one of the many public pay phones. Dialing 911 was free.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
FIFY
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Expand his quoted part and you will see what I fixed...
There are multiple food vendors outside Kinnick across Melrose. Assume just city permits and not U of I property. That is where I eat pre-game and many times post game. With food trucks really taking off with a wide variety around warmers months no reason more couldn't locate there. I'd be for closing down part of west parking lot just for that kind of options.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
For it to be accessible during the game, you'd have to gate it off. Not to mention it would necessitate chopping out even more parking spaces for big donors, which is not a great idea. It would probably a 45 minute round trip with lines to get there from the east side of the stadium.
Those displaced could park at Barta's house and be shuttled to and fro with police escort.
Use a port of west lot next to Kinnick and build a structure which in part contains some parking, and maybe like a sports bar atmosphere (Clones did it yes), and maybe access to that is premium price. Have an area where maybe a band could set up and play pregame. They would never allow it but put a dang brewery in there that has access to outside and secure access to stadium. If anyway to make at least a portion usueable for more than the season then do it. Obviously parking is always useable as it is now. Maybe put a fortnite gaming arena in there.
SmokeTownHawk
Well-Known Member
Too bad it's become too corporatized and homogenized in many places. When a place like Keniston's Meats in Oelwein was open I believe they contracted with the university for sports concessions. There's got to be a number of places around the state that would love to be involved with something like this. Have a place even if you have to make one reserved for Iowa food vendors.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
I want a porter in the restroom wishing me a good day and offering a shot of cologne or swig of mouthwash. I want Michelin rated chefs producing locally sourced, seasonal, non-GMO, organic delicacies for a low price. I want 1TB/second download rates on a dedicated Wi-Fi network so I can livestream the game and my reactions to big plays on my Insta to show off to my friends. I want seat warmers installed in all seats.
South side of Melrose has a pretty good selection of local food vendors for pre and post game. Most times there are also county beef or pork producers and hard to go wrong with what they are cooking up. If you go to Ames you will not find any kind of food vendor close to the stadium. You can beg from a tailgate and get some stuff.