Go Hawkeyes! A Fan’s Guide to University of Iowa Football Gameday

Come on and cheer, cheer, cheer for Iowa! At Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, the Iowa Hawkeyes football team packs their five-time National Championship legacy with cherished home game traditions. After grabbing your Iowa Hawkeyes tickets or Kinnick Stadium tickets, check out all of the must-see spots and fan-favorite rituals before an Iowa football game day.

Pre-Game Traditions

With the University of Iowa campus split by the Iowa River, game day preparation tends to be spread all across Iowa City. Fans typically travel east to west, starting at the restaurants and bars in downtown Iowa City then making their way across the river to tailgates on Melrose Avenue and the Kinnick Stadium parking lots to the west.

Besides tailgating, Iowa fans won’t want to miss the Hawk Walk. Two hours prior to kickoff, the football team arrives at Kinnick Stadium’s southern entrance on Melrose Avenue, with each player touching the football helmet on a bronze statue of Nile Kinnick, the venue’s namesake and 1939 Heisman Trophy winner for the Hawkeyes. You can watch and cheer from Krause Family Plaza, then head to the UI Recreation Building for a preview performance by the Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band about an hour and 15 minutes before the game starts.

Tailgating Tips

Although tailgating is permitted in UI parking lots on an Iowa football game day, any visiting fan will want to check out Melrose Avenue for the best of Hawkeyes tailgating. Just south of Kinnick Stadium, Melrose Avenue hosts open tailgates across several streets with both local businesses and private residences adding to the fun. Have some cash on hand if you plan to join a tailgate, and be sure to bring an empty stomach to enjoy Iowa tailgate staples like pork tenderloin sandwiches and barbecue.

Meanwhile, tailgating outside of Kinnick Stadium can be done on various campus lots. Public parking is open for $30 on an Iowa Hawkeyes game day, while ADA parking is located in Ramp 4 and Lot 52 and free parking with a complimentary shuttle is available on a first-come, first-served basis. On UI football game days, beer and wine are permitted on campus lots, along with Liquid Propane and charcoal grills, but amplified sound must be limited to each personal tailgate. Tailgating on campus lots wraps by 6:00 p.m. on game days.

Attendees are not allowed to bring their own alcohol into the stadium, but beer and wine are available for purchase inside.

Can you bring blankets into Kinnick?

Yes, blankets and seat cushions are permitted in Kinnick Stadium as long as they are without back support.

What to wear to Kinnick Stadium

What to wear to an Iowa Hawkeyes game depends on the game’s theme. Keep an eye out, because some games have a color theme, such as “gold out” or “black out” games, when fans are encouraged to wear a designated color!

Inside Kinnick Stadium

Opened in 1929, Kinnick Stadium holds a wealth of history on top of many beloved Hawkeyes football game day traditions. Before arrival, review rules and policies for entering the Iowa Hawkeyes football stadium and get familiar with the most popular in-game traditions. And remember to look out for Herky the Hawk, the official mascot that hangs out at Iowa games!

“Back in Black”

Iowa football players announce the return of the Black and Gold when taking the field to AC/DC’s 1980 classic “Back in Black.” Since 2005, the rock hit has soundtracked the Hawkeyes’ field entrance, and the team later adopted The Swarm formation, in which every player locks hands before exiting the tunnel.

The Iowa Wave

Smile and wave! With the expansion of the adjacent University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in 2017, the Hawkeyes introduced a new tradition: the Iowa Wave. At the end of the first quarter, all stadium guests turn to the hospital and wave to patients and their families, who are able to watch games from the facility’s top-floor Press Box Cafe. The gesture also led to another heartwarming tradition with the Kid Captain program. Each home game, one young patient is invited to join the team on the sidelines and receives a special pregame shoutout.

I-O-W-A Chant

Shout across the stadium for the I-O-W-A chant. Recurring throughout the game, the I-O-W-A chant designates one letter to each corner of Kinnick Stadium as fans raise the volume in a revolving pattern.

Iowa Fight Song

Composed in 1950, the Iowa Fight Song has energized Iowa Hawkeyes football games with calls to “Fight! Fight! Fight! for IOWA.” Perhaps the best known amongst the Hawkeye Marching Band’s repertoire, the “Iowa Fight Song” is often paired with rallying cries like “On Iowa” and “Roll Along Iowa.”

Burrito Lift

Beginning as a partnership between the Hawkeyes and local restaurant chain Pancheros, fans stretch their arms up to “lift” a burrito projected on the stadium’s video screen, then pass it down. The interactive tradition is accompanied by Danzel’s 2004 single “Pump It Up!”

ANF Decal

First instituted in 1985 by then-head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes traditionally sport stickers on their helmets for America Needs Farmers (ANF). Inspired to raise awareness during the 1980s Farm Crisis, the program honors agricultural workers and their deep ties to the community.

Post-Game Activities

Following the final whistle, Iowa Hawkeyes football fans generally flock to The Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City. The outdoor, pedestrian-friendly public space allows fans to gather, grab some food and drinks and take in the post-game atmosphere with live music, vendors and activities all around.

Any Hawkeyes game day attendee should plan to stop at local favorites like Joe’s Place, The Hamburg Inn No. 2, Big Grove Brewery and Mickey’s Irish Pub. Alternatively, keep your head in the game with sports-friendly spots like Sports Column, Field House Bar and Vine Tavern & Eatery.

Iowa Hawkeyes Game Day Schedule

Catch every moment of a Hawkeyes game day by checking out Iowa’s regular season football schedule.