Pre-Game Parking
Driving to an Iowa game at Kinnick Stadium can be hectic; most people, if they don’t have a tailgating spot, pay to park on Melrose Ave. Melrose Ave goes all the way to Kinnick Stadium; alongside Melrose is the Finkbine Golf Course. This is home for the Iowa Hawkeyes Golf Team, along with having multiple parking spots on the course. The challenge is finding the closest parking spot for the lowest price; sometimes the parking can be up to seventy-five dollars for a spot. The houses along Melrose offer parking, but these are the pricey spots. Once you find a parking spot, that’s when the walk begins.
The Walk to Kinnick
Finding a parking spot is accomplished; now you most likely have to walk 15-20 minutes to the gates of Kinnick Stadium. During the walk, you see countless Iowa fans having a great time before the game. A lot of fans at tailgates; most of them will try to offer you food or beverages to drink. The atmosphere while walking down to Kinnick is electric. They used to have a train that would bring people to the stadium; unfortunately, Iowa does not do this anymore. Before you go into Kinnick, they have the “Hawk Walk” before the game. This is where all of the Iowa Hawkeye players walk into the stadium, and people can give them high fives and see their favorite player walking past, touching the big helmet.
Entering Kinnick Stadium
When first entering, you feel a sense of great excitement. The giant ceiling and big arches make the stadium feel very big. Next, when trying to find your seat and see the stadium, you get goosebumps. Iowa has a massive stadium, and getting to be a part of their fanbase feels so special. Once you find your seat, you can relax and watch pre-game warm-ups before the game starts.
The Swarm
The anticipation is building when the Hawkeyes go back to the locker room. Next thing you know, Back in Black starts playing; seventy thousand fans are on their feet singing. The Iowa Hawkeyes come out in black and gold, holding hands, showing strength and unity. Iowa cheerleaders raise the I O W A flags as they run across the field to pump up the fans. After Back in Black plays, the Iowa marching band plays the Iowa fight song as seventy thousand fans sing the lyrics.
The Wave
The first quarter of the game is in the books; now it is time for the best tradition in college football. “The Wave”: this is when all seventy thousand fans turn to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and wave to the children in the hospital. Waving to the children is a great, heartfelt moment that really hits you. This is an experience that will live with you forever; that is how impactful “The Wave” is.
After The Game
Iowa Hawkeyes just won the game; the marching band is playing the iconic song in heaven; there is no beer. Iowa fans are happy and smiling, leaving Kinnick Stadium to get to their cars. The 15-20 minute walk back to your car can be very entertaining, with fans singing the fight song or in heaven, there is no beer. This makes the walk very enjoyable, along with not thinking about the 20-minute walk. When getting back in your car and trying to leave, this could take a while. Right after the game, the seventy thousand fans are all trying to leave and go somewhere, as well as you. Leaving can be very time-consuming, but it is all worth it for the experience of going to an Iowa Hawkeye football game.