Full Disclosure. I am NOT a typical Iowa basketball fan. I am retired, and football and basketball games in Iowa City are "mini vacations" for me. I travel 4.5 hours from eastern Wisconsin to attend games, and rarely miss one.
Here are a few of my thoughts on Carver/Hawkeye and a bit about the program.
I had season tickets through Alford and Lickliter and now with Fran.
My single seat is in row 25 on an aisle...puts me at mid court opposite the Iowa bench.
I sit around a large variety of fans. Older ones, like me, but lots of young people, folks with small kids, etc.
People stand up when Iowa has a rally going; fans at Carver are pretty knowledgeable about the momentum of the game. Generally, people remain seated. But, they can cheer just as loud sitting. When you stand, you do run the risk of interfering with some of your fellow fans lines of vision. Just a common courtesy thing.
When the IOWA cheer goes around, my area (A) is pretty darn loud, as are the others.
Most BT venues, including the one in the state of Wisconsin, DO NOT have the students sitting courtside.
I don't think that really matters a lot. Our student section is inconsistent in attendance, but often the small crowd of kids is caused by Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. They go home. Duh.
I have no real opinion on student tickets, free or not. Generally, seems like $5 is a pretty easy buy. Iowa does, BTW, have a couple of options for selling unused tickets. I have a couple of people who I give mine to if the weather deters me from traveling. Or, sometimes I leave a ticket at the Ronald McDonald House if I know further ahead of time. I also get some tickets with my priority for single games for some friends/relatives.
I have taken a number of people from Wisconsin to CH. They are very impressed with the venue. They love the different arrangement, with the concourse around the top and the sort of "pit" effect that visitors have to adjust to. They also think the restrooms, the concessions, the parking, the entries are all first class. I honestly think those who criticize CH are just plain wrong. If you don't like it as an individual, that is your view and fine with me. But, I think you are in the minority.
The seats are ok. Wish they were padded for my old butt; however, the individual seats as opposed to the old benches are a huge improvement. And, I have sat several places around the arena, just to check it out, and there is hardly a bad seat in the place. I remember the old field house and my season ticks with Ralph Miller and Lute...loud, obnoxious venue that I loved dearly, but lousy vision and terrible seats.
Do not buy into the whining about the "blue hairs" and quiet crowds. That just is not true. Yeah, a visiting team can certainly take the crowd out of a game. Happens. But generally, CH is loud and lively. Go Hawks!
