Attending my first Cy Hawk game in Iowa City. What do i need to know/ be aware of?

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Iowans of all rooting interests are the best. I've been to so many cyhawks, both stadiums. Always had great times. If you're used to Trice you'll miss the ease factor. Parking, and traffic is much more difficult at Iowa City. This game is even worse from that standpoint because of all the people who come but don't go to game.

The Iowa City gameday traffic is awful. I-80 going back towards DSM is flat out dangerous after the game. I will say that when the game is in Iowa City it doesn't draw as many non ticket holders as the game in Ames. A sh!t ton of both Iowa and Iowa State fans make their way up to Ames from DSM to tailgate.

 

[clonedude]

Had a kid in the ISU band…. the stories from that are awful. ISU band members being tripped walking down the stairs in the stadium, all kinds of stuff getting thrown at them, etc.

Is the ISU band going this year? They shouldn’t.

 

[cytor]

**** Iowa

 

[CascadeClone]

I'm very fortunate that I have no Hawk friends at all. No fans, no alum, nothing. Makes life better.

FWIW my experience is that actual Iowa graduates are OK; its the ignorant t-shirt fans that are horrible. UNI and Kirkwood grads are bad, but the ones that never went to college at all are the worst. The handful of actual Iowa grads I know are deluded and often jaded, but not confrontational or aggressive.

Side note:
We took a company pic with everyone in their gear, about 10 people total. I pointed out that though I was the only one in an ISU shirt, I was also the only one that had actually attended or graduated from Iowa. There was only 1 other college grad in the pic (UNI), but all in Hawk gear. That's about as spot-on as it gets.

(AeroE from ISU, but MBA from Iowa - it was free)

 

[Statefan10]

FWIW my experience is that actual Iowa graduates are OK; its the ignorant t-shirt fans that are horrible. UNI and Kirkwood grads are bad, but the ones that never went to college at all are the worst. The handful of actual Iowa grads I know are deluded and often jaded, but not confrontational or aggressive.

Side note:
We took a company pic with everyone in their gear, about 10 people total. I pointed out that though I was the only one in an ISU shirt, I was also the only one that had actually attended or graduated from Iowa. There was only 1 other college grad in the pic (UNI), but all in Hawk gear. That's about as spot-on as it gets.

(AeroE from ISU, but MBA from Iowa - it was free)

Checks out. I'll be at tailgate tomorrow in IC with a mixture of ISU and Iowa fans. Almost every single ISU person there went to ISU whereas only one Iowa fan (who's hosting the tailgate) went to Iowa.

 

[madguy30]

I've been to CyHawk probably 6 times over in IC going back to 1999. I've had pretty mixed experiences. Like others have said, if you are relatively thick skinned you're fine. It's actually pretty hilarious watching grown a$$ adults act like complete toddlers. Most of my in stadium experiences have been fine other than some occasional ice getting thrown at me. Quite honestly, the 40's-50's age fans are worse than the students. These guys grew up during the Fry run and just can't get past the fact that Iowa State is no longer dog nuts. Iowa fans are just kind of sh!t heads in general. I've been to a lot of non Iowa State games in Kinnick and they treat the visiting fans like crap.

One branch of Haydenism is this weird insecure school yard bully mentality because Iowa was decent for a few years after being terrible 40 years ago, and their only way to cope when ISU won a few CyHawk games was to crank it up a notch or two.

I still get comments if I'm back in the CR area if I'm wearing an ISU shirt; if it's from a 20-something I figure they are the descendents of the Hayden era and their parents have pictures all over their basement of those national title level 8-3 teams.

 

[madguy30]

Checks out. I'll be at tailgate tomorrow in IC with a mixture of ISU and Iowa fans. Almost every single ISU person there went to ISU whereas only one Iowa fan (who's hosting the tailgate) went to Iowa.

I'm planning to hang out with a few friends and watch it tomorrow in Madison.

I'll be the only ISU fan there, and then there's two friends that are (fairweather) Iowa fans, and then a couple of Bucky fans that may not even know ISU and Iowa are playing.

 

[mcblogerson]

A friend of mine used to play for Iowa and Ill go to a game with him every couple years. He gets really good tix but his only rule is don’t wear ISU gear to the game, so I bought a Steelers hoodie. He mails me Iowa gear for Christmas every year and I send him a pic of it in the trash.
I’d just wear a Steelers shirt so people dont throw stuff at you.

