Jack Trice Stadium

The stadium is at 1732 Jack Trice Way on the south edge of Iowa State’s athletics district in Ames. It sits between University Boulevard and Beach Avenue, just north of US 30, with Hilton Coliseum to the north and Reiman Gardens immediately south. Most visitors arrive from I-35 via US 30 and Exit 146, but the last mile divides into strict parking and postgame traffic zones. Follow the permit route and event officers, not a navigation app’s last-second shortcut.

Driving & Parking

• From Des Moines or the south
  Take I-35 north to US 30 west, then Exit 146 for University Boulevard. Traffic stacks onto the ramp, so arrive several hours early for a major conference game.
• From the north or east
  I-35 to US 30 west remains the primary approach. Drivers coming from western Iowa use US 30 east and may be directed toward South 16th Street or Beach Avenue.
• Digital parking passes
  Donor and reserved permits live on a smartphone; screenshots do not scan. Add the pass to a mobile wallet and enter by the route printed for that lot.
• Public grass lots
  General public parking is sold in grass areas south of the stadium along South 16th Street. Online presales often sell out, and rain can change grass-lot availability.
• Accessible parking
  Paved ADA inventory south of the stadium is first-come with a valid placard or plate and card payment. Recent pricing has been $40 for most games and $60 for Iowa; verify the current game notice.
• Cyclone Trolleys
  Marked golf carts circulate through parking areas starting three hours before kickoff. They do not operate after games. Courtesy carts inside Gates 1 and 3 help patrons reach the concourse.
• Postgame routing
  Lots empty into assigned directional zones designed to clear the district in roughly 90 minutes. Accept the route even if it initially points away from the hotel; cross-traffic is intentionally restricted.

Public Transit

• CyRide game service
  Ames’ public bus system adjusts routes and stop access around football traffic. Review the current game-day notice and live service map before leaving a hotel or campus.
• Central campus
  Regular CyRide routes can bring visitors near the university core, followed by a walk south through the athletics district. Service is most useful for guests staying in Ames without a parking pass.
• Remote parking walk
  Free campus and Research Park options may require a substantial walk or a bus connection. Wear appropriate shoes; the stadium district is spread out even though it looks compact on a map.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Pre-arranged drop-off
  Choose a meeting point outside the permit-controlled stadium lots, then walk the final segment. Reiman Gardens, the Research Park edge or central campus can be practical depending on closures.
• Do not target the gate
  Jack Trice Way, Stadium Drive and nearby lot aisles become pedestrian or permit zones. A pin at the stadium entrance is likely to be redirected.
• Postgame strategy
  Walk north toward central campus or south beyond South 16th Street before requesting a ride. Waiting 30–45 minutes can improve both driver access and pricing.

Iowa State tailgating is not a side activity; it is the landscape around the stadium. Cardinal tents fill the paved donor lots north and west, grass lots stretch south and the smell of grills carries across University Boulevard. Lot-opening times vary with kickoff—recent schedules have begun as early as 7 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.—so consult the football parking graphic rather than applying a fixed formula.

