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Kinnick conversion to stadium seats

toddhawkwi

Team MVP
Sep 11, 2002
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Asbury, IA
Was in the TCs last weekend (I know - a weekend early) and got to see the gofers stadium for the first time. It is VERY NICE albeit small - definitely tailored to the fans of 2018. But it got me wondering - With the completion of the North end zone and the wonderful seats there, what would Kinnick have to be changed over to in order to scrap all of the bleachers. I know you could make the South end zone similar to the north (maybe even a tad more room to do more). There is certainly some wiggle room to recreate the west stands somehow. The east stands, architecturally and space wise I wouldn't know where to start. Is anyone on here knowledgeable about such things to know whether Kinnick could be converted to a 65,000 seat stadium with no bleachers? Or would it require a whole new stadium? I'm sure this is being discussed privately for long-term planning in the Athletic Department. GO HAWKS!!
 
Was in the TCs last weekend (I know - a weekend early) and got to see the gofers stadium for the first time. It is VERY NICE albeit small - definitely tailored to the fans of 2018. But it got me wondering - With the completion of the North end zone and the wonderful seats there, what would Kinnick have to be changed over to in order to scrap all of the bleachers. I know you could make the South end zone similar to the north (maybe even a tad more room to do more). There is certainly some wiggle room to recreate the west stands somehow. The east stands, architecturally and space wise I wouldn't know where to start. Is anyone on here knowledgeable about such things to know whether Kinnick could be converted to a 65,000 seat stadium with no bleachers? Or would it require a whole new stadium? I'm sure this is being discussed privately for long-term planning in the Athletic Department. GO HAWKS!!

Replacing bleachers with individual seats has happened in a number of stadiums already. The beauty of doing that in Kinnick and reducing capacity, is that it would then allow the south end zone to be fully enclosed and raise capacity back to around 70k. Essentially, you get more stadium without more capacity. That’s important for us, because 70k is a perfect capacity for Iowa. And it’s not likely that the BOR would approve of project at Kinnick that raised capacity well beyond 70k.
 
We are selling out our bleacher seats. Why would we do this?

Yeah, I don't see it either. I don't go every game, but I do get to Kinnick once per year and I have to say that I don't see the issues many other fans do.

All of that said, if anything, just put seatbacks on EVERY bleacher seat and don't charge anything for it.
 
Individual stadium seats throughout and enough leg room to reasonably get in and out of a row would be a great start to improving the game day experience. I highly doubt it will happen.
 
The law of unintended consequences stopped by to toss this out:

Stadium seats vs bleachers = more comfort, less likely to stand up, more docile fans.
Wider seating (spreading people out) also reduces the noise and intensity factor.

End result: a less intimidating Kinnick.
Signed,

Carver Hawkeye Arena. Carver Hawkeye never has had the energy that the old Field House did. Lute Olson knew it, and ran.
 
Carver Hawkeye never has had the energy that the old Field House did. Lute Olson knew it, and ran.

Lute ran because he didn't want to die in a plane crash while recruiting in a Midwest winter like his assistant almost did. And Lute traveled the country to view other arenas before Carver was built. But Roy Carver, who gave most of the money, had the final say on the design, and he wanted it built for Dan Gable's over-sized wrestling mats. To say Carver has proven to be a bust is an understatement, but that has nothing to do with putting individual seats into Kinnick.

Carver, unlike Kinnick, is a mile from the playing surface and slopes even further back. It is the opposite of Kinnick.

Wrigley Field, like every MLB stadium, has individual seating everywhere except in the outfield, and no baseball crowd is noisier or spends more time on its feet than Cub fans at Wrigley.
 
Yeah, I don't see it either. I don't go every game, but I do get to Kinnick once per year and I have to say that I don't see the issues many other fans do.

All of that said, if anything, just put seatbacks on EVERY bleacher seat and don't charge anything for it.

Ahhhh easy.. backseats do not always solve space issues. A chair would. I'm always barely sitting on the edge of my end row seat. Time to get with today's needs.
 
Lute ran because he didn't want to die in a plane crash while recruiting in a Midwest winter like his assistant almost did..

Lute left because Bobbi was tired of cold weather. Period.


Wrigley Field, like every MLB stadium, has individual seating everywhere except in the outfield, and no baseball crowd is noisier or spends more time on its feet than Cub fans at Wrigley.

There are exceptions to every rule. To say Wrigley Field is a unique place is a huge understatement. Perhaps the same would be true of Kinnick.
 
