Iowa Tailgaters...

[Fryowa]

For those who come to games and tailgate, what's your ritual or typical gameday routine? What general area do you tailgate? Be as specific or non-specific as you want.

I'm 5.5 hours away and there are four of us...me, my son, my best friend, and a rotation of one of his two daughters depending on the week. For morning games we come down the night before, evening or late afternoon games we drive up early and stay the night.

Our spot is private in the Myrtle area, so we can set up any time. Usually for us on say, a 2:30 game (most common last year) we roll into town around 6:30am, set up the EzUp, grill, tables, etc, and start cooking either breakfast sandwiches or regular breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns. Our neighbor has a huge TV and satellite so he also gets breakfast from us and we typically lounge watching pregame stuff or other games until lunch time. Typical shit like bags and general mingling etc. Lunch is usually skinless HyVee brats, I grill double the amount and leave the extras on the grill wrapped in foil. Stroll to the stadium an hour or so before kick, and when we get back I reheat the leftover brats so we don't have to stop for supper on the way home. Typically we'll pack up before it gets too dark, then sit around for a couple hours to let traffic thin out. Whenever it feels right we pack up the last of the chairs and hit the road for a 5 and a half hour drive home. Usually roll into town between midnight and 1AM, and I'm up the next morning around 6 to unpack.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

We get in the night before and try to stay at the Heartland Inn in Coralville. Kind of a dump, but its our dump. We hit the Ped Mall for a bit of nostalgia and then end up at The Vine or Wig where we fit in a bit better. I like to get up early and go for a run Saturday morning to feel the town waking up on game day. We sometimes Tailgate on Lower Fink or just walk up and meet my Uncle who has rich man's passes right under the press box. I gotta be in my seats 10 minutes prior so I can mix myself an illegal cocktail before hearing Nile give his speech. Damn, I am ready for game day right now!

 

[Fryowa]

...to feel the town waking up on game day...

One of the best parts, tbh. Usually we're rolling onto Melrose during sunrise...we roll the windows down and crank Back in Black followed by the Fight Song. Really pisses off the hippies and vegans out walking in the morning who you can tell hate football and just live there cause they work at the U.

 

[Northside Hawk]

We tuck into a spot on Golfview Ave., just across the railroad tracks from Kinnick. Homemade deer jerky and bruschetta bread are big hits, but we always have staples like pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad, or sometimes just go the burger, brat, hot dog route. And of course there's no hurry to leave anytime soon after the game.

If we come down but don't have tickets we head downtown to the old (and newer) establishments. Airliner Pizza still hits the spot!

While I live in Wisconsin were still very close to the Iowa border. About 90 minutes for us, maybe 20 minutes longer than getting to the west side of Madison.

 

[Chickenlounge]

We're on Leamer Ct a couple blocks from the stadium. 3 parking spots for 4 families, so we try to all pile in 2 cars and leave one open for tables, chairs, kids, etc. We used to get up there at 7am no matter what time kickoff was, but these days we just play it by ear. Sometimes we're there 5 hours before kickoff, and sometimes 2 hours. Just depends.

 

[Fryowa]

We tuck into a spot on Golfview Ave., just across the railroad tracks from Kinnick. Homemade deer jerky and bruschetta bread are big hits, but we always have staples like pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad, or sometimes just go the burger, brat, hot dog route. And of course there's no hurry to leave anytime soon after the game.

If we come down but don't have tickets we head downtown to the old (and newer) establishments. Airliner Pizza still hits the spot!

While I live in Wisconsin were still very close to the Iowa border. About 90 minutes for us, maybe 20 minutes longer than getting to the west side of Madison.

We're on Leamer Ct a couple blocks from the stadium. 3 parking spots for 4 families, so we try to all pile in 2 cars and leave one open for tables, chairs, kids, etc. We used to get up there at 7am no matter what time kickoff was, but these days we just play it by ear. Sometimes we're there 5 hours before kickoff, and sometimes 2 hours. Just depends.

It's pretty hilarious that a whole bunch of us probably come within feet of each other on any given weekend.