 

[cycloner29]

Had a kid in the ISU band…. the stories from that are awful. ISU band members being tripped walking down the stairs in the stadium, all kinds of stuff getting thrown at them, etc.

Is the ISU band going this year? They shouldn’t.

Talked with a band member a few days ago and she told me the band was not going.

 

[JM4CY]

Talked with a band member a few days ago and she told me the band was not going.

That’s a good thing.

 

[CYdTracked]

Last cyhawk game I went to in kinnick a girl in the row behind us puked all over the guy sitting next to me. We were obviously livid and especially so when they tried to convince us she was good now and they were staying.

This is a non-Iowa related story but probably the grossest thing involving puke that I have witnessed at JTS was during 2020 when we had limited number of fans that could go in and we all had to be masked. The group of people in the row in front of us apparently had been drinking a bunch before they came in and there was no tailgating allowed that season either it was park your car and walk into the game only. One girl you could tell was already stumbling around and not long after the game started she puked with her mask on and it just gushed out all over her face from the sides of the mask. Just nasty and can't imagine what that was like to get a face full of alcohol vomit like that. Needless to say that group left shortly after that too

 

[JM4CY]

This is a non-Iowa related story but probably the grossest thing involving puke that I have witnessed at JTS was during 2020 when we had limited number of fans that could go in and we all had to be masked. The group of people in the row in front of us apparently had been drinking a bunch before they came in and there was no tailgating allowed that season either it was park your car and walk into the game only. One girl you could tell was already stumbling around and not long after the game started she puked with her mask on and it just gushed out all over her face from the sides of the mask. Just nasty and can't imagine what that was like to get a face full of alcohol vomit like that. Needless to say that group left shortly after that too

I saw a guy by me that year that had straw run up through his thick gator. I didn't notice it at first but then realized he had it run from his cheek to a bag hidden in his coat. Genius. I think it held atleast a 5th and kept him going all game. Was funny to watch him progressively cheer louder and louder.

 

[dafarmer]

Obvious answer….STDs.

 

[HFCS]

Had a kid in the ISU band…. the stories from that are awful. ISU band members being tripped walking down the stairs in the stadium, all kinds of stuff getting thrown at them, etc.

Is the ISU band going this year? They shouldn’t.

I went to the game 6 years in a row during college and right after at both stadiums.

I endured equal nonsense from Iowa fans in Ames as I did in Iowa City. Some drunk college aged Hawkeye jumped off the top of a party bus onto my back in the lots at JTS, probably worst example I've been involved in at either place. I think drunk college kids just assume every college aged guy actually wants to mix it up.

 

[Cyclonetrombone]

From a marching band perspective I was there twice and I went once after because of free tickets. Best of luck - watch the back of your head for beer cans.

 

[Cyclonetrombone]

Talked with a band member a few days ago and she told me the band was not going.

Perfect news and the best decision

I’d just wear a Steelers shirt so people dont throw stuff at you.

Other option - wear a UNI hoody they are all the same fan base anyway and you're not wearing Hok colors.

 

[cyfan964]

I attempted to go to Iowa City for one game. My gf at the time got hit in the face with a full beer can as we were walking to Kinnick, so we spent the morning getting her stitches instead. I've never been back.

 

[Remo Gaggi]

Had my name pulled out of a hat, got 2 tickets to the first game when they started playing again. Sat in the south end zone. We lost. I do remember there were unopened hard liquor bottles all over he place after the game was over. Parking was a mess.
Go Cyclones

I was there as a student. Went back in 78 when we won 38-0 or something like that. Their fans were so docile from smoking too much hippie lettuce that it was tolerable. That all changed in the 80s when they thought they were the Steelers.

 

[CyclonesRock]

I have been to 10 games there over the years and as many others have said, don't react to the nonsense and you will be fine. I have always been decked out in Cyclone gear and have tailgated all around Melrose, the stadium, and the neighborhoods. Walking around before the game you will get plenty of verbal abuse but also many who are there to have a good time with a rival just like you. I assume since your relative is a season ticket holder that the surrounding seats will be familiar with him. I would encourage you to chat them up when you arrive to plant that familiarity. It makes the game more enjoyable and they probably will be proactive in defending you should any a-holes surface during the game. It also is not like the stadium is all black and gold, it seems to me each year there is more cardinal appearing in the stands.

 

[cytor]

I'm not saying I support this.... BUT:
Perhaps if ISU fans were to treat Hok fans the same awful way at JTS, they will never return?