r/hawkeyes • u/BeautifulJoke2910 • 7d ago

Football Tailgating

I have never tailgated for a UIowa football game before and am wanting to this season. Can anyone please tell me how getting a spot works? Do I buy a spot ahead of time or day of? Where can I get a spot? Thanks in advance!

9 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

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6

u/Skoldier69 7d ago

The university has spots available on their ticketing site (they say you have to have a ticket to buy one, but they never actually check) for some of the various lots that you can buy ahead of time. Otherwise you can always circle around the neighborhoods nearby Kinnick on the day of where basically every other house is selling spots on their lawn.

4

u/jp62315 7d ago

Check out the First Mennonite Church on Myrtle Ave. We tailgated for years on a private yard that backed up to their property. It always seemed like a family-friendly tailgate and a reasonable walk to the stadium (much closer than Finkbine).

2

u/Alfalfa-Boring 6d ago

Seconding this. We tailgate in the Myrtle lot and anytime someone comes to visit or hangout we direct them to Mennonite. Great place and not a bad walk.

3

u/Shoddy-Nothing1041 7d ago

Finkbine Golf Course allows tailgating/parking for a fee, but it's probably a 30 min walk to Kinnick. Other closer opportunities to park as you continue along Melrose in residential areas/yards but ability to set up a grill, etc might be limited by the property owners. Go early for best choices.

-1

u/wooq 6d ago

I'm pretty sure Finkbine is currently closed for renovation and won't be parking people this season.

1

u/Shoddy-Nothing1041 6d ago

Oh didn't realize that, thanks!

1

u/dinkNflicka21 7d ago

Following. Taking my kids this year. Are there family friendly spots we can drop in and hangout?

1

u/AaronintheCabin 6d ago

Agree with First Mennonite Church. The upper portion of their property is reserved. I have had a couple spots there for the past few years. The lower section (large) is first come first served until they fill up. Family friendly, many porta johns, short walk to Kinnick through neighborhoods.
If you are at the opener and walk to the top back area, I’ll be the one with the yellow lab. Feel free to say Hi.

Go Hawks!

1

u/thatbach 6d ago

bring some cash and find a house near kinnick that is selling yard parking as there will be no shortage. any of the university lots that sell to general public will be more expensive and further away.

it might be intimidating to not have it booked ahead of time, it might be overstimulating and stressful with all the gameday traffic, but if you can be patient lock in for the 10 minutes it may take to find a yard i promise it will be a more intimate experience than some regular parking lot with 0 personality

1

u/Money-One-7145 6d ago

Your best bet would be to look at the Iowa athletics tickets page for lot parking if you want a guaranteed spot. Otherwise, you could always check out downtown and bar hop. While some spots will be busy, you can find some places that are a little more laid back with TVs, cold beer, and good food. Have fun! I just moved away from Iowa City and I’m going to miss it immensely.

-2

u/AnnArchist Nine seconds to play and Drew Tate doesn't know that! 7d ago

Wake up at 6am and have your first beer at 630.

You don't need a spot. You just wander and find friends as a student. If you're grown, you'll probably want to plan a little more but really, you can still just walk around w a case of beer and have a day.