@Northside Hawk my buddy likes to grab a beer before games at Stella so I usually walk down there with him and have a soda...could probably throw a baseball to your tailgate from there.

 

[Chickenlounge]

It's pretty hilarious that a whole bunch of us probably come within feet of each other on any given weekend.

@Northside Hawk my buddy likes to grab a beer before games at Stella so I usually walk down there with him and have a soda...could probably throw a baseball to your tailgate from there.

You absolutely could hit us from Stella's...if there were no trees in the way. Damn nature always causing problems.

 

[Grady]

We tuck into a spot on Golfview Ave., just across the railroad tracks from Kinnick. Homemade deer jerky and bruschetta bread are big hits, but we always have staples like pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad, or sometimes just go the burger, brat, hot dog route. And of course there's no hurry to leave anytime soon after the game.

If we come down but don't have tickets we head downtown to the old (and newer) establishments. Airliner Pizza still hits the spot!

While I live in Wisconsin were still very close to the Iowa border. About 90 minutes for us, maybe 20 minutes longer than getting to the west side of Madison.

That's crazy. My previous neighbor moved to the very end of Golfview Ave, so each game day I have different family member or friend drive the 2 of us down to ICity where we park at the end of the street, visit, and toss the pigskin awhile before walking past Stella's an hour before kickoff. Grab a bite outside Kinnick on Melrose and since our seats are close to the field I like to get inside to watch some warm-ups. I probably walk right by you, Northside Hawk, every game! I have a rare heart condition which normally allows me to only be upright 2-3 hours a day, but I really push it on game-day. I lay down in the car on the trip down, and after the game add a 2nd nitro patch and hook up to Ox2 and lay down on the way home. Win or lose, it's always special spending 1-on-1 time with friends and family I don't get to spend much time with -- and they LOVE it...I pay for their ticket and in return they drive us down and back.
My glory years game days were when I was in my late 20s and my wife and I would drive down Friday nights and stay with my best friend and his wife...on Sat mornings my friend and I would get up & walk down the street to a little park that for some reason had a single goal post, and we'd kick FGs for about an hour. I'd get to Kinnick early, relentlessly badgering the opposing team as they warmed up -- all in an educational way, of course. Used to drink a lot back in the day, which resulted one year in me leading the Illinois marching band out of the stadium after the game...but that's another story.

 

[Fryowa]

I have a rare heart condition which normally allows me to only be upright 2-3 hours a day, but I really push it on game-day. I lay down in the car on the trip down, and after the game add a 2nd nitro patch and hook up to Ox2 and lay down on the way home. Win or lose, it's always special spending 1-on-1 time with friends and family I don't get to spend much time with -- and they LOVE it...I pay for their ticket and in return they drive us down and back.

Damn. Sorry to hear that. If it ever comes to the point that you still go but need help getting around or into the stadium let me know. Not kidding.

 

[Grady]

Appreciate it, Fry.

 

[okeefe4prez]

My glory years game days were when I was in my late 20s and my wife and I would drive down Friday nights and stay with my best friend and his wife

I haven't been to an Iowa game bince November 4, 2017 and I don't know if I will ever go to another game at Kinnick because that game was so special I wouldn't complain if it was the last game I ever see there.

I went to virtually every home game between 2003 (when I moved back from Japan) and 2010 other than the Wisconsin game in 2010. Part of it is I am getting older, but so much shit has been built up around Kinnick that a lot of soul has been sucked out of the whole experience. By 5 years ago it was a shell of what it was in 2003 and even 2003 was a shell of what it was in the '80's. Tailgating is way more fun if you go hard in the paint crushing brews but I'm too damned old to do that now for 4 hours before an 11 AM kickoff. But more importantly, every spot where I tailgated is now either built over or a fucking $10k donation to get a damned parking pass.

Not to get all nostalgic and shit, but the Baby Boomers knew how to tailgate and as their influence wanes and the anti-fun police further strangle our society, I suspect it will be as sterile as DisneyWorld by 2035 or so.

 

[Fryowa]

I haven't been to an Iowa game bince November 4, 2017 and I don't know if I will ever go to another game at Kinnick because that game was so special I wouldn't complain if it was the last game I ever see there.

