Thoughts of a college student. First time in Iowa City

ISUCyclones2015

Doesn't wipe standing up
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2010
14,663
10,963
113
Chicago, IL
This is basically just random thoughts I had/have about Iowa City in my first ever visit there.


  • Iowa City isn't any better or worse than Ames

  • "Every weekend here is like VEISHEA" is 100% false. The Iowa-Iowa State weekend wasn't even as good as our Iowa-Iowa State weekend let alone sniff VEISHEA.

  • Tailgating there is interesting. It is basically in people's yards surrounding the stadium and it is mostly college student houses. Better than ours for a college student but it must be hell if you're not a student.

  • Iowa girls aren't any hotter than Iowa State girls. There were slightly more of them but I didn't see any change in the talent level

  • The bars aren't any better or worse except for the pedestrian mall. That is clutch.

  • House parties are very similar if not the same as Ames parties.

  • Iowa girls won't dance with Iowa State guys but Iowa guys have no shame in dancing with an Iowa State girl.

  • It is a long ******* walk to that stadium

  • The stadium looks nice, the sight lines are pretty damn good.

  • Strongly dislike those two small scoreboards at the stadium.

  • Felt smaller than it was (roughly the size of an NFL stadium) because there wasn't an upper deck (which I didn't know).

  • Not as loud as Jack Trice IMO. I might've been in a bad spot but it seemed quiet. Even when Iowa was winning. I attribute this to the no upper deck.

  • Our band is far superior.

  • Sat near a bunch of donors at the game. The banter was pretty good, lots of laughs.

  • Hawkeye fans are terrible at Beer Pong. Decent at Flip Cup. Pretty damn good at Boom Cup

  • The non-existent bus system sucks.

  • No one jay walks.

  • Cops are a little meaner but not terrible

  • Covers up the ***. Good lord.

  • Lastly, and this was the biggest shocker. Their fans outclassed Iowa State fans. I was never once heckled outside of very friendly banter. I was walking around with a case and had multiple people say "Welcome to Iowa City" and put more beer in my case. I spoke with several tailgates and the people were extremely friendly. Gave me loads of free food, asked me about my studies etc. All week I heard many stories about Hawkeye fans being ********. From my experience, we are much worse to Hawkeye fans that visit Ames. There was a cyclone fan going around and getting up in people's faces saying "**** THE HAWKS". Hawkeye fans did nothing like that to us. In the bars, I got zero **** for wearing Iowa State gear, none zip, nada. (Not saying Iowa State fans were douches, but Iowa fans were a lot more friendly) I honestly have to give Hawkeye fans a round of applause for that.
 

CysRage

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2009
13,378
8,682
113
This is basically just random thoughts I had/have about Iowa City in my first ever visit there.

  • Lastly, and this was the biggest shocker. Their fans outclassed Iowa State fans. I was never once heckled outside of very friendly banter. I was walking around with a case and had multiple people say "Welcome to Iowa City" and put more beer in my case. I spoke with several tailgates and the people were extremely friendly. Gave me loads of free food, asked me about my studies etc. All week I heard many stories about Hawkeye fans being ********. From my experience, we are much worse to Hawkeye fans that visit Ames. There was a cyclone fan going around and getting up in people's faces saying "**** THE HAWKS". Hawkeye fans did nothing like that to us. In the bars, I got zero **** for wearing Iowa State gear, none zip, nada. (Not saying Iowa State fans were douches, but Iowa fans were a lot more friendly) I honestly have to give Hawkeye fans a round of applause for that.
Bandwagon tavern hoks already jumped off the bandwagon. It's not the alumni of Iowa that are dicks, its the fans that have nothing to do with Iowa except cheer for them that are the ********.
 

Shawker

This May Not Be Accurate
Jun 19, 2014
3,130
4,951
113
39
Des Moines
Iowa fans' niceness to opposing fans during football season tends to be inversely proportional to the talent of the football team. This year we suck therefore we are pretty nice.
 

ISUCyclones2015

Doesn't wipe standing up
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2010
14,663
10,963
113
Chicago, IL
Bandwagon tavern hoks already jumped off the bandwagon. It's not the alumni of Iowa that are dicks, its the fans that have nothing to do with Iowa except cheer for them that are the ********.

I met quite a few people that went to Kirkwood or UNI or Loras or some other school and they seemed alright too.
 

Skidoosh

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2012
2,699
769
113

  • Lastly, and this was the biggest shocker. Their fans outclassed Iowa State fans. I was never once heckled outside of very friendly banter. I was walking around with a case and had multiple people say "Welcome to Iowa City" and put more beer in my case. I spoke with several tailgates and the people were extremely friendly. Gave me loads of free food, asked me about my studies etc. All week I heard many stories about Hawkeye fans being ********. From my experience, we are much worse to Hawkeye fans that visit Ames. There was a cyclone fan going around and getting up in people's faces saying "**** THE HAWKS". Hawkeye fans did nothing like that to us. In the bars, I got zero **** for wearing Iowa State gear, none zip, nada. (Not saying Iowa State fans were douches, but Iowa fans were a lot more friendly) I honestly have to give Hawkeye fans a round of applause for that.

