IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Fans in Iowa City – like recent Iowa graduate Drake Powell – know their way around Kinnick Stadium.
Powell says he’s been to over 100 Hawkeye games.
“I have been at the game where they hit the game winner against Michigan,” Powell said. “I stormed the field like three or four times. I’m a diehard.”
Powell says getting into the stadium can be slow, but it’s not anything to complain about.
“Kinnick is very accessible in my opinion,” Powell said.
”(You) kind of just walk through, open your bags, they scan your ticket,” said Iowa sophomore Rylee Lueken. “It’s kind of pretty chill actually.”
Marcus Wilson, executive senior associate athletics director at UI, says the process for fans and students can be even faster.
This season, 39 new metal detectors will be at entrances around the stadium.
Fans are still required o bring clear bags, but security will not check them. Fans can just walk through the metal detectors.
The detectors are designed to only pick up weapons and prohibited items like video cameras, not phones or keys. They won’t cost the athletic department anything extra, because they’re being provided by UI’s new security contractor BEST Crowd Management.
“I do think this will enhance the safety here at Kinnick Stadium,” said Wilson.
“If the detector does catch a prohibited item, the person will have a more thorough check with a handheld security wand.
“The first couple games it may take some getting used to amongst some of our fans we’ll work through that,” said Wilson. “But ultimately I think it will result in a more efficient gate entry process.”
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.