Gameday tips for newbie with family?

[ILikeCy]

Could I get some tips for attending the game on Saturday? I haven't been to a game in probably 15 years. I'll have the family along (wife and four kids 8 to 18 years old). Three hour drive so we won't be tailgating.

How early do we need to roll into Ames to find parking and get to our seats at least 30-45 minutes before kickoff?
Recommendations for cheap and reasonably accessible parking locations?
Any other advice for a newbie to have a great experience?

Thanks! So excited for this game!

 

[besserheimerphat]

If it were me, I'd make sure the family has a good time even if that means you miss a few plays or have to forego something you were looking forward to. If the wife and kids have fun, they'll want to go again which means YOU get to go again. Remember they can have fun regardless of how the game goes. I used that strategy for fishing and now my three daughters beg me to take them out every time the weather is nice.

 

[JP4CY]

TBH you can always park somewhere else and ride the bus too.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Just enjoy it. Ames is so great on game day.

 

[jsb]

Could I get some tips for attending the game on Saturday? I haven't been to a game in probably 15 years. I'll have the family along (wife and four kids 8 to 18 years old). Three hour drive so we won't be tailgating.

How early do we need to roll into Ames to find parking and get to our seats at least 30-45 minutes before kickoff?
Recommendations for cheap and reasonably accessible parking locations?
Any other advice for a newbie to have a great experience?

Thanks! So excited for this game!

If your not tailgating and willing to walk a ways, park at the gateway. I believe technically it’s only for guests, but I’ve never had a problem. If you do that I’d allow for 30 minutes to walk to stadium.

Sprit walk is always fun. The step show is fine.

 

[NWICY]

I believe the kid/family area is to the north of the stadium. 18 yr old will like the student lots SE of the stadium. Wife probably won't be overly impressed with that area. Bring up Cyclones.com go to the parking map I think it is $20 around the stadium. Personally I usually park on campus then walk over. Leaves are probably about done but campus is always pretty.

 

[PlanoClone]

I was going to suggest going to the Spirit Walk (I think that's what it's called) which is when the team arrives and walks through a throng of fans as they make their way into the locker room but sounds like you won't be here early enough for that. I would at least walk around the tailgate lots on your way into the game to get a feel for the atmosphere. Maybe head over to the Alumni Center, walk down "tent row" (men's bball and women's bball have tents so you might see some players).

In other words, don't just walk straight from your car into the stadium with no stops or you'll miss all the fun.

 

[wxman1]

What is your ETA? With kickoff at 11 the team will arrive at 8:30 so that will be the end of the spirit walk. Marching Band step show will be around 9:30 at the Alumni Center. That will end around 10 leaving you a little bit to walk through the lots and get in the stadium 30 minutes before kick.

Public lots around the stadium are $20/vehicle. I would park at Forker/East Campus Parking Ramp as it is free. This would also give you a good opportunity to take a quick stroll around central campus if you want to show them that. That being said I wouldn't count on there being parking available after 9:30-10.

 

[BCClone]

What is your ETA? With kickoff at 11 the team will arrive at 8:30 so that will be the end of the spirit walk. Marching Band step show will be around 9:30 at the Alumni Center. That will end around 10 leaving you a little bit to walk through the lots and get in the stadium 30 minutes before kick.

Public lots around the stadium are $20/vehicle. I would park at Forker/East Campus Parking Ramp as it is free. This would also give you a good opportunity to take a quick stroll around central campus if you want to show them that. That being said I wouldn't count on there being parking available after 9:30-10.

I have never heard of the step show. Have they always done that?

 

[jay moe]

Agree with above poster, if you plan on arriving around 9:30-10:00, prepare to be stuck in traffic and not have many options for parking, maybe the grass lots east of the stadium. We usually try to arrive 3 hours before KO to miss pregame traffic and have our pick of parking spaces. Enjoy your time, walk around the lots and the stadium, the atmosphere has improved immensely over the last 15 years.

 

[cycloner29]

If you get there an hour or so before game time, you can park on a side street west of the stadium. You can park illegally and it will only cost you $15. Sounds like a great day for tailgating pre and post game. Sunny and 61 degrees by after the game!

 

[cyclonedave25]

I would spend $20 and park in the G lots. (Probably avoid G2/3 with the family, so any of the other brown lots on the map below)
Give the family a true gameday experience of showing them the tailgating atmosphere.
I would arrive in the lots no later than 9:30 or so. That’ll give you enough time to comfortably make your way to the stadium and take in 30-45 mins of pregame. Incoming traffic will be slow at that time, so plan on that. You can never arrive too early on a sunny gameday.

 

[Morty52]

Could I get some tips for attending the game on Saturday? I haven't been to a game in probably 15 years. I'll have the family along (wife and four kids 8 to 18 years old). Three hour drive so we won't be tailgating.

How early do we need to roll into Ames to find parking and get to our seats at least 30-45 minutes before kickoff?
Recommendations for cheap and reasonably accessible parking locations?
Any other advice for a newbie to have a great experience?

Thanks! So excited for this game!

We parked at the Memorial Union for the last game. $8.00 and a 20 minute walk. I guess there might be other parking in that area as well.

 

[wxman1]

I have never heard of the step show. Have they always done that?

Started 3 ish years ago. They play cheers and some selections of past and current shows along with a few cadences.

 

[Triggermv]

Like others have said, the focus needs to be on making things fun. Therefore, whether you already have tickets or not, I'd consider actually just heading up to the top corners of the balcony to sit where there is pretty much always some open seats and most importantly, space. I've got young kids and space is key. While I'm expecting a good turnout for this game, other than the Iowa game, I've yet to see a game that doesn't have a fairly open area somewhere up top. Even the UNI game this year had space.

 

[ILikeCy]

Started 3 ish years ago. They play cheers and some selections of past and current shows along with a few cadences.

Thanks, my 18-year-old is a percussionist in a competitive HS marching band, so he would love this!

 

[ILikeCy]

Thanks everyone! I'm thinking of trying to get to the Memorial Union parking garage by 9:00 and walking over to the Alumni Center for the step show. Do you think I'll still be able to get parking at 9:00 at the MU parking garage, or is that too late?

 

[wxman1]

Thanks, my 18-year-old is a percussionist in a competitive HS marching band, so he would love this!

Looking at the game day schedule the drum line performance is at 9:20 at the Alumni Center steps with the whole band performance at 9:30 and step off at 10.

 

[Cycsk]

I would suggest coming in from the north. If coming on I-35, use the 13th Street exit. If coming from the west on US-30, take the South Dakota exit and use Lincoln Way or 13th. Traffic on US-30 exiting at University will be backed up.

 

[Cycsk]

Park near Hilton ($20) or streets west of the stadium. Make sure to go to the Alumni Center as there are lots of special things going on this week.

Recognize that the 11am kickoff will limit your experience. Be really focused on what you want to do. Afternoon or evening kickoffs would give you more flexibility. You may want to pay attention to what is going on after the game. I suspect there will be lots of tailgating and maybe some official Alumni activities.