Iowa venues — what you can bring in
Packaroni tracks 39 verified policies across 2 venues in Iowa — Iowa City, Ames. Every entry below links back to the venue's own published rule and carries the date it was last checked.
What the rules look like in Iowa
The patterns that hold across stadium & arena venues here — the kind of comparison no single venue's website will give you.
- All 2 restrict bags in some way — expect a size limit, a clear-bag rule, or both.
- All 2 allow your own water, but with conditions — typically sealed, plastic, and under a set size.
- Outside food: 1 of the 2 bans it outright and 1 allows it with limits.
- Coolers are prohibited at all 2.
- None of the 2 permit you to bring your own alcohol.
- Strollers and wagons are turned away at all 2.
- 1 of the 2 charges a fee for at least one item — usually bag storage or a locker — so bringing something you can't carry in may still cost you.
Iowa venues at a glance
| Venue | Bags & Backpacks | Water Bottles | Outside Food | Coolers | Strollers & Wagons | Re-Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinnick StadiumIowa City | Conditional | Conditional | Conditional | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice StadiumAmes | Conditional | Conditional | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Conditional |
“—” means that item hasn't been researched for that venue yet. It does not mean it's unrestricted.
Item by item across Iowa
Each venue's actual wording, grouped by what you're trying to bring.
Bags & Backpacks
Only clear plastic/vinyl/PVC bags up to 12" x 6" x 12", or small clutch bags up to 4.5" x 6.5", are allowed; backpacks, purses, handbags, and cinch bags are banned.
Max size: 12" x 6" x 12" (clear bags); 4.5" x 6.5" (clutch bags)
Clear bag policy for all ticketed events: clear plastic/vinyl/PVC totes up to 12" x 6" x 12" (logo up to 4.5" x 3.4"), one-gallon clear freezer/Ziploc-style bags, or a small clutch bag up to 6" x 9".
Max size: 12" x 6" x 12" clear tote (logo up to 4.5" x 3.4"), or 1-gallon clear freezer bag, or 6" x 9" clutch
Water Bottles
One factory-sealed water bottle or one empty refillable bottle is allowed, up to one gallon in size.
Max size: up to 1 gallon
One sealed plastic bottle of water up to 20oz is allowed, or an empty bottle to fill at stadium water stations; metal water bottles are prohibited.
Outside Food
Food may be brought in only inside a clear one-gallon plastic storage bag (Ziploc or similar).
Max size: 1-gallon clear plastic bag
Food and beverages are listed as a prohibited item on Iowa State's official gate policy.
Medical Supplies & Equipment
Medically necessary items are allowed but are subject to search and tagging at entry.
The bag policy explicitly exempts bags containing items required for medical, family, or child care needs.
Alcohol / BYOB
Outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted into the stadium; alcohol is sold inside at concession/beer garden areas instead.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted to be brought into the stadium; alcohol is sold inside instead, limited to 2 drinks per transaction with ID, sales end after the 3rd quarter, banned on the NW/NE grass hillsides, and students are limited to one drink in the student section.
Cannabis / Marijuana
Covered under the current Fan Code of Conduct's ban on illegal drug possession or use; Iowa has not legalized recreational marijuana and only permits a highly restrictive non-smokable medical cannabidiol program, so any cannabis product remains an illegal drug at this public university's stadium.
Coolers
Coolers and kegs are prohibited inside Kinnick Stadium.
Coolers or containers are listed as a prohibited item.
Strollers & Wagons
Strollers and car seats are explicitly listed as prohibited items.
Strollers are listed as a prohibited item.
Breast Pumps & Nursing Supplies
Breast pumps for nursing mothers are allowed, subject to search and tagging.
A dedicated lactation room is available on the east concourse, just north of section 24, near the Jack Trice Club.
Wheelchairs & ECVs
Wheelchairs and other mobility devices are accommodated, with accessible seating and ADA entrances provided.
Accessible seating (arranged in advance through the Athletics Ticket Office), accessible parking, courtesy carts, and elevators are documented in the official Jack Trice Accessibility Guide.
Cameras & Photo Gear
Standard cameras are allowed, but large-lens cameras (6 inches or more), tripods, and video cameras are prohibited.
Max size: lens under 6 inches
Cameras with a lens under 6 inches are permitted; video cameras are prohibited.
Max size: Camera lens: under 6 inches
Drones
Drones are prohibited per university policy and FAA regulations.
The airspace above the stadium is restricted on football gamedays; all aircraft operations, unmanned aircraft systems, and remote-controlled aircraft including drones are prohibited within three miles of the stadium without prior approval from ISU Risk Management.
Umbrellas
Umbrellas are listed as a prohibited item.
Umbrellas are listed as a prohibited item.
Noisemakers, Flags & Banners
Banners, signs, noisemakers, horns, bugles, and other disruptive devices are not allowed.
Signs and banners are not allowed inside the stadium, per the current Fan Code of Conduct's prohibited-items list.
Chairs & Blankets
Blankets and seat cushions without back support are allowed, but personal chairbacks are prohibited (rentals available for $15 on gameday).
Fee: $15 chairback rental
Chairbacks/stadium seats are prohibited, but seat cushions are allowed.
Weapons
Firearms, explosives, and other weapons are banned, including weapons carried under a permit.
Possession of a firearm or weapon is explicitly prohibited under the Fan Code of Conduct; Iowa's Board of Regents maintains a general no-firearms-on-campus rule across its universities, with Iowa Code §724.8C providing only a narrow carve-out for a locked, concealed weapon inside a personal vehicle, not campus-carry into buildings or stadiums.
Vapes & Smoking
Tobacco of any kind, including e-cigarettes/vapes, is prohibited inside the stadium.
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited under the current Fan Code of Conduct, consistent with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act cited on Iowa State's official gate policy.
Pets & Service Animals
Non-service animals are not permitted; service animals are allowed at all games and events.
Pets are prohibited with the exception of service animals used by disabled guests.
Re-Entry
Fans are not permitted to exit and re-enter Kinnick Stadium, including exits from Krause Family Plaza and premium areas.
Re-entry is not permitted at Jack Trice Stadium; FastPass wristbands are honored for entry only through the end of the first quarter. (This supersedes an older official page that had described limited pre-kickoff/pre-4th-quarter re-entry through specific gates.)
Other
Footballs are explicitly prohibited, and staff may deny any item deemed dangerous or disruptive to the fan experience at their discretion; a complimentary bag drop-off is available at the Indoor Track Facility for items not allowed inside.
Jack Trice Stadium accepts cashless payment only — the ticket office, concessions, parking, and merchandise all take credit/debit cards; cash and checks are not accepted.
All 2 venues in Iowa
Policies in Iowa change without notice, and gate staff have discretion on the day. Follow the source link on a venue's page and confirm anything you can't afford to be wrong about. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.