Iowa Tailgating: Magic Bus Heading to Hawkeye's Opener at Soldier Field

The University of Iowa Hawkeye football team will have a little magic accompanying them at their first game of the season in Chicago this Saturday.

The Magic Bus is a longtime tailgating tradition that came under fire as the city and university attempted to rein in the partying atmosphere that surrounds Iowa City gamedays.

Exiled from the gameday area due to city rules, the Magic Bus will host events on Friday nights at the Backpocket Brewery in Coralville. But on Saturday, the bus will be relocated even further, being transported by flatbed truck to a tailgating spot outside of Soldier Field in Chicago as the Hawkeyes take on the Northern Illinois Huskies.

Jeremy Freerks, one of the organizers behind the Magic Bus, said it's obvious why going by truck is the correct choice.

"The old girl starts pretty well, but she doesn't like to stop very good," Freerks said. "She also only goes 40 miles per hour."

Freerks is enlisting a longtime fan of the bus to remove the top railings temporarily so it can fit under bridges on the way to the game. The hauling is also being done by an independent trucker who is just charging the group gas money to take it there.

Freerks said he wanted to do it in Chicago when Iowa played their five years ago, but things weren't able to work out. He said reaching out to the fans of the bus is what has made it possible.

"It will be great to actually use it to tailgate for a game," he said. "They won't let us do it in Iowa City, so let's do it in Chicago."

He said the bus will likely remain at venues around the area such as the brewery and the American Legion in North Liberty until Iowa City becomes "a little more tailgate friendly."

If you want to seek out the bus, check it out at Merkle’s Bar and Grill at 3516 N. Clark St. in Wrigleyvile. Freerks said like other Magic Bus events, proceeds from Saturday will be donated to area charities.