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The East / West stands are too step and there is not enough space to put in seating. There's really not enough room for the seat backs they install.

To do this, they'd have to totally do both E/W stands. It is not happening.
 
Long over due to get rid of the bleachers. I realize it is costly, but the current seating does not allow for a comfortable "fit" for most fans.



Was in the TCs last weekend (I know - a weekend early) and got to see the gofers stadium for the first time. It is VERY NICE albeit small - definitely tailored to the fans of 2018. But it got me wondering - With the completion of the North end zone and the wonderful seats there, what would Kinnick have to be changed over to in order to scrap all of the bleachers. I know you could make the South end zone similar to the north (maybe even a tad more room to do more). There is certainly some wiggle room to recreate the west stands somehow. The east stands, architecturally and space wise I wouldn't know where to start. Is anyone on here knowledgeable about such things to know whether Kinnick could be converted to a 65,000 seat stadium with no bleachers? Or would it require a whole new stadium? I'm sure this is being discussed privately for long-term planning in the Athletic Department. GO HAWKS!!
 
Could do what Minnesota did (gross, I know). Put seats inside the 20 yard lines and bleachers everywhere else. The first order of business should be redoing the South end zone though.

I wonder what the capacity would be if they did this.
 
I believe there are issues with row depth that makes seats impractical and impossible. Memory is foggy, but from a study during Bump or early Bowlsby days
 
Individual stadium seats throughout and enough leg room to reasonably get in and out of a row would be a great start to improving the game day experience. I highly doubt it will happen.
Rows would have to be removed to get the same leg room the new seats where the students sit in the endzone. My knees don't go into someone's back like they do elsewhere.
 
This is a continuation of the thread about how obese people need more room at Kinnick. I understand that obesity isn't always related to lifestyle choices, but I also think it's ridiculous that we now need a second thread on this subject. Time to move on people.

The vast majority of people do not want to see Kinnick converted to individual stadium seats. Make friends with your fellow iowans, get loud, and stand shoulder to shoulder. If you want to be comfortable stay at home.
 
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The stadium is close to perfect now. There needs to be a limit on how much is spent making a near perfect stadium perfect.
 
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Lute left because Bobbi was tired of cold weather. Period.


Wrigley Field, like every MLB stadium, has individual seating everywhere except in the outfield, and no baseball crowd is noisier or spends more time on its feet than Cub fans at Wrigley.

There are exceptions to every rule. To say Wrigley Field is a unique place is a huge understatement. Perhaps the same would be true of Kinnick.
Lute also grew tired and impatient with the fish bowl lifestyle that IC is for a high profile coach.
 
With enough money, anything is possible. However, You would basically have to demolish the stands as I don't think there is enough width in the rows to add seats. You'd end up with your knees in the back of somebody's head (and somebody else's knees in yours).
 
Lute also grew tired and impatient with the fish bowl lifestyle that IC is for a high profile coach.

to some degree...and that was the popular print excuse. But make no mistake...Mama was tired of the cold and she laid down the law...that comes from a guy I know who was in the locker room Lute's last couple of years.
 
I believe there are issues with row depth that makes seats impractical and impossible. Memory is foggy, but from a study during Bump or early Bowlsby days

This. Concrete steps. They can’t just expand.
 
If you really want stadium style seating Iowa has it. Pay the man his money to get it and stop whining.
 
Lute ran because he didn't want to die in a plane crash while recruiting in a Midwest winter like his assistant almost did. And Lute traveled the country to view other arenas before Carver was built. But Roy Carver, who gave most of the money, had the final say on the design, and he wanted it built for Dan Gable's over-sized wrestling mats. To say Carver has proven to be a bust is an understatement, but that has nothing to do with putting individual seats into Kinnick.

Carver, unlike Kinnick, is a mile from the playing surface and slopes even further back. It is the opposite of Kinnick.

Wrigley Field, like every MLB stadium, has individual seating everywhere except in the outfield, and no baseball crowd is noisier or spends more time on its feet than Cub fans at Wrigley.

The thing is an eye sore from the outside. Looks like a rusty hunk of sh@t.
 
The thing is an eye sore from the outside. Looks like a rusty hunk of sh@t.

harsh, but somewhat true. With all the East bank development, makes you wonder "what if" they built a new Kohl-style arena there. Would make it a great concert venue, host tournaments and regionals for high school...even an NCAA 1st round site.
 
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