Originally Posted by
Yote 53
I'm going to help out some of my Valley mates here. My brother went to school at Iowa and I tailgate down there about once or twice a year. Much has changed over time but I will try to help you out here. If you want the full tailgating experience you want to be as close to Melrose Ave as possible. People on Melrose will rent out their yards as tailgating lots, if you get there early enough you can get a spot. If you head west of the stadium on Melrose, right across the railroad tracks, past the Melrose Dental office, on the right hand side of the road there is a lot where you can pay to tailgate, it's probably around $30/care by now. Going further west on Melrose there is St. Andrew Church, huge parking lot that they rent out spots on games days. It is an 11 AM kick-off so I would plan on rolling into these spots by 6:30 AM, seriously, we usually roll in at 6AM.
I have also tailgated as far away as over by the softball fields across the street from the Wig & Pen. It's a ways away and you won't even see the stadium from there, but it may be a good spot to park, do some tailgating, then take a suitcase of beer and walk up the Finkbine trail towards the stadium and just wonder around tailgating. I've done that with a WalMart bag filled with beer and ice. Total redneck but you'll fit in just fine there.
I much, much prefer tailgating on Melrose, so that would be my first option. What you have to remember is that the stadium is in a residential neighborhood and there will be parties spread out in people's yards for a good mile or more in every direction from the stadium. If I were going back for the game Saturday I would try to get my old spot at the house located at 1124 Melrose (yes, that is the address), second option would be the church lot a block and a half west.