You are in a very small minority. I've had things thrown at me multiple times in IC. I've seen a woman use her 5 year old son as a lead blocker to push her way through a crowd. I've seen a 300 pound man bowl over an iowa state student to get to his tailgate. Never seen anything like that in Ames...
 

Beyerball

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 18, 2013
7,477
6,830
113
Texas
This is basically just random thoughts I had/have about Iowa City in my first ever visit there.


  • Iowa City isn't any better or worse than Ames

  • "Every weekend here is like VEISHEA" is 100% false. The Iowa-Iowa State weekend wasn't even as good as our Iowa-Iowa State weekend let alone sniff VEISHEA.

  • Tailgating there is interesting. It is basically in people's yards surrounding the stadium and it is mostly college student houses. Better than ours for a college student but it must be hell if you're not a student.

  • Iowa girls aren't any hotter than Iowa State girls. There were slightly more of them but I didn't see any change in the talent level

  • The bars aren't any better or worse except for the pedestrian mall. That is clutch.

  • House parties are very similar if not the same as Ames parties.

  • Iowa girls won't dance with Iowa State guys but Iowa guys have no shame in dancing with an Iowa State girl.

  • It is a long ******* walk to that stadium

  • The stadium looks nice, the sight lines are pretty damn good.

  • Strongly dislike those two small scoreboards at the stadium.

  • Felt smaller than it was (roughly the size of an NFL stadium) because there wasn't an upper deck (which I didn't know).

  • Not as loud as Jack Trice IMO. I might've been in a bad spot but it seemed quiet. Even when Iowa was winning. I attribute this to the no upper deck.

  • Our band is far superior.

  • Sat near a bunch of donors at the game. The banter was pretty good, lots of laughs.

  • Hawkeye fans are terrible at Beer Pong. Decent at Flip Cup. Pretty damn good at Boom Cup

  • The non-existent bus system sucks.

  • No one jay walks.

  • Cops are a little meaner but not terrible

  • Covers up the ***. Good lord.

  • Lastly, and this was the biggest shocker. Their fans outclassed Iowa State fans. I was never once heckled outside of very friendly banter. I was walking around with a case and had multiple people say "Welcome to Iowa City" and put more beer in my case. I spoke with several tailgates and the people were extremely friendly. Gave me loads of free food, asked me about my studies etc. All week I heard many stories about Hawkeye fans being ********. From my experience, we are much worse to Hawkeye fans that visit Ames. There was a cyclone fan going around and getting up in people's faces saying "**** THE HAWKS". Hawkeye fans did nothing like that to us. In the bars, I got zero **** for wearing Iowa State gear, none zip, nada. (Not saying Iowa State fans were douches, but Iowa fans were a lot more friendly) I honestly have to give Hawkeye fans a round of applause for that.


Ok ok just let me say that I grew up in Ames and went to Iowa st. I have now lived in Iowa City for the past 15 years. You could not be wrong in every assessment. I love Ames, it will always be my hometown but iowa city has 10x the cultural diversity. Has an actual Mall. The women here IMO are much hotter, now it may have changed since I was in college in 1990 as it was a sausage fest at ISU but IA city has some seriously hot women. The bars in IA city are far better and a lot more of them in ia city, it isn't even close. The bars in Ames were better in 1990. There are probably 20-30 non chain restaurants in Ia city that blow away anything in Ames. I've been to both a lot. Like I said Ames will always be home as my parents are still there but the downtown and overall cities are night and day.

what Isu does have IMO opinion is a better atmosphere in both fball and bball than iowa and the tailgating is superior in Ames I think.
 
Last edited:

benchwarmer24

New Member
Dec 4, 2011
7
7
3
You are in a very small minority. I've had things thrown at me multiple times in IC. I've seen a woman use her 5 year old son as a lead blocker to push her way through a crowd. I've seen a 300 pound man bowl over an iowa state student to get to his tailgate. Never seen anything like that in Ames...


Was she on her way to the bathroom in the Metrodome?
 

SplitIdentity

Well-Known Member
Mar 31, 2007
11,486
3,073
113
Minnesota
Ok ok just let me say that I grew up in Ames and went to Iowa st. I have now lived in Iowa City for the past 15 years. You could not be wrong in every assessment. I love Ames, it will always be my hometown but iowa city has 10x the cultural diversity. Has an actual Mall. The women here IMO are much hotter, now it may have changed since I was in college in 1990 as it was a sausage fest at ISU but IA city has some seriously hot women. The bars in IA city are far better and a lot more of them in ia city, it isn't even close. The bars in Ames were better in 1990. There are probably 20-30 non chain restaurants in Ia city that blow away anything in Ames. I've been to both a lot. Like I said Ames will always be home as my parents are still there but the downtown and overall cities are night and day.

what Isu does have IMO opinion is a better atmosphere in both fball and bball than iowa and the tailgating is superior in Ames I think.

Better football atmosphere? No. I've gone to many games in both stadiums, and Kinnick is to JTS as Hilton is to carver.

Tailgating, however, is more fun at isu.
 

