Just kind of looking for a good off-season topic, but I thought it'd be interesting to see what other stadiums you guys have been to, and what you thought of your experience there. Maybe this thread could end up being a good "go-to" for people to research future road trips.
Big XII:
-Mizzou: Was here for the infamous 2005 game. Fans were pretty laid back/ambivalent before the game, and there were a couple of dicks afterwards, but overall they were pretty good. We tailgated in a gravel lot south of the stadium that was pretty scaled back by ISU standards, but fun nonetheless. Didn't get a good feel for the town because we left Ames at 3AM Saturday morning and headed back after the game.
-K-State: Went here in 2006. Set up is very similar to ISU, but smaller and slightly less convenient. They don't start quite as early either (4 hrs as opposed to 6). There was a major redneck/rural feel to the area around BSFS. However, it was a lot of fun, and KSU fans were pretty good. Don't remember taking much, if any crap at all. Could have been the 2 straight wins against them coming into it.
-Nebraska: Went here in 2007. Worst tailgate set up I've ever seen, yet we still had a good time. People were friendly before the game, and condescendingly nice afterwards. It was a little irritating, but not too bad. Memorial Stadium is incredible, and its a great atmosphere for a game. Overall, the scene is far too serious for my liking. Almost sucks the fun out of football.
-Baylor: Went here in 2008. Have almost nothing good to say about it, outside of the fact that the parking might be even more convenient than ISU's. General public can park right outside the gates of Floyd Casey. However, they're fans are completely disinterested in tailgating, and the very few that came out were far from hospitable. They were aloof, arrogant, and looked at Iowans as some kind of vermin. Seriously, don't go here unless it's A) one of the few ISU games you will be able to see that year, or B) you're dead set on going to all Big XII stadiums.
-Texas A&M: Went here in 2009. Fantastic. Set up is a lot less convenient than ISU, but it has the same open, relaxed feeling. People were incredibly nice and basically bent over backwards to get you drunk and full of fantastic food. Kyle Field is impressive. The cultishness can definitely rub you after a bit, and the social norms are extremely unpredictable. My buddy let a single cuss word out at Kyle Field, and was nearly assaulted by an old woman, who then called the cops. However, at the tailgate, those drunk Texans were cussing up a storm. Apparently they actually feel the stadium is sacred. Not a problem if you're aware of it going on, but we felt pretty bad about it as we meant no harm or offense to anybody and nearly got arrested over it. Had a good time in Northgate that night. Similar to Campustown (sort of run down looking, but a lot of fun).
-Texas. Went here in 2010 (stealth bragging alert). Even better than A&M. They were incredible hosts both before the game and after. No **** talk regarding the loss, just an honest "you kicked our arse, good luck on the rest of the season". Austin is an amazing town. The tailgating set up however, is less than ideal. Its basically a free for all in finding a spot on campus, or in downtown Austin (which is all built up commercial property, like any city). Thankfully, there's a group of ISU alums that sets up one HELL of a tailgate there. Can't give those guys enough props for throwing a good time. $10 bought you all the barbecue (and it was amazing) that you could eat, a full bloody mary/screwdriver bar, and all the Landshark you could drink.
Non-Big XII
-Minnesota: Metrodome. Went here for an Iowa/MN game in the late 90's, so I wasn't really paying much attention to the tailgate scene. I remember the adults just drank in our family friend's motor home, which we parked in some random lot downtown. The Metrodome blows for college football, and this is a totally irrelevant report, given the opening of TCF Bank Stadium.
-Iowa: Not saying anything you've never heard before. Iowa City is a poor tailgating set up, but you can have a lot of fun if you know someone who has a good spot. I've been to 5 Iowa/ISU games there, and about 3-4 other various Iowa games. I took a TON of abuse in 2002, 2004, and 2006. I didn't take much crap at all in 2008 and 2010, and had more fun because of it. Some of the worst crap I've gotten there was in 2009 for the UNI game (when UNI damn near won it), and I was supporting UNI. Since I have family friend who have a good set up, I always enjoy myself there, but I could see how someone visiting from a random Big 10 school would absolutely hate it.
