Tailgating at the Iowa State, UNI Game?

Iowa State Cyclones season opener against University of Northern Iowa is sure to draw thousands to the field and surrounding parking lots this Labor Day Weekend.

More than 57,000 people are expected to show for Saturday's 7 p.m. game. All 56,800 seats have sold out.

While the Jack Trice Stadium will open 90 minutes before kickoff, people are encouraged to come much earlier. General public parking lots open for tailgating at 1 p.m., six hours before kickoff.

Most tailgaters know how to entertain themselves, but the university and the Iowa State University Foundation expect to offer some family fun.

The Cyclone Experience north of lot S-8 is where attendees will find a family friendly zone with inflatable attractions, Cy concessions and more. The fun begins three hours before kick off (4 p.m.) and lasts until 6:30 p.m. During that same time anyone can also participate in a pre-game event at the the ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach St. in lots A2/A3. Admission is free and includes children's activities, a prize wheel, trivia contests and more. These tailgating events are held before each home game. A complete schedule is available at ISUAlum.org.

Open container and public consumption laws apply on Ames streets and in public areas, but people are free to consume alcoholic beverages in the stadium lots before the game.

People can drink beer and wine, but not vodka. Hard liquor is not allowed.

And public intoxication is still illegal in the parking lot.

No alcoholic beverages may be consumed or purchased inside Jack Trice Stadium.

People are not allowed to spend the night, but they can leave their cars behind if they feel like they shouldn't be driving.

When it comes to tailgating people are allowed one parking spot per vehicle. No one can hold a parking space, but parking officials might make an exception if that other person is just a few cars back in line.

Once parked, tailgaters are not allowed to stand on top of cars or buses, use real furniture, make a wood fire or bring kegs or glass bottles.

More rules can be found here.

Ames residents who would like to avoid the crowd and traffic altogether should avoid the roads around the stadium from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 to Midnight, when the heaviest flow of traffic is expected.

People who need to leave town and want to avoid slow-moving traffic could take 13th Street to Interstate 35 and Dakota Avenue to Iowa Highway 30.