Iowa opener has ‘bowl-like’ atmosphere
By Eric Page | Tuesday, August 28, 2007
No comments posted. | Rate this article | Default | Large
It’s only August, but the Iowa football team’s upcoming trip to Chicago has taken on a decidedly January feel.
Saturday’s season opener against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field has turned into more of an event than a game.
“It’s got a bowl-like
atmosphere,” said Bravo Sports Marketing’s Brook Peterson, whose North Liberty, Iowa, firm has organized
several gatherings for Hawkeyes fans leading up to Saturday’s 2:35 p.m. kickoff.
“There are thousands of Hawkeyes fans that are going in for all the numerous
activities. It’s going to be very much like a bowl game.”
It starts Friday, with a pregame tailgate before the Chicago Cubs play the Houston Astros in a 1:20 p.m. game at Wrigley Field. It’s been labeled “Iowa Day” at Wrigley, and director of athletics Gary Barta will throw out the first pitch. Former Hawkeyes
basketball star B.J. Armstrong will sing the seventh-inning stretch.
“I really haven’t thought a lot about throwing out the first pitch,” said Barta, who was called from the bullpen after Iowa football coach Kirk
Ferentz and new basketball coach Todd Lickliter turned down offers to take the mound for the ceremonial toss.
“I know it’s a tremendous honor, but I’m just so much more focused on the fact that they’ve dubbed it ‘Iowa Day.’ As long as I don’t embarrass myself or my family or the Hawkeyes, I’m just going to go into it having a great time.”
Bravo Sports has sold more than 2,400 tickets to the Cubs game, Peterson said, but
thousands more from the Iowa contingent have purchased tickets through other outlets.
“It’ll really have a Hawkeye flavor at Wrigley,” Peterson said. “It’ll be interesting to see if there is more black and gold than there is red and blue in the stands.”
Friday night, McDunna’s Bar and Grill, which is owned by Iowa alum Ryan Rooney, is hosting a “Hawkeyes Happy Hour.” There will be free beer from 6 to 7 p.m.
The National I-Club and U of I Alumni Association also are hosting a party, “The Hawkeye Huddle,” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Navy Pier.
Rooney purchased 1,400 tickets to the game through Northern Illinois and is hosting a tailgate Saturday morning on the north lawn near Solder Field, the only Iowa tailgate party on the Soldier Field grounds.
“We got this through Northern Illinois, and, to be honest, I’m not sure they really knew that this would be more Iowa fans than Northern Illinois,” said Rooney, a 1996 Iowa grad.
“It’s going to be insane.”
Bravo Sports also is putting on a tailgate from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hilton Hotel, located across the street from the stadium.
Soldier Field, which seats 61,500, is sold out for what will be the first college football game played there since its renovation was completed in 2003. The crowd is expected to be overwhelmingly black and gold.
Each team is receiving $1 million to play in the game, which is high for a nonconference road game, but it doesn’t come close to what Iowa traded by giving up one of its usual seven home dates.
The overall experience, Barta said, makes it worth it.
“We knew it was going to be an exciting event,” Barta said. “But we couldn’t have predicted how fans from both programs reacted. The fact that it sold out so early is just another testament to how great our fans are.
“The fans are excited about it being the opening game of the year, they’re excited about us playing in a pro stadium and they’re excited about a trip to Chicago. Now, to make it a perfect weekend, we need to make sure we find a way to win the ball game.”
Contact Eric Page at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com. For more on the Hawkeyes, log on to Hawkmania.com.
GOING TO CHICAGO?
Here are some activities planned leading up to Iowa’s season opener in what will be a busy weekend for Hawkeyes football fans:
Friday
Tailgate
What: Pre-party for Cubs game
When: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Goose Island Brewery, 1800 North Clybourn Ave.
Cost: $25 all you can eat/drink
Fact: Goose Island Brewery was founded by Iowa alum John Hall in 1988
More info: bravosportsmarketing.com
Chicago Cubs game
What: Cubs vs. Astros
When: 1:20 p.m.
Where: Wrigley Field
Fact: It’s Iowa Day at Wrigley, with director of athletics Gary Barta throwing out the first pitch and former Hawkeyes basketball and Chicago Bulls player B.J. Armstrong singing the seventh-inning stretch
Hawkeye Happy Hour
What: Free beer
When: 6-7 p.m.
Where: McDunna’s Bar and Grill, 1505 W. Fullerton Ave.
Fact: One of Chicago’s only Iowa bars is owned by Des Moines native and Iowa alum Ryan Rooney
More info: shop.mcdunnas.com
Hawkeye Huddle
What: Party hosted by the National I-Club and U of I Alumni Association
When: 6:30-9 p.m.
Where: Grand Ballroom, Navy Pier
Cost: Free
Saturday
Pregame Party
What: Tailgate hosted by McDunna’s Bar and Grill
When: 8 a.m.
Where: North lawn, Soldier Field
Fact: Only Iowa tailgate at Solder Field
More info: shop.mcdunnas.com
Tailgate Rally
What: Pregame event
When: 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Where: Hilton Hotel, 720 South Michigan Ave.
