WILLIAMS: Iowa State fans’ support of women’s basketball is special

[ChrisMWilliams]

Mar 11, 2022; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Lexi Donarski (21) is introduced before facing the West Virginia Mountaineers at Municipal Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports



KANSAS CITY, Mo. — I’ve covered somewhere around 15 Big 12 Tournaments over the years (I’ve lost track of exacts with my deteriorating mental state), mostly in Kansas City (two in Oklahoma City and one in Dallas). In the league’s current form, it usually sets up as Iowa State and Kansas fans battling to fill up T-Mobile on Friday night, assuming both teams make it that far. Respectfully, Kansas State fans can make an impact too on any given year. 



Thursday night was a massacre that we shall not speak of ever again.



However, thousands of Iowa State fans woke up Friday morning not finished with their somewhat southern getaway – but just getting started. The women were due to tip off their tournament at 5 p.m. in Municipal Arena! And to these people...

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[acoustimac]

The women have played in a pro arena in Dallas. It stunk. It’s a crammed in monstrosity that sound of echos instead of intensity. It is the worst stadium of all used for the tournament.

 

[BCClone]

Saturday through Tuesday at Wells Fargo sounds good to me.

 

[cytor]

Saw them today. Good support of the fans.

 

[Cyforce]

Saturday through Tuesday at Wells Fargo sounds good to me.

So would we play during mid major weekend screwing up the conference schedule or have the semis after selection Sunday?

 

[Cycsk]

About the aura: The pep bands sound fantastic in Municipal. Acoustics are great. Even the sound of Ashley hitting the floor.

 

[Cycsk]

The place has half the fans of our game for the Texas / K-State game, but the fans are about evenly matched, especially behind the benches. Both sound pretty good.

 

[JP4CY]

Why not play opening rounds at Muny then move semis and final to Sprint?

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

We stayed until halftime. Now following on ESPN app. My wish for playing KState again isn’t happening. Sigh.

 

[BenEClone]

Donarski had a play stoppage while her right hand was tended to. Fearfull of a dislocation, but she didn't miss a play. Any info on this?

 

[Cyforce]

Donarski had a play stoppage while her right hand was tended to. Fearfull of a dislocation, but she didn't miss a play. Any info on this?

Had to be blood.

 

[Cyforce]

We stayed until halftime. Now following on ESPN app. My wish for playing KState again isn’t happening. Sigh.

On the bright side they'll be a nice warmup for the matchup in the finals.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Watching the game it looks like Municipal has been modernized quite a bit since I was there last which was over a decade ago. In this day and age of state of the art arenas I like that they women play in a old school venue. Plus it's the perfect size arena for wbb that doesn't draw like the men do. When Municipal is full the noise can be deafening. That OU ISU final back in the day was an amazing atmosphere.

 

[SerenityNow]

Had to be blood.

Correct. Just a cut.

 

[NWICY]

@ChrisMWilliams, great article to summarize the program and Kansas City.

 

[BenEClone]

Watching the game it looks like Municipal has been modernized quite a bit since I was there last which was over a decade ago. In this day and age of state of the art arenas I like that they women play in a old school venue. Plus it's the perfect size arena for wbb that doesn't draw like the men do. When Municipal is full the noise can be deafening. That OU ISU final back in the day was an amazing atmosphere.

The upgrade seems to have been seats or upholstery. My main issue is lack of leg room between the rows, but that remains.

 

[NWICY]

The upgrade seems to have been seats or upholstery. My main issue is lack of leg room between the rows, but that remains.

Haven't been to Municipal in many years, is it any worse than Wells Fargo in Des Moines. That's some uncomfortable seating IMO.

 

[SerenityNow]

Our first trip to the tournament. Like Bill says, Hilton South is a real thing...it was truly a home game, just 3 hours south. I almost felt sorry for the 4 WVU fans I saw. Almost.

We stayed for the KSU Texas game, and I think it was still 40% cardinal in the arena.

 

[cytor]

I counted 24 WV fans.... all had musical instruments and sat behind one of the hoops at one end of the court.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

The upgrade seems to have been seats or upholstery. My main issue is lack of leg room between the rows, but that remains.

On TV it seems like Municipal has same lighting that Hilton does now. I swear in the past you could see most of the people in the lower level watching on TV.