Iowa City’s Kinnick Stadium will be playing host to an “away game tailgate” event for veterans again this season.
Gary Boseneiler, Director of Johnson County Veterans Affairs, says this marks the third year for the event. “The first year we had 300 veterans and family members attend and last year I had 500 sign in. I’m anticipating about the same this year,” Boseneiler says.
The event is scheduled for October 15 and will begin at 10:30 a.m., about 30 minutes before the kickoff between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Indiana.
A light tailgating lunch is free (first-come, first-serve) to veterans and their family members who can watch the game on TVs at Kinnick Stadium. Boseneiler says, judging from the first two years, plenty of vets from outside the Iowa City area will attend.
“Folks from all across the state and even a few who come across the border,” Boseneiler said. The tailgate event takes place inside the press box at Kinnick. Parking is available on the west side of the stadium.
“You can park for free right outside the stadium and student veteran volunteers will help escort people from the parking lot upstairs to the area where the food and TVs will be,” Boseneiler said. As of right now, it’s unclear what channel the game will be on.
The possibilities include ABC, ESPN2, or ESPN-U. Boseneiler warns, if the Iowa-Purdue game is televised by ESPN-U, that channel is not part of the cable package at Kinnick Stadium — so attendees would be able to watch the game.
Anyone who has questions or would like more information can contact Gary Boseneiler at 319-356-6049 or by email: gbosenei@co.johnson.ia.us