Impressions: Iowa City

[Bradr]

Just got back from Iowa City this afternoon, and figured I would share my impressions.

 

Overall, the trip was great! If fact it really changed my opinion of the Hawkeyes, their fans, and Iowa City. If any Iowa fans are reading this, thanks for being such great hosts!

 

Iowa City:

The city really impressed me. Very clean and well laid out in the area around the stadium and downtown area. We stayed at the Sheraton and it was a very good hotel. Easy check in, clean, right in the downtown, onsite parking, and close to the stadium. It was located right on the Southern border of their downtown area. The downtown was full of bars and restaurants and really came alive at night. Reminded me of O Street if it was a couple blocks square, versus a long line along a street. There was a great strip of bars in the center of the area with their entrances facing a large outdoor plaza area. At night it was full of vendors selling fresh made tacos, gyros, and sandwiches. Wish Lincoln had something similar downtown. The stadium was about 15 minutes of walking from the downtown area. Only problem downtown was a riverwalk bridge between the downtown area and the stadium. It bottlenecked pretty bad after the game when everyone was heading to the bars.

 

Fans:

With only one exception the entire trip, everyone was very polite and friendly. The one guy was a drunk and angry college kid who tried to pick a fight with me. His friends restrained him and pulled him away while apologizing. As for everyone else, I can't count how many people asked how everything was, said good game, or said that they were glad we were in the conference. Lots of the younger college kids were very accommodating, asking if we needed help finding our way around, etc. We spent 3 hours in a great bar called the Blue Moose (beer boots!!!). The place was standing room only, and probably 90% Hawkeyes. Group after group of them came up, talked football, Big Ten, and were just good people all around. Sure there was some good natured jawing, but overall, I was blown away on how well I was treated. I have heard so many horror stories about Iowa fans and can say they are totally false from my experience. These guys also really hate Minnesota and Wisconsin, think Rutgers and Maryland shouldn't be in the league, and like their sauce at the bar. Probably spent half hour each with seven or eight groups of guys and gals from college age to families with adult children and grandpas drinking out of a boot. All were fun to talk to and good people.

 

Stadium:

The stadium was larger than I expected. It was not full, and I would guess 10-20% of the crowd was a Husker. Each corner of the stadium is open, and the wind howls through there. I'm used to Memorial being fairly insulated. Kinnick was an ice box because of that wind. I can say without doubt that that was the coldest football game I have ever attended. Stadium food was pretty bad. The wife got a nacho that was basically movie theater nachos with sour cream and jalapeños. Pizza looked bad enough not to try. Bathrooms were not set up trough-style like Memorial, so the men's line was obscenely long. Our seats were completely surrounded by Iowa fans and aside from the before-mentioned jawing, were all great to talk to. I was screaming "Go Big Red" and "Blackshirts" all game long, throwing the bones, and generally carrying on like a day at Memorial. No one gave me any grief at all.

 

Like I said, the trip really changed my opinion of the Hawkeyes. I'm going to say it. I have a new team to root for now to go along with my Huskers. And that team is Iowa. Go Hawks!

[BIGREDIOWAN]

You just screwed the whole post up with that last sentence.......................I think I threw up in my mouth, but then again I've lived here for 32 years and they aren't pleasant on a daily basis. Neither are the ISUcks fans...........I'll only root for Northern Iowa in the state.

[DTrain2020]

I just choked on my breakfast after that last sentence. That was like a bad movie. Somewhat interesting through most of the movie, but has a Sh$&?Y ending. I almost... Almost wish you would have had a terrible experience. We lost a husker today folks..

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Just the fact you'd utter those final words is insane!

[KJ.]

Pretty much same experience here. Lived in Iowa my whole life and always hated Hawkeye fans, but thought they were really good on gameday.

 

There was one old drunk a-hole, but you'll always get those. It was kind of funny, he kept yelling out how he wanted to injure our players, especially Martinez and Burkhead. "Take out his legs, that's what you f'ing get for having a running quarterback!" ...which I just busted out laughing at, since 99% of Iowa fans are pissed off at Ferentz for refusing to have anything but a statue back there.

[BigRedPowerWagon]

Yea, Iowa and Iowa State fans tend to be alittle bitter. And trust me, if Iowa had more to play for there fans would have more piss and vinegar.

[BigRedPowerWagon]

And yea, living in iowa and hearing you utter those words makes me sick.

[NUpolo8]

Wait, you wish Lincoln had an area with a strip of bars and food vendors?

 

I have great news for you.

