Iowa Field House (please don't move to ISR)

I'm writing a profile story on the Iowa Field House for my final story in my sportswriting class, and was wondering if there are any ISU fans who saw either some basketball games or wrestling meets there, and what their experience was like? I'm just looking for some input from an opponent's perspective, as I've already got tons of sources from Iowa's corner.

*I posted this in the basketball forum because I know it gets more traffic than ISR, so please, don't move the thread, at least for a little while.

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Originally Posted by tm3308

I'm writing a profile story on the Iowa Field House for my final story in my sportswriting class, and was wondering if there are any ISU fans who saw either some basketball games or wrestling meets there, and what their experience was like? I'm just looking for some input from an opponent's perspective, as I've already got tons of sources from Iowa's corner.

*I posted this in the basketball forum because I know it gets more traffic than ISR, so please, don't move the thread, at least for a little while.

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I did see MBB games there and went in on Sunday Mother's day as we were camping at coralville damn and I went to find some supplies -- still a dump. You can email me at rebehard28@yahoo.com for details.

I have seen several swim meets there if that helps out at all

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Originally Posted by PabloDiablo

I have seen several swim meets there if that helps out at all

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I have competed in high school swim meets there (State Championships) as well as water polo playing for the Cardinal and Gold.

It was larger version of my junior high gymnasium. A real dump.

I go to school at Iowa and have seen a couple sporting events there, PM me if you want details but overall Iowa fieldhouse is a dump except i really like working out there because its never that busy compared to the new rec center which is always packed

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbn...%2520house.JPG
The picture of the dump.

I'm not going to participate in your final paper, but I will say it was a great old arena. And what it is now is irrelevant; they gutted it and remodeled it as a rec center which ruined the building. Same as what ISU is doing right now to State Gym.

Iowa packed over 13,000 into the old fieldhouse and it was LOUD. The Hawkeyes have never had the same kind of home atmosphere/advantage since moving to Carver Arena.

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Originally Posted by Senolcyc

I'm not going to participate in your final paper, but I will say it was a great old arena. And what it is now is irrelevant; they gutted it and remodeled it as a rec center which ruined the building. Same as what ISU is doing right now to State Gym.

Iowa packed over 13,000 into the old fieldhouse and it was LOUD. The Hawkeyes have never had the same kind of home atmosphere/advantage since moving to Carver Arena.

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Iowa State isn't ruining State Gym. They're making it actually usable instead of a sunken cost on students.

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Originally Posted by Senolcyc

I'm not going to participate in your final paper, but I will say it was a great old arena. And what it is now is irrelevant; they gutted it and remodeled it as a rec center which ruined the building. Same as what ISU is doing right now to State Gym.

Iowa packed over 13,000 into the old fieldhouse and it was LOUD. The Hawkeyes have never had the same kind of home atmosphere/advantage since moving to Carver Arena.

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My dad attended EIU in the days before Carver-Hawkeye was built (or as he refers to it: the Mud Salute to Lute). He said as much to be when he remembered the old times. He also said that fans were pretty much right on the court for big games.

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Originally Posted by Wesley

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbn...%2520house.JPG
The picture of the dump.

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Isn't this the "new" part of the dump?

I went to a few basketball games in the old field house. I will say that it got LOUD. It also shook. I mean the pillars, rafters, whatever. I thought it might collapse. There were a bunch of really crappy seats; with bad angles, obstructions, etc. That said, it had a lot more personality than most newer stadiums. I think Iowa BB never regained its old glory once they moved HCA. Don't really care cause I'm a ISU fan but then new area is very sterile compared to the old one and games are boring and impersonal; especially the last few years with it mostly empty.

Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by CtownCyclone

My dad attended EIU in the days before Carver-Hawkeye was built (or as he refers to it: the Mud Salute to Lute). He said as much to be when he remembered the old times. He also said that fans were pretty much right on the court for big games.

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That's what most of the people I've talked to have said, including Lute and Gable. Really wish I could have seen a game in there, just once.

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Originally Posted by IcSyU

Iowa State isn't ruining State Gym. They're making it actually usable instead of a sunken cost on students.

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You can make a building "usable" without gutting it and stripping away all of its history.

I was able to compete at the field house as both an age group swimmer thru high school and then my days at Iowa State. The pool was old, but it was a good pool.
I remember thinking the whole place was just huge when they still played there since there were lots of basketball courts attached. Of course this was the early 1980's. I can't remember when they took that part of the building.