I went to virtually every home game between 2003 (when I moved back from Japan) and 2010 other than the Wisconsin game in 2010. Part of it is I am getting older, but so much shit has been built up around Kinnick that a lot of soul has been sucked out of the whole experience. By 5 years ago it was a shell of what it was in 2003 and even 2003 was a shell of what it was in the '80's. Tailgating is way more fun if you go hard in the paint crushing brews but I'm too damned old to do that now for 4 hours before an 11 AM kickoff. But more importantly, every spot where I tailgated is now either built over or a fucking $10k donation to get a damned parking pass.

Not to get all nostalgic and shit, but the Baby Boomers knew how to tailgate and as their influence wanes and the anti-fun police further strangle our society, I suspect it will be as sterile as DisneyWorld by 2035 or so.

It's way better than it was in 2017. The triangle of land created by the 3 points of Stella, the Mennonite Church (not including the church), and the Melrose CT/Melrose Ave. intersection is pretty fuckin wild nowadays. The college kids on Melrose CT go full on rager mode every week and if seeing scantily clad co-eds, puking, deafening music, and guys jumping off roofs is what you're after it's there again. It sucked when they put up the Marriott, but the frontage road leading there from Melrose is pretty damn fun and pretty affordable. Basically the folks that got displaced from the Marriott construction go there plus the player parents/families who don't pay a bazillion dollars for a spot outside Kinnick (by definition these are the fun parents) hang out there too. I'll grant you that anything on the stadium side of the Melrose/Hawkins line blows ass, but on the flipside there are way more fun spots that are privately owned now.

Last year we were walking to the stadium and in the front yard of a college rental place they were playing beer pong. Mundane enough...But then I saw a chick in a bra fill a solo cup 3/4 full with fireball, and I saw a few empty half gallons. So I had to stop and spectate.

These kids were playing beer pong with prob 10 oz of whiskey per cup and they weren't faking it. I watched for probably 15 minutes and it was the real deal. I'm sure there was some crying in front of cops, walks of shame, and various other accoutrements happening that night/next morning, but it definitely made me appreciate not being a college student anymore.

 

[Northside Hawk]

I usually get to Kinnick once per year, but haven't been there since 2019. Had a kid playing a lot of club BB tournaments on Saturdays for a while there.

If we make it down this year I will definitely have to keep my eyes peeled. I'll bet I could point a couple of you guys out!

 

[Northside Hawk]

I haven't been to an Iowa game bince November 4, 2017 and I don't know if I will ever go to another game at Kinnick because that game was so special I wouldn't complain if it was the last game I ever see there.

I went to virtually every home game between 2003 (when I moved back from Japan) and 2010 other than the Wisconsin game in 2010. Part of it is I am getting older, but so much shit has been built up around Kinnick that a lot of soul has been sucked out of the whole experience. By 5 years ago it was a shell of what it was in 2003 and even 2003 was a shell of what it was in the '80's. Tailgating is way more fun if you go hard in the paint crushing brews but I'm too damned old to do that now for 4 hours before an 11 AM kickoff. But more importantly, every spot where I tailgated is now either built over or a fucking $10k donation to get a damned parking pass.

Not to get all nostalgic and shit, but the Baby Boomers knew how to tailgate and as their influence wanes and the anti-fun police further strangle our society, I suspect it will be as sterile as DisneyWorld by 2035 or so.

In lieu of tailgating, the University will offer versions of the "Small World" ride down Melrose where Kirk sings "That's Football After All" in 37 languages, complete with Barta dressed up as Goofy, Kirk as Eeyore, and Brian as Donald Duck.

 

[Fryowa]

In lieu of tailgating, the University will offer versions of the "Small World" ride down Melrose where Kirk sings "That's Football After All" in 37 languages, complete with Barta dressed up as Goofy, Kirk as Eeyore, and Brian as Donald Duck.

