Who's Attending Games This Year?

[MelroseHawkins]

When I watch at home it's in the garage. Big TV, decent audio system, and a fridge. I don't drink alcohol but I have unlimited Coke Zeros in it and my buddies can throw whatever beer/cocktails they want in there. Bathroom is 30 seconds away in the house and as a bonus of me not drinking I can take anyone home who needs it. Smoker and grill are right outside the door so I toss food on.

A lot of times I’ll pick people up on the front end so they don’t have to leave their car if they have a few. None of my friends get even remotely squirrely but why take the risk...

Then at the end I’m not facing a 2 hour wait at the tailgate for traffic to thin and a 5 1/2 hour drive home haha.

Yep, that's the way to do it. I've got a TV in my garage as well but is just too messy at this point to host people. Too many projects going on that I start and don't finish. I really do need to get that cleaned up and the walls painted!

 

[Hawkfnntn]

When I watch at home it's in the garage. Big TV, decent audio system, and a fridge. I don't drink alcohol but I have unlimited Coke Zeros in it and my buddies can throw whatever beer/cocktails they want in there. Bathroom is 30 seconds away in the house and as a bonus of me not drinking I can take anyone home who needs it. Smoker and grill are right outside the door so I toss food on.

A lot of times I’ll pick people up on the front end so they don’t have to leave their car if they have a few. None of my friends get even remotely squirrely but why take the risk...

Then at the end I’m not facing a 2 hour wait at the tailgate for traffic to thin and a 5 1/2 hour drive home haha.

And the folks that do get shitfaced I have no idea how they do it... None at all. Tailgate early put in a crazy long day of partying and the game then I assume the drunks are riding home and not driving but I'm sure I'm wrong about that to whatever % of them do. But when I did go to some games I was tired way before the day was up and I didn't drink either. Those that do are just built differently then me I wouldn't even want to try.

 

[ShemHawk]

Oldest son is taking me to the Oregon game as my Father's Day present. We used to do the Black Friday games, but he works for Apple now and nobody gets Black Friday off there.

 

[Fryowa]

And the folks that do get shitfaced I have no idea how they do it... None at all. Tailgate early put in a crazy long day of partying and the game then I assume the drunks are riding home and not driving but I'm sure I'm wrong about that to whatever % of them do. But when I did go to some games I was tired way before the day was up and I didn't drink either. Those that do are just built differently then me I wouldn't even want to try.

Older I get the worse it is.

In my 20s a trip there and back in the same day was no big deal. It was almost an adventure type thing. Now at 44 I want NOTHING to do with a same day trip, lol.

 

[Chickenlounge]

It's too bad you can't do both unless you have eff you money to sit in the suites.

You just have to be friends with someone who has FU money

 

[Fryowa]

You just have to be friends with someone who has FU money

Fair enough!

 

[Seth53]

Decided to go "large' for one game this year. UMass
Four of us have tix in Kinnick Edge. Couple hundred each. Parking pass next to Kinnick.
Might pony up again for a bigger game later in the season. I'm 66, well-off retired, so what the heck, right?

I rode a 76 GL1000 Goldwing for 7 years in the 80s. Wire front wheels. Add-on luggage package. Did my own maintenance. Paid $1300 in 1988.

Privately bought a slightly used 03 GL1800 Wing in 2003. Silver with black seating. $12k in 2003. Loaded with extras. Fast as heck. Comfortable as a couch. Handled like a sport bike over 10mph. Easily 40mpg. Had a trailor as well.
Rode that sucker for 80K miles with two 10-day trips out west. Miles of smiles.
Sold it due to two knee and a hip replacement.

Now that I'm fully healed, looking at a new one. Old Gold/black of course. Best touring bike out there hands down.





The DCT model boasts of an automatic transmission. Weird. I'm so used to the one-down, five up trans. To each their own.

 

[Seth53]

 

[Seth53]

Also comes in red.

 

[INTIMIDATORHawk]

I'm shocked I can reply because I was banned for a year by Rob Howe after he got his twat in a twist over something I said that didn't align with him politically. NOW THAT HE'S GONE.....

I've been attending all the home games and a few away games every year since 2004. I will do that again this season, but I am quickly growing tired of the lack of parking, cost of parking and lack of effort by the University to address it. We have been moved all over the place in the last 10 years, and it's getting ridiculous.
This might be my last year attending all the games. It's just to much hassle, and the view on the giant TV at home is quite nice.

