By now, many faculty, staff, students and fans know the drill for a Thursday night home football game. But since it's been a while, here's what you need to know before the Cyclones take on Texas next Thursday, Oct. 3.
Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m., and fans will begin streaming into stadium parking lots the minute they open at 12:30 p.m.
As they always do, people who normally park around the stadium and in commuter lots will need to move their cars. Thursday is a regular class and work day, so campus parking spots will be scarce. Squeezing 3,000 or more extra cars on campus requires cooperation on everyone's part. Department of public safety and athletics department officials expect the process to go smoothly, based on the courtesy and patience people have shown in previous years.
Depending on where you normally park, the following instructions should help you tackle (or keep) the best spot and avoid hassles on Thursday. (Plan accordingly and you may even have time for a bratwurst before the big game.)
Commuters
Motorists who park in the Iowa State Center lots will be directed to any of these locations on Oct. 3:
- Kmart/Staples parking lot, 1405 Buckeye Ave. (east side only, along Buckeye)
- Lot 29, north of the Communications Building and Molecular Biology
- Lot 112M, west of Frederiksen Court on the west side of Stange Road
- Memorial Union Parking Ramp (regular hourly rates apply)
- Lot 68, north of General Services Building
Commuters will receive this information several times, and signs will be posted in and around the Ann Campbell Transit Station.
Commuters may ride CyRide's Orange Route for free from the east side of the Kmart lot to campus. Pickup from the Kmart lot will run every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 3. Look for the bus stop signs.
Stadium permits
Those who usually park at Jack Trice Stadium will be asked to move their cars between 5 and 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2. They'll be directed to:
- Iowa State Center (staff will be on hand from 5 to 11:59 p.m. Oct. 2 to direct traffic to designated lots)
- Lot 61A/B at the Towers
- Lot 100, Lied Recreation Center
- Lot 29, north of the Communications Building and Molecular Biology
- East Campus Parking Deck – upper level only
All stadium permit holders must move their cars before midnight on Oct. 2, and should return their cars to the stadium by 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 4. The people who park at the stadium – primarily students – will receive an email with this information.
Reserved (cardinal red) permits
It's business as usual in reserved lots Oct. 3. These parking spots will not be up for grabs. Reserved spaces will remain available only to those with reserved permits for a designated lot.
General staff (gold) permits
General staff lots will be open to the public after 11 a.m. on Oct. 3. It'll be easy enough to park first thing in the morning, but if you leave for lunch or an appointment, you may lose your spot. Consider lunching on campus or walking to appointments if at all possible.
Disability, 24-hour reserve permits
Parking in spaces for holders of these permits will remain strictly enforced.
At day's end
Get in the game and cheer on the Cyclones! But if you're headed home or elsewhere, avoid traffic near the stadium. ESPN will carry the Cyclones vs. Texas game.