Big XII:
-Mizzou: Was here for the infamous 2005 game. Fans were pretty laid back/ambivalent before the game, and there were a couple of dicks afterwards, but overall they were pretty good. We tailgated in a gravel lot south of the stadium that was pretty scaled back by ISU standards, but fun nonetheless. Didn't get a good feel for the town because we left Ames at 3AM Saturday morning and headed back after the game.
-K-State: Went here in 2006. Set up is very similar to ISU, but smaller and slightly less convenient. They don't start quite as early either (4 hrs as opposed to 6). There was a major redneck/rural feel to the area around BSFS. However, it was a lot of fun, and KSU fans were pretty good. Don't remember taking much, if any crap at all. Could have been the 2 straight wins against them coming into it.
-Nebraska: Went here in 2007. Worst tailgate set up I've ever seen, yet we still had a good time. People were friendly before the game, and condescendingly nice afterwards. It was a little irritating, but not too bad. Memorial Stadium is incredible, and its a great atmosphere for a game. Overall, the scene is far too serious for my liking. Almost sucks the fun out of football.
-Baylor: Went here in 2008. Have almost nothing good to say about it, outside of the fact that the parking might be even more convenient than ISU's. General public can park right outside the gates of Floyd Casey. However, they're fans are completely disinterested in tailgating, and the very few that came out were far from hospitable. They were aloof, arrogant, and looked at Iowans as some kind of vermin. Seriously, don't go here unless it's A) one of the few ISU games you will be able to see that year, or B) you're dead set on going to all Big XII stadiums.
-Texas A&M: Went here in 2009. Fantastic. Set up is a lot less convenient than ISU, but it has the same open, relaxed feeling. People were incredibly nice and basically bent over backwards to get you drunk and full of fantastic food. Kyle Field is impressive. The cultishness can definitely rub you after a bit, and the social norms are extremely unpredictable. My buddy let a single cuss word out at Kyle Field, and was nearly assaulted by an old woman, who then called the cops. However, at the tailgate, those drunk Texans were cussing up a storm. Apparently they actually feel the stadium is sacred. Not a problem if you're aware of it going on, but we felt pretty bad about it as we meant no harm or offense to anybody and nearly got arrested over it. Had a good time in Northgate that night. Similar to Campustown (sort of run down looking, but a lot of fun).
-Texas. Went here in 2010 (stealth bragging alert). Even better than A&M. They were incredible hosts both before the game and after. No **** talk regarding the loss, just an honest "you kicked our arse, good luck on the rest of the season". Austin is an amazing town. The tailgating set up however, is less than ideal. Its basically a free for all in finding a spot on campus, or in downtown Austin (which is all built up commercial property, like any city). Thankfully, there's a group of ISU alums that sets up one HELL of a tailgate there. Can't give those guys enough props for throwing a good time. $10 bought you all the barbecue (and it was amazing) that you could eat, a full bloody mary/screwdriver bar, and all the Landshark you could drink.
Non-Big XII
-Minnesota: Metrodome. Went here for an Iowa/MN game in the late 90's, so I wasn't really paying much attention to the tailgate scene. I remember the adults just drank in our family friend's motor home, which we parked in some random lot downtown. The Metrodome blows for college football, and this is a totally irrelevant report, given the opening of TCF Bank Stadium.
-Iowa: Not saying anything you've never heard before. Iowa City is a poor tailgating set up, but you can have a lot of fun if you know someone who has a good spot. I've been to 5 Iowa/ISU games there, and about 3-4 other various Iowa games. I took a TON of abuse in 2002, 2004, and 2006. I didn't take much crap at all in 2008 and 2010, and had more fun because of it. Some of the worst crap I've gotten there was in 2009 for the UNI game (when UNI damn near won it), and I was supporting UNI. Since I have family friend who have a good set up, I always enjoy myself there, but I could see how someone visiting from a random Big 10 school would absolutely hate it.
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