After years of making the 11 hour round trip 7 times a year I'm thinking we'll only be at 2 maybe 3 games. Always loved the Hawks and always will no matter what, but gas, hotel, food, ticket prices, and losing the entire weekend has gotten to be too much. If I lived closer it wouldn't be a big deal. Might get back to it at some point. I hope I do.

My son is moved out of the house now and can't commit like he could when he was younger, and I've made the decision that I'm going to do next spring what I've wanted to for a really long time. I'm going to buy a touring motorcycle and the girlfriend and I are going to make that our thing. When my son started kindergarten I started coaching him in baseball and had the privilege of doing that all the way through high school. Back then I gave up my motorcycle, my garden, fishing for the most part, and I don't regret any of it a single bit. I worked 45-50 hours a week and in the summer months probably spent another 30 on baseball in some form or another whether it was practice, games, or field work. He was a 4-sporter in high school and I'm proud to say that in 13 years of youth/HS sports I never missed a game or track/XC meet. Got to go watch him run state track and XC 4 times...do not regret a thing.

I'm only 44 so it's not like this is some big retirement slowdown or something, but my priorities are changing. I still work the same amount, but there's a lot of riding we can do in September and October while it's cool enough but not cold. I'm getting a bike I want and that means small payments, which I'm fine with. I'm financially comfortable but not a big earner and don't spend out of my means. Folks both died at age 57 without a pot to piss in and never got to relax, so if 4 years of very manageable payments on the bike I've always wanted will let me get some enjoyment as a couple and by myself, I'm going to do it (paying 50% up front). The flip side is that's going to eat the money I'd spend on Hawk football weekends. Which is ok. I'll still watch every game and still cheer for the Hawks.

Wow. Sorry that got into an existential post. If you read all that I apologize for the 5 minutes of your life you won't get back.

If you're a motorcyclist I'll start a thread in OT right here where you can tell me what bike you ride and why. I haven't made my choice just yet but have it narrowed down to 2, possibly 3.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I'm shocked I can reply because I was banned for a year by Rob Howe after he got his twat in a twist over something I said that didn't align with him politically. NOW THAT HE'S GONE.....

I've been attending all the home games and a few away games every year since 2004. I will do that again this season, but I am quickly growing tired of the lack of parking, cost of parking and lack of effort by the University to address it. We have been moved all over the place in the last 10 years, and it's getting ridiculous.
This might be my last year attending all the games. It's just to much hassle, and the view on the giant TV at home is quite nice.

LOL. Years ago, even before this site (Prob Jon Miller's original site) old Rob banned me as I was bantering back and forth with administrator bouncing back and forth jokes with the Administrator. We were both making same funny points. He banned me out of the blue. He had a very short fuse back in the day and wasn't very objective if you didn't align with him. He was quick to the hammer.

 

[NCHawker]

The last games I attended.

1984 - Iowa shut out Michigan 26 zip
1996 - Tim Dwight put on a show but the hawks had too little too late to beat #1 OSU
2014 - At Maryland.

I'm at the point now I think I prefer TV. I can take a pee between plays, mow the front yard during halftime and eat at will, all while checking in on other games. No, I never can nap during an Iowa game.

 

[M1911A1Hawkeye]

Will be at the first three home games this year and that'll be it. May go to Madison in October for that game but haven't decided yet.

 

[Hay Man]

Has anyone on here been to a decent amount of Big Ten road games? Which places are the best and which are the worst (guessing Nebraska)?

 

[HuckFinn]

I had been to every BT stadium until the west coast invaded the conference. My take: Rutgers, meh. Penn St., almost impossible to get too. It looks like an erector set. Inside is inside. It’s big but really no louder than Kinnick. Overrated. Maryland, yawn.Ohio State, very impressive. Fans are into the game big time. Bus ride to game is easy to use. Dot on the “I’ is a stunning band show. (I am not a big band guy.) Nebraska, easy to access. Park at a high school, free bus ride to the game and back. The stadium needs to be torn down and re-built. Seats are awful, end zones, ok. Illinois and Indiana are decent, but small crowds. Good views. Indiana campus area is lovely! I am weird. I like Northwestern. Close to the action. Small and not excited fans. But big Iowa attendance. Minnesota, really nice venue. Good views, park at State Fair site and bus in with a reserved route. Fast. Modern amenities. Good crowds. “We hate Iowa!” Loud and long. Michigan State, needs to get a high speed elevator. Take your binoculars and plan on an hour to get to visitor seats via endless ramps. Impressive campus. Big House, nice but over rated stadium. Huge, but not really loud by comparison. Camp Randall, a good friend has 4 seats I get for free. 40 yard line, row 30! I gave them up. Seating is so crowded and uncomfortable that you will be miserable. Fans around me were, as expected, Badgers. And they were outrageously rude. Like, you could not cheer for the Hawks without being verbally abused and a couple of times, physically threatened. No tailgating, no parking, no good stadium access, hours in hours out.

