Bradr
Starter
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!
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!
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