Tailgating

• Donor lots
  The A, B, C, D, F and nearby paved groups between Hilton Coliseum and Jack Trice hold the densest traditional scene. A matching Cyclone Club permit is required.
• Public south lots
  Grass lots along South 16th Street welcome general parking and tailgating when conditions allow. Prepurchase because drive-up inventory is unreliable for marquee games.
• Spirit Walk
  The team arrives through Albaugh Family Plaza on the north side, typically about two and a half hours before kickoff. The marching band, cheer squad and Cy turn it into the formal transition from lots to stadium.
• The Social at Reiman Gardens
  New for 2026, this ticketed pregame offers all-inclusive food, drinks and entertainment in a climate-controlled setting steps south of the stadium. The announced price is $80 per game.
• One-space rule
  Tailgate equipment must fit within the parking footprint, tents are limited to 10 by 10 feet outside approved hospitality and drive aisles must remain clear.
• Alcohol and fire rules
  Adults 21 and over may possess beer and wine on football game days, but hard liquor, kegs, glass and open fires are prohibited. Use an approved raised grill and dispose of coals as directed.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Hickory Park
  This enormous Ames institution on South Duff Avenue serves barbecue, burgers and a famous dessert menu. It handles groups well but still draws major waits on football weekends.
• Cornbred Barbecue
  Located in the historic train depot downtown, Cornbred delivers smoked meats, creative sides and a polished Iowa atmosphere. Friday dinner is easier than squeezing it into the last two hours before kickoff.
• Wallaby’s Bar & Grille
  North Ames’ sports bar offers burgers, sandwiches, televisions and a rooftop patio. It is a dependable gathering point for mixed-age groups with a car.
• Welch Avenue Station
  This basement Campustown bar is a Cyclone classic for drinks, pizza from upstairs and student energy. It is north of the stadium and best reached early or on Friday night.
• Café Beaudelaire
  The compact Campustown restaurant blends Brazilian flavors with burgers, sandwiches and cocktails. Seating is limited, which rewards an early arrival.
• Dublin Bay Irish Pub
  Near South Duff, the pub serves shepherd’s pie, boxty, sandwiches and beer in a warm lodge-like room. It works well for cool-weather games.

• Spirit Walk
  Players cross Albaugh Family Plaza through a wall of fans about two and a half hours before kickoff. Stand toward the plaza center early for the best view of the team and band.
• “Cyclone Power”
  One side of the stadium calls “Cyclone” and the other answers “Power.” The call grows especially loud on defensive possessions and requires no advance practice.
• “ISU Fights”
  The marching band plays Iowa State’s fight song after scores and during the pregame entrance. The repeated “Fight, fight, fight for Iowa State” line is the easy point for visitors to join.
• Sweet Caroline
  Neil Diamond’s song arrives late—most famously between the third and fourth quarters when Iowa State is positioned to win—and returns after major victories. The whole bowl supplies the chorus.
• Cyclone Helmet Cart
  Revived in 2025, the oversized cardinal helmet carries Cy along the sideline and reconnects modern game day with a beloved piece of Iowa State history.
• Iowa State University Cyclone Football “Varsity” Marching Band
  The band’s pregame formations, fight songs and plaza appearances provide the day’s connective tissue. Be seated early to see the full field show.

• Breaking Barriers sculpture
  The north plaza installation honors Jack Trice and the generations influenced by his story. Visit before Spirit Walk while the area is still navigable.
• Jack Trice legacy
  Trice became Iowa State’s first Black athlete in 1922 and died from injuries suffered during a 1923 game at Minnesota. The stadium’s name makes that history inseparable from every event.
• Albaugh Family Plaza
  The broad north gateway opened with the Stark project and now hosts team arrival, monuments and heavy pregame circulation.
• Natural hybrid field
  The surface is Kentucky bluegrass grown with Iowa State expertise and reinforced with stitched synthetic fibers. It retains natural-grass play while improving stability and durability.
• South-end enclosure
  The 2015 project joined the two sidelines with permanent seating, premium hospitality and a large videoboard, transforming an open horseshoe into a true bowl.
• Reiman Gardens
  The university’s 17-acre public garden lies immediately south of the stadium. Its butterfly wing and landscaped grounds offer an unusually serene pregame neighbor.

History & Notable Moments

• Stadium debut (1975)
  Iowa State defeated Air Force 17–12 in the first game at the new Cyclone Stadium, replacing the smaller Clyde Williams Field.
• Jack Trice Stadium name (1997)
  After years of student and alumni advocacy, Iowa State named the entire building for Trice on August 30, making the memorial identity official.
• No. 2 Oklahoma State upset (2011)
  The Cyclones won 37–31 in double overtime on a Friday night, ending Oklahoma State’s unbeaten season and reshaping the national-title race.
• Enclosed south end (2015)
  The Sukup End Zone Club project raised capacity above 61,000 and materially increased crowd noise and visual coherence.
• No. 6 West Virginia upset (2018)
  Iowa State controlled an unbeaten West Virginia team 30–14 before a storming crowd and a national television audience.
• Jack Trice centennial (2023)
  Iowa State’s yearlong “Breaking Barriers” commemoration marked 100 years since Trice’s death with sculpture, education and special game-day elements.