[Bradr]

Whatever. I have no problem at all rooting for the Hawks as well as my Huskers. If I am treated well and with respect, I would expect nothing less from myself towards their program.

 

Until, in person, I have a reason to disdain their program, I guess sorry to sh@t in your birthday cake. I had a great time and liked everyone I met. Maybe the cold, the score, or their season changed something, but I had no problems. Maybe I'm just too friendly. I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Polo - Wish Lincoln had the large outdoor plaza area with bars around it. Haven't seen one yet, but maybe it hidden in the alley behind Bodega's or something...

[Eric the Red]

Just got back from Iowa City this afternoon, and figured I would share my impressions.

 

Overall, the trip was great! If fact it really changed my opinion of the Hawkeyes, their fans, and Iowa City. If any Iowa fans are reading this, thanks for being such great hosts!

 

Iowa City:

The city really impressed me. Very clean and well laid out in the area around the stadium and downtown area. We stayed at the Sheraton and it was a very good hotel. Easy check in, clean, right in the downtown, onsite parking, and close to the stadium. It was located right on the Southern border of their downtown area. The downtown was full of bars and restaurants and really came alive at night. Reminded me of O Street if it was a couple blocks square, versus a long line along a street. There was a great strip of bars in the center of the area with their entrances facing a large outdoor plaza area. At night it was full of vendors selling fresh made tacos, gyros, and sandwiches. Wish Lincoln had something similar downtown. The stadium was about 15 minutes of walking from the downtown area. Only problem downtown was a riverwalk bridge between the downtown area and the stadium. It bottlenecked pretty bad after the game when everyone was heading to the bars.

 

Fans:

With only one exception the entire trip, everyone was very polite and friendly. The one guy was a drunk and angry college kid who tried to pick a fight with me. His friends restrained him and pulled him away while apologizing. As for everyone else, I can't count how many people asked how everything was, said good game, or said that they were glad we were in the conference. Lots of the younger college kids were very accommodating, asking if we needed help finding our way around, etc. We spent 3 hours in a great bar called the Blue Moose (beer boots!!!). The place was standing room only, and probably 90% Hawkeyes. Group after group of them came up, talked football, Big Ten, and were just good people all around. Sure there was some good natured jawing, but overall, I was blown away on how well I was treated. I have heard so many horror stories about Iowa fans and can say they are totally false from my experience. These guys also really hate Minnesota and Wisconsin, think Rutgers and Maryland shouldn't be in the league, and like their sauce at the bar. Probably spent half hour each with seven or eight groups of guys and gals from college age to families with adult children and grandpas drinking out of a boot. All were fun to talk to and good people.

 

Stadium:

The stadium was larger than I expected. It was not full, and I would guess 10-20% of the crowd was a Husker. Each corner of the stadium is open, and the wind howls through there. I'm used to Memorial being fairly insulated. Kinnick was an ice box because of that wind. I can say without doubt that that was the coldest football game I have ever attended. Stadium food was pretty bad. The wife got a nacho that was basically movie theater nachos with sour cream and jalapeños. Pizza looked bad enough not to try. Bathrooms were not set up trough-style like Memorial, so the men's line was obscenely long. Our seats were completely surrounded by Iowa fans and aside from the before-mentioned jawing, were all great to talk to. I was screaming "Go Big Red" and "Blackshirts" all game long, throwing the bones, and generally carrying on like a day at Memorial. No one gave me any grief at all.

 

Like I said, the trip really changed my opinion of the Hawkeyes. I'm going to say it. I have a new team to root for now to go along with my Huskers. And that team is Iowa. Go Hawks!

 

 

Nice write up

[BigRedPowerWagon]

Gotta tell ya, dont know if you live here or not but trust me you havent seen anything.

[Decked]

Banish him he likes Iowa! I learned that if you speak out against Ferentz they think you're a crazy person.

[Hoosker]

Meh.

 

Iowa City was nothing special IMO. The majority of their fans were nice enough, although I ran into quite a few douches looking to start an all out brawl.

[JTrain]

Fans around us were fine. The people behind us went out of their way to be nice. I think we all benefited from the kickoff time, temperature and Iowa's record. Change it to 2:30, 55 degrees and 7-4 respectively and there would have been a lot more a$$hole$.

[NebraskaHarry]

Root for the Hawkeyes? Root for the... WHAT?

 

I root for the Huskers. I don't root for anybody else unless it positively affects the Huskers in someway. And even then I'm not really rooting for them, I just want them to win for our own benefit.

 

Root for the Hawkeyes.. NEVER!