Cost: $6 in advance, $10 at the door with cash bar and food
By Eric Page | Tuesday, August 28, 2007
No comments posted. | Rate this article | Default | Large
It’s only August, but the Iowa football team’s upcoming trip to Chicago has taken on a decidedly January feel.
Saturday’s season opener against Northern Illinois at Soldier Field has turned into more of an event than a game.
“It’s got a bowl-like
atmosphere,” said Bravo Sports Marketing’s Brook Peterson, whose North Liberty, Iowa, firm has organized
several gatherings for Hawkeyes fans leading up to Saturday’s 2:35 p.m. kickoff.
“There are thousands of Hawkeyes fans that are going in for all the numerous
activities. It’s going to be very much like a bowl game.”
It starts Friday, with a pregame tailgate before the Chicago Cubs play the Houston Astros in a 1:20 p.m. game at Wrigley Field. It’s been labeled “Iowa Day” at Wrigley, and director of athletics Gary Barta will throw out the first pitch. Former Hawkeyes
basketball star B.J. Armstrong will sing the seventh-inning stretch.
“I really haven’t thought a lot about throwing out the first pitch,” said Barta, who was called from the bullpen after Iowa football coach Kirk
Ferentz and new basketball coach Todd Lickliter turned down offers to take the mound for the ceremonial toss.
“I know it’s a tremendous honor, but I’m just so much more focused on the fact that they’ve dubbed it ‘Iowa Day.’ As long as I don’t embarrass myself or my family or the Hawkeyes, I’m just going to go into it having a great time.”
Bravo Sports has sold more than 2,400 tickets to the Cubs game, Peterson said, but
thousands more from the Iowa contingent have purchased tickets through other outlets.
“It’ll really have a Hawkeye flavor at Wrigley,” Peterson said. “It’ll be interesting to see if there is more black and gold than there is red and blue in the stands.”
Friday night, McDunna’s Bar and Grill, which is owned by Iowa alum Ryan Rooney, is hosting a “Hawkeyes Happy Hour.” There will be free beer from 6 to 7 p.m.
The National I-Club and U of I Alumni Association also are hosting a party, “The Hawkeye Huddle,” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Navy Pier.
Rooney purchased 1,400 tickets to the game through Northern Illinois and is hosting a tailgate Saturday morning on the north lawn near Solder Field, the only Iowa tailgate party on the Soldier Field grounds.
“We got this through Northern Illinois, and, to be honest, I’m not sure they really knew that this would be more Iowa fans than Northern Illinois,” said Rooney, a 1996 Iowa grad.
“It’s going to be insane.”
Bravo Sports also is putting on a tailgate from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hilton Hotel, located across the street from the stadium.
Soldier Field, which seats 61,500, is sold out for what will be the first college football game played there since its renovation was completed in 2003. The crowd is expected to be overwhelmingly black and gold.
Each team is receiving $1 million to play in the game, which is high for a nonconference road game, but it doesn’t come close to what Iowa traded by giving up one of its usual seven home dates.
The overall experience, Barta said, makes it worth it.
“We knew it was going to be an exciting event,” Barta said. “But we couldn’t have predicted how fans from both programs reacted. The fact that it sold out so early is just another testament to how great our fans are.
“The fans are excited about it being the opening game of the year, they’re excited about us playing in a pro stadium and they’re excited about a trip to Chicago. Now, to make it a perfect weekend, we need to make sure we find a way to win the ball game.”
Contact Eric Page at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com. For more on the Hawkeyes, log on to Hawkmania.com.
GOING TO CHICAGO?
Here are some activities planned leading up to Iowa’s season opener in what will be a busy weekend for Hawkeyes football fans:
Friday
Tailgate
What: Pre-party for Cubs game
When: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Goose Island Brewery, 1800 North Clybourn Ave.
Cost: $25 all you can eat/drink
Fact: Goose Island Brewery was founded by Iowa alum John Hall in 1988
More info: bravosportsmarketing.com
Chicago Cubs game
What: Cubs vs. Astros
When: 1:20 p.m.
Where: Wrigley Field
Fact: It’s Iowa Day at Wrigley, with director of athletics Gary Barta throwing out the first pitch and former Hawkeyes basketball and Chicago Bulls player B.J. Armstrong singing the seventh-inning stretch
Hawkeye Happy Hour
What: Free beer
When: 6-7 p.m.
Where: McDunna’s Bar and Grill, 1505 W. Fullerton Ave.
Fact: One of Chicago’s only Iowa bars is owned by Des Moines native and Iowa alum Ryan Rooney
More info: shop.mcdunnas.com
Hawkeye Huddle
What: Party hosted by the National I-Club and U of I Alumni Association
When: 6:30-9 p.m.
Where: Grand Ballroom, Navy Pier
Cost: Free
Saturday
Pregame Party
What: Tailgate hosted by McDunna’s Bar and Grill
When: 8 a.m.
Where: North lawn, Soldier Field
Fact: Only Iowa tailgate at Solder Field
More info: shop.mcdunnas.com
Tailgate Rally
What: Pregame event
When: 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Where: Hilton Hotel, 720 South Michigan Ave.
Cost: $6 in advance, $10 at the door with cash bar and food