 

[HuckFinn]

And, MN is my favorite. Modernized stadium, good amenities, great views, decent seat room, high speed bus ride in and out from State Fair Park. I would think a visit to the new NW stadium would be really interesting. OSU is worth the trip. Take the shuttle.
Indiana and Illinois are certainly ok. Nebbie stadium access is nice, but the stadium is a sewer. Got more questions, Hay, will be glad to respond. I do love away games…

 

[Seth53]

Has anyone on here been to a decent amount of Big Ten road games? Which places are the best and which are the worst (guessing Nebraska)?

Sans the new west coast teams, I've been to every B1G stadium except Nebraska. Also have been to Lucas 2x, Tampa 4x, Orlando 1x, Tempe 1x for bowl games. Lucas is easy. Orlando stadium is in the middle of a ghetto. Tampa is easy. Tempe was OK. Saw the Tate to Holloway game in Orlando.

Strictly my opinons as follows:
Illinois...a dump. Town is a dump. Home side remodeled. Visitor side a dump. Went 4x. They have restricted view seats. Place is a wind tunnel. Some decent tailgating. Ugh. Never stayed near there. Always did the in and out same-day deal.

Indiana...beautiful area an hour west of Indy. Stadium was easy to actually park up next to. Was more of an outing for the locals although that's probably changed recently. Never saw Iowa lose there during my three trips. Stayed in Indy near the airport. When I went, you could leave and re-enter anytime. BB building towers over the FB stadium.

Maryland...went once. Stayed in Germantown, rode the redline from Shady Grove, then switched downtown. Not impressed. Also watched a MD highschool playoff game there.

Michigan...went to the Big House once. Very impressive. Parked near the adjacent golf course. Golf carts all around to get you around. Cordial staff. Coridal fans. Each section had their own usher. Stayed in Jackson before/after. Put it on your bucket list.

Mich St...been once. Parked liked 3 miles away then took a transit for $10. Saw the Stanzi to McNutt game. Lacked atmosphere near the stadium. Lots of ramps to get to the upper decks. Stayed in Battle
Creek before/after.

Minnesota...you park in the MN state fairgrounds and they transit you to and from the the game for free. Clean with unique food. Been 2x. Iowa won both times. Well run venue. 1st stadium I went to that sold beer. Well worth the effort to get there. Stayed in Owatonna before/after.

NW...sorry to see the old stadium go. Was an easy train ride...walk 4 blocks and you're there. Cozy, somewhat run down, been there at least a dozen times. Bars near the stadium are decent. Was stationed at Great Lakes so always did the same day in/out trip.

Ohio State...Been 3x. Difficult to get to when I went. Went with OSU fans who had a parking pass. Walked like a mile. Stadium is very vertical...lots of ramps to the upper decks, then you need a camel to climb the rest. Never saw Iowa win there. Rabid but obnoxious fans. The pre and post hiney-gate rocked. Good party. Should be on your bucket list. Stayed in Dublin.

Penn State...been once. Drove the 13 hours and had to stay an hour away in Clearfield. Was lucky enough to be given a parking pass when I got there. Stadium is an erector set. Big, but disjointed. Beautiful area. Bucket list agenda. Lot of run down ramps to get to the upper visitor decks. Visitor seats are wayyyyy up there.

Purdue...Ho Hum. Older stadium. Been 3x. Saw the 85 Long VS Everett game. Sterile atmosphere. Can't really remember how we got there (alcohol involved perhaps?!) Stayed in Lafayette.

Rutgers...went once. Small stadium. Not really a football rabid crowd. Did the touristy NYC thing for two days after. Had to Uber to and from the stadium. Stayed in a motel near the Newark airport. Not much tailgating. Definitely had an east coast feeling.

Wisconsin....party city. Stayed in Dodgeville. We parked at the far western city bus terminal and rode the transit to and from the stadium. Downtown rocks. Stadium rocks. Probably my favorite out of town atmosphere. Been 4x. Never seen Iowa lose there. Fans were rabid but never got in my face. Bucket list location.

 

[Hay Man]

Thanks for the great insight Huck & Seth!! It would be great to be able to get to all those venues. Where would you put Jack Trice on those lists? I'm sure parking is pretty good.

Also, we've mostly all been to Kinnick and love most things about it, but what would be some wish lists for improvements to the stadium and surrounding area?