Olive Court should remain a student tailgating stronghold
DI Editorial Board
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
Olive Court, one of the most popular spots to grill and tailgate before Iowa football games, may soon be bought up by Iowa City businessman Doug Moore. After his purchase, which is estimated at $2 million, Moore plans on using the famed 10 acres in a markedly different way from what the lot has experienced in the past. By securing the land, Moore wants to bring back a more family-oriented atmosphere that some believe has disappeared from the prime tailgating location in recent years. This Editorial Board is a bit wary of the newly proposed organization of Olive Court. While the land would still be used for pregame festivities, the purchase highlights a shift in Hawkeye tailgating tradition, with students pushed to the outskirts.
In its current state, Olive Court has the potential to accommodate approximately 750 vehicles. Under Moore's proposed plan, the lot would be reduced to 250 spots that would function in much the same capacity as they always have, with 50 larger areas available for purchase by small business and other groups. These 50 spots would be covered by 10-year leases costing $20,000.
Olive Court has been an Iowa tailgating stronghold since 1944, and it's no secret that the Neuzil family has been trying to sell it. With the only serious suitors being those who wish to see the land converted to condo use, Moore should be applauded in some capacity for keeping the area a tailgating spot. Let's just hope his good faith doesn't turn the area into a dead zone, where business associates sip champagne and the average fan is out of place. Tailgating is for the masses, and Olive Court should continue to operate in a manner that facilitates this - though perhaps with a cleaner image.
Much of the concern about the UI and tailgating reputation has always centered on the students and their behavior. However, for all the complaining about student conduct on game day, the city and university continue simply to find ways of limiting space rather than enforcing the rules in place at areas in which students tailgate. In the last four years, tailgaters have lost the famed open Field House parking lot, a free Olive Court, and "The Hill" at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Myrtle Avenue. This is a college town, and students are the backbone of the pregame experience. Taking away all the spots students wish to frequent during game day has not, and never will, solve all the problems that tailgating may pose to the city. Rather, it simply moves it somewhere else, to annoy someone else.
Tailgating is something every Hawkeye fan should have the opportunity to enjoy and experience. As a state without a professional sports team, Iowa football is as close as we may ever get. This Editorial Board and Iowans alike can hope that Moore's future ownership of Olive Court will lead to the strengthening of our tailgating tradition, not its further erosion.
In its current state, Olive Court has the potential to accommodate approximately 750 vehicles. Under Moore's proposed plan, the lot would be reduced to 250 spots that would function in much the same capacity as they always have, with 50 larger areas available for purchase by small business and other groups. These 50 spots would be covered by 10-year leases costing $20,000.
Olive Court has been an Iowa tailgating stronghold since 1944, and it's no secret that the Neuzil family has been trying to sell it. With the only serious suitors being those who wish to see the land converted to condo use, Moore should be applauded in some capacity for keeping the area a tailgating spot. Let's just hope his good faith doesn't turn the area into a dead zone, where business associates sip champagne and the average fan is out of place. Tailgating is for the masses, and Olive Court should continue to operate in a manner that facilitates this - though perhaps with a cleaner image.
Much of the concern about the UI and tailgating reputation has always centered on the students and their behavior. However, for all the complaining about student conduct on game day, the city and university continue simply to find ways of limiting space rather than enforcing the rules in place at areas in which students tailgate. In the last four years, tailgaters have lost the famed open Field House parking lot, a free Olive Court, and "The Hill" at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Myrtle Avenue. This is a college town, and students are the backbone of the pregame experience. Taking away all the spots students wish to frequent during game day has not, and never will, solve all the problems that tailgating may pose to the city. Rather, it simply moves it somewhere else, to annoy someone else.
Tailgating is something every Hawkeye fan should have the opportunity to enjoy and experience. As a state without a professional sports team, Iowa football is as close as we may ever get. This Editorial Board and Iowans alike can hope that Moore's future ownership of Olive Court will lead to the strengthening of our tailgating tradition, not its further erosion.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 11
Ed
posted 4/24/07 @ 9:05 AM CST
"Rather, it simply moves it somewhere else, to annoy someone else."
And therein lies the problem. Why do some tailgaters, student and otherwise, feel like they need to be complete a-holes when tailgating? Urinating where they feel like it, leaving behind piles of trash, having no respect for their neighbors, and generally just being jerks. (Continued…)
Steve Groenewold
posted 4/24/07 @ 9:30 AM CST
We can be thankful someone like Doug Moore is purchasing the place. The only people who should be concerned about a return to a "family-oriented atmosphere" are those who consider the neighborhood - either barging inside strangers' houses or spraying their hedges - to be nothing more than their own personal toilet. (Continued…)
Mikey
posted 4/24/07 @ 9:37 AM CST
"The issue is not whether we had a toga party and took a few liberties with our female party guests... we did."
Animal House, or not-- that's NOT the issue. (Continued…)
Lesa Frantz
posted 4/24/07 @ 11:26 AM CST
If you watch the police blotters you will see that an avg of 98% of the charges -which often take up columns of space - are filled with drunk driving charges, public intox, and PAULA violations. (Continued…)
Wake
posted 4/26/07 @ 10:06 PM CST
Wow, I don't even know you and I hate you... It's a college town, college kids are gonna act like they do in every other college town. Brady's right, plenty of other places for fun-haters to live. (Continued…)
ssears
sandy
posted 4/28/07 @ 2:43 PM CST
i have several observations:
Brady- excellent job in pointing out logical errors in Ms. Frantz's argument.
i take serious offense to the generalization that anyone matching the description of "student" and "consumes alcohol" is a "drunk. (Continued…)
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