Speaking of riding down Melrose, those rickshaw drivers always look like they're having an absolute fucking blast hauling people around on football days. My buddy is a big dude, north of 350, and I go about 225. We were always going to flag one down and make him earn his paycheck but we chickened out last minute every time we thought about it.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

We're on Leamer Ct a couple blocks from the stadium. 3 parking spots for 4 families, so we try to all pile in 2 cars and leave one open for tables, chairs, kids, etc. We used to get up there at 7am no matter what time kickoff was, but these days we just play it by ear. Sometimes we're there 5 hours before kickoff, and sometimes 2 hours. Just depends.

We tailgate on Leamer too!

 

[Northside Hawk]

It's way better than it was in 2017. The triangle of land created by the 3 points of Stella, the Mennonite Church (not including the church), and the Melrose CT/Melrose Ave. intersection is pretty fuckin wild nowadays. The college kids on Melrose CT go full on rager mode every week and if seeing scantily clad co-eds, puking, deafening music, and guys jumping off roofs is what you're after it's there again. It sucked when they put up the Marriott, but the frontage road leading there from Melrose is pretty damn fun and pretty affordable. Basically the folks that got displaced from the Marriott construction go there plus the player parents/families who don't pay a bazillion dollars for a spot outside Kinnick (by definition these are the fun parents) hang out there too. I'll grant you that anything on the stadium side of the Melrose/Hawkins line blows ass, but on the flipside there are way more fun spots that are privately owned now.

Last year we were walking to the stadium and in the front yard of a college rental place they were playing beer pong. Mundane enough...But then I saw a chick in a bra fill a solo cup 3/4 full with fireball, and I saw a few empty half gallons. So I had to stop and spectate.

These kids were playing beer pong with prob 10 oz of whiskey per cup and they weren't faking it. I watched for probably 15 minutes and it was the real deal. I'm sure there was some crying in front of cops, walks of shame, and various other accoutrements happening that night/next morning, but it definitely made me appreciate not being a college student anymore.

I don't like whiskey, and I don't like cinnamon, so you could imagine what I think of fireball....

The first time I had it was when my daughter and niece had a combined high school graduation party. When the party died down the four parents and some other adults ordered some late night carry out pizza from Kieler's Gooch Greenhouse. And we passed around a bottle of fireball.

That may have been the last time I had it as well.

 

[Grady]

Speaking of riding down Melrose, those rickshaw drivers always look like they're having an absolute fucking blast hauling people around on football days. My buddy is a big dude, north of 350, and I go about 225. We were always going to flag one down and make him earn his paycheck but we chickened out last minute every time we thought about it.

When my daughter-in-law was going to college in ICity back around 2008 she was the first person to start a pedicab biz there. At that time the city had no regulations on the books so she had to wait until they got their shit together, but she was persistent & pulled it off. Sold the biz when she moved to CA with my son.

 

[Fryowa]

I don't like whiskey, and I don't like cinnamon, so you could imagine what I think of fireball....

The first time I had it was when my daughter and niece had a combined high school graduation party. When the party died down the four parents and some other adults ordered some late night carry out pizza from Kieler's Gooch Greenhouse. And we passed around a bottle of fireball.

That may have been the last time I had it as well.

Never had it but I've smelled it, and it wouldn't be my thing. It's Canadian whiskey so obviously the get the cheapest Canuckistan blend they can find and mix it with cinnamon schnapps.

Nope.

 

[MikeyLikesIowa]

We tuck into a spot on Golfview Ave., just across the railroad tracks from Kinnick. Homemade deer jerky and bruschetta bread are big hits, but we always have staples like pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad, or sometimes just go the burger, brat, hot dog route. And of course there's no hurry to leave anytime soon after the game.

If we come down but don't have tickets we head downtown to the old (and newer) establishments. Airliner Pizza still hits the spot!

While I live in Wisconsin were still very close to the Iowa border. About 90 minutes for us, maybe 20 minutes longer than getting to the west side of Madison.

When we go to a home game (usually once a year), we always tailgate with my cousin's in-laws in this same area. It's two houses down from Stella's in the far corner on the right in the backyard as you walk in from Golfview Ave. I don't recall the name of it. I just remember that the owner is a firefighter and usually wears some of his gear while he grills food. We always do the Shot Ski a couple times in the tailgate on the other (far left) side of this area.