ISUCyclones2015

Doesn't wipe standing up
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2010
14,663
10,963
113
Chicago, IL
Ok ok just let me say that I grew up in Ames and went to Iowa st. I have now lived in Iowa City for the past 15 years. You could not be wrong in every assessment. I love Ames, it will always be my hometown but iowa city has 10x the cultural diversity. Has an actual Mall. The women here IMO are much hotter, now it may have changed since I was in college in 1990 as it was a sausage fest at ISU but IA city has some seriously hot women. The bars in IA city are far better and a lot more of them in ia city, it isn't even close. The bars in Ames were better in 1990. There are probably 20-30 non chain restaurants in Ia city that blow away anything in Ames. I've been to both a lot. Like I said Ames will always be home as my parents are still there but the downtown and overall cities are night and day.

what Isu does have IMO opinion is a better atmosphere in both fball and bball than iowa and the tailgating is superior in Ames I think.

I didn't even mention a mall or cultural diversity or anything like that. Didn't go to any restaurants either so I don't have any thoughts on that.

Bars wise. Quantity does not equal quality. Not saying Ames bars are great but IC bars aren't any better but yes, there are more of them. I've been to better bars in KC, Minneapolis, Charleston, NYC, Chicago, and Cleveland. Iowa City bars are like any other college bar, they are all basically the same with minor differences each.

Women wise, yes it has changed a lot since 1990. Hell it has changed a lot since my freshman year in 2011!
 

Cychedelia

Active Member
Aug 26, 2014
2,134
12
38
Cedar Rapids
This is basically just random thoughts I had/have about Iowa City in my first ever visit there.


  • Iowa City isn't any better or worse than Ames

  • "Every weekend here is like VEISHEA" is 100% false. The Iowa-Iowa State weekend wasn't even as good as our Iowa-Iowa State weekend let alone sniff VEISHEA.

  • Tailgating there is interesting. It is basically in people's yards surrounding the stadium and it is mostly college student houses. Better than ours for a college student but it must be hell if you're not a student.

  • Iowa girls aren't any hotter than Iowa State girls. There were slightly more of them but I didn't see any change in the talent level

  • The bars aren't any better or worse except for the pedestrian mall. That is clutch.

  • House parties are very similar if not the same as Ames parties.

  • Iowa girls won't dance with Iowa State guys but Iowa guys have no shame in dancing with an Iowa State girl.

  • It is a long ******* walk to that stadium

  • The stadium looks nice, the sight lines are pretty damn good.

  • Strongly dislike those two small scoreboards at the stadium.

  • Felt smaller than it was (roughly the size of an NFL stadium) because there wasn't an upper deck (which I didn't know).

  • Not as loud as Jack Trice IMO. I might've been in a bad spot but it seemed quiet. Even when Iowa was winning. I attribute this to the no upper deck.

  • Our band is far superior.

  • Sat near a bunch of donors at the game. The banter was pretty good, lots of laughs.

  • Hawkeye fans are terrible at Beer Pong. Decent at Flip Cup. Pretty damn good at Boom Cup

  • The non-existent bus system sucks.

  • No one jay walks.

  • Cops are a little meaner but not terrible

  • Covers up the ***. Good lord.

  • Lastly, and this was the biggest shocker. Their fans outclassed Iowa State fans. I was never once heckled outside of very friendly banter. I was walking around with a case and had multiple people say "Welcome to Iowa City" and put more beer in my case. I spoke with several tailgates and the people were extremely friendly. Gave me loads of free food, asked me about my studies etc. All week I heard many stories about Hawkeye fans being ********. From my experience, we are much worse to Hawkeye fans that visit Ames. There was a cyclone fan going around and getting up in people's faces saying "**** THE HAWKS". Hawkeye fans did nothing like that to us. In the bars, I got zero **** for wearing Iowa State gear, none zip, nada. (Not saying Iowa State fans were douches, but Iowa fans were a lot more friendly) I honestly have to give Hawkeye fans a round of applause for that.

This is a pretty poor assessment.
 

cy4prez7

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2010
2,955
365
83
Des Moines
I was absolutely heckled all damn day. Couldn't walk 20 feet without being told f*** off, f*** state, ****** bags, ***, p.o.s. Really anything they could think of. It was pretty bad.
 

CysEyesVet

Member
Jan 25, 2013
50
0
6
Glad to hear you had a good experience! The thing that stood out to me too was how nice most of them truly are. I'm an Iowa State alum and happened to be down there this weekend (I'm in my mid 20s, by the way) and wore an Iowa State shirt downtown on Friday night. I got some joking heckles from some, others were very cool. I wasn't offended by the hecklers! Overall, Iowa fans have always treated this Iowa State fan very nicely as I do the same to them. Both sides have bad fans, but a majority are good on both sides.
 

WastedTalent

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2012
7,195
4,425
113
40
I'm thinking 2015 is a good looking, jacked dude, so that's why his experience is different than us common folk.
 

Skidoosh

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2012
2,699
769
113
I'm sure you were. :rolleyes:

I was too. Not sure why you seem to think it didnt happen. I also had some ****** walk next to me for a few blocks throwing confetti in my face. Very tempted to deck that *******.
 

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron