No 'Magic Bus' Tailgate This Weekend

Revelers fill the Magic Bus tailgate area before the Iowa homecoming game against Michigan at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, in Iowa City. (Liz Martin)

Tools

By Richard Pratt

Story Created: Sep 3, 2010 at 5:07 AM CST

Story Updated: Sep 3, 2010 at 6:52 AM CST

IOWA CITY -- The renowned "Magic Bus" tailgate will not be held this weekend, after organizers failed in their efforts to find an alternate location near Kinnick Stadium.

The Magic Bus, operated by the Iowa City Ducks Rugby Club, had hosted a tailgate party at 817 Melrose Ave., near Kinnick, for many years, but Outside Properties bought the property in 2009 for $500,000, then could not reach a rental agreement with Magic Bus organizers.

The new property owners proposed a new tailgating venture called Stadium Club, which they said would be more polished and would bring a more professional crowd. But in early August, they were denied a temporary-use permit and liquor license for violating a zoning code after paving the entire back yard and adding fencing to the property.

Here's a copy of the announcement made this morning by Magic Bus representative Jeremy Freerks on Facebook:

"Hey Hawk fans, Magic Bus loyalist, and live music supporters it is with great regret I must inform you this weekend for the first time in great many years the Magic Bus will not host the greatest tailgater in the country. We, at this point have exhausted all our options for finding a home near Kinnick Stadium. The Iowa City rugby team has decided through their board of directors that anything short of securing a home close to our former home wasn’t a viable option. I will be giving full details of what our plans are and what we had explored and are still exploring. Tune in to KCJJ 1630am in Iowa City or via the internet at www.1630kcjj.com/ where you can download an application to listen live on your phone or on your computer. For those of you who can’t tune in I will give the rest of the details later today through our facebook site. Anyone wishing to ask questions may dial the request line at KCJJ 319 358 1630 tomorrow somewhere around the 7:00 to 8:00 time frame. So I hope you can join us for our interview tomorrow with our good friends over at the mighty 1630. Hell stop by for a cocktail Capt. Steve would love that. Again thanks for the support this year all the years the Iowa City Rugby team has operated the Magic Bus as non-profit fundraiser. GO HAWKS!!!"

Next Article Final Open House Before CRCSD Recommendations

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.

read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.