I have tailgate once in IC and quite frankly it sucked. To make matters worse, we just happened to be parked in a no alcohol parking lot. Really?! Haven't been back since that and probably won't again.
Tailgate in Iowa City
- Thread starter DbqCyclone
- Start date
Exactly.
Pre-game parties in Iowa City can be a ton of fun. But it's not really tailgating.
My rule of thumb for going to games in Iowa City is this:
-If you know someone who has a spot to party before the game, it's a blast.
-If you don't, it's probably going to suck.
A good friend of mine rented a house on Olive Ct. in 2012. That old parking lot is shut down, but we had a huge ISU/Iowa party at his house and had a blast. They paid their rent by letting strangers park in the yard.
In addition to the aforementioned places, there are hundreds of properties on and near Melrose that welcome opposing fans. Very unique, old school tailgating environment that gets good reviews from everyone (except isu fans apparently). Alot like Madison except even more so as the lines between the partiers and the surrounding neighborhoods disappear for a few hours.
The difference is that would be about the furthest tailgating from the stadium in Ames, whereas it would be middle of the road/not that far for IC.
Also, don't forget that they have cracked down on tailgaters in IC this year. Not nearly as laid back as in Ames so gotta be careful not to get in trouble with the law.
Tailgating in Iowa City is awesome. Over the last 8 years we have had 3 different tailgating spots, each unique and great in their own ways. It takes time and effort to scope out the good tailgating spots. The goods ones are taken, and are expensive as well. Visitors coming into IC really can't get the good tailgating spots.
Grew up going to Iowa games (ALWAYS cheered for the opposition), lived in Iowa Shty on Oakcrest for a year after graduating from ISU, and have attended three ISU games. Plan on being harassed by drunken idiots, because they're in every yard surrounding the JCL (Johnson County Landfill). Hope we win; might make the experience tolerable. I'll never go back. Too many jerks wear'n black and gold...
Be really careful about open containers on the sidewalks, especially near Kinnick.
I had some buddies get surrounded by a bunch cops and given citations ($$$) while another group of cops did the same with an ISU player's mom. Seemed like only folks in red were getting citations, but the parties with drunks all over the place across the street were no problem to the cops.
<< Pretty much says it all.
Tailgated there dozens of times.... The Melrose Ave area on the south side of Kinnick is lively, but not too much fun if you don't have a group to party with
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We parked there for the 2002 Seneca Wallace victory. We left late for the 6 pm kickoff, so we opted for Hancher. Boring as hell, no tailgating, and a collection of dorky Iowa fans in those shuttles
If you want a quick exit after the game--you'll have to hoof it back to Hancher by foot, but you should get onto Dubuque St and to I-80 quickly.
Most of the parties "across the street" are ocurring on private property, where the police aren't allowed to patrol. They stay on the public streets and the University controlled property. You will never see any police presence on the (very limited nowadays) privately owned residences. This reinforces the point made previously that if you have access to a prime location it can be an awesome experience, but these are becoming far fewer and far between with each passing year.
Even though they have backed off on the citations so far this year I would expect them to do more this weekend.
I know a few years ago when I lived in that area the cops were starting to crack down on everybody for stuff like that, regardless of what color shirt they were wearing. And it was really ******* off Iowa fans. Does anybody know if they are still doing that? Probably good info for anybody going out this year.
from what ive read, they have seriously backed off this year. I know a lot of it was driven by complaints from iowa donors. I noticed that only a couple citations/arrests were made this year so far and judging by the police reports those people had it coming. (passed out covered in puke in plain sight).
theres no way they are targeting ISU fans- in fact, a small number of the patrol officers are actually iowa city cops. they are brought in from all over the state. you are probably just as likely to find an ISU-fan cop as an iowa-fan cop.
theres no way they are targeting ISU fans- in fact, a small number of the patrol officers are actually iowa city cops. they are brought in from all over the state. you are probably just as likely to find an ISU-fan cop as an iowa-fan cop.
You make a statement in your first sentance and then explain the opposite in the remainder of the paragraph.
That's kind of what I was thinking. To me "tailgating is awesome" does not equate with "good spots are expensive" and "visitors can't get the good tailgating spots."