The field runs north–south, with Iowa State on the west sideline and visitors on the east. Two large decks line each side, the enclosed Sukup end anchors the south and the Jacobson/Stark complex closes the north visually. The lower bowl brings volume; upper rows reveal the full patterns of the hybrid field and cardinal crowd.

• West sideline
  Sections behind the Iowa State bench have the strongest home-team connection and tend to gain afternoon shade before comparable east-side seats.
• East sideline
  These sections face the home bench and include visiting-team allocations. They receive more direct afternoon sun, so add a hat and sunscreen for September games.
• Sukup End Zone Club
  The south premium area combines outdoor chairback seats with indoor food, beverages and climate control. Its end-zone perspective is offset by exceptional comfort.
• Jack Trice Club and suites
  Premium west-side inventory offers hospitality and elevated midfield sightlines, with separate access requirements and amenities.
• North end/student area
  Students occupy sections wrapping the north end and create pressure near the opponent’s approach. Expect standing and dense general-admission-style energy where the ticket product allows it.
• Jr. Cyclone Club hillsides
  Grass seating in the southeast and southwest corners is designed for member families and children. Beginning in 2026, alcohol is expressly prohibited on both hillsides.
• Upper decks
  The steep climb rewards fans with clean views and lower resale prices. Use the north or south elevators if mobility is a concern and confirm the closest gate before arrival.

Jack Trice Stadium is cashless, so bring a card or mobile wallet. Permanent stands line the east and west concourses, while expanded north and south gate areas provide additional space. Beginning with the 2026 season, stadium-wide alcohol sales change both the menu and circulation pattern; expect the largest beverage installations north and south rather than at the busiest sideline stands.

• Iowa standards
  Main stands serve hot dogs, burgers, nachos, popcorn and pretzels, with walking tacos and pork-centered specials reflecting regional game-day tastes.
• South concourse
  The Sukup end and expanded south gate area provide substantial food and beverage capacity. It is the logical destination from lower south sections but can become crowded at halftime.
• North concourse
  The rebuilt north entrance supplies roomier circulation and is a primary alcohol-sales zone in 2026, convenient for the student and north-corner sections.
• East and west stands
  Permanent sideline concessions remain the quickest source for standard food and soft drinks. Alcohol is not sold from those permanent stands, though limited portable points operate on both sides.
• Alcohol rules
  Guests 21 and older with legal identification may buy beer, wine or prepackaged ready-to-drink cocktails, limited to two beverages per person per transaction.
• Sales limits
  No alcohol hawkers work the seating bowl, alcohol cannot enter the Jr. Cyclone Club hillsides and football sales have a designated cutoff such as the end of the third quarter.
• Premium hospitality
  The Sukup End Zone Club, Jack Trice Club, suites, Johnny’s and other hospitality areas retain their established service rules, which differ from general concourses.
• Water planning
  Current published guidance has permitted one unopened 20-ounce water bottle. Check the weekly notice, especially during heat advisories, and refill or buy early to avoid halftime queues.

• One clear plastic, vinyl or PVC tote no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches is allowed. Any logo on the bag must be no larger than approximately 4.5 by 3.4 inches.
• A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag is accepted. A small non-clear clutch may be no larger than 6 by 9 inches.
• Bags containing medically necessary, family or child-care items are exceptions after inspection. Arrive early and identify the appropriate screening lane.
• Current guidance permits one factory-sealed water bottle of 20 ounces or less. Confirm the game-week notice because heat protocols and permitted-container language can change.
• Weapons, outside alcohol, glass, kegs, artificial noisemakers and items that obstruct seating or aisles are prohibited. Tailgate alcohol rules do not permit beverages through the gate.
• Gates normally open 90 minutes before kickoff. Save the mobile ticket to a wallet before reaching the plaza, where cellular congestion can slow downloads.
• Beginning in 2026, re-entry is prohibited at every point in the game. Bring all permitted weather layers, medication and child-care supplies on the first entry.
• Security procedures and prohibited-item lists can be adjusted for a specific event. Review Iowa State’s game-week information before leaving the hotel, particularly for rivalry games or severe weather.