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IOWA CITY, Iowa – – The University of Iowa football team will hold an open practice at Valley Stadium, West Des Moines, on Friday, April 7, with a youth clinic scheduled to follow the practice session. The Hawkeyes are staging the event at Valley Stadium for the fifth straight spring.
The open practice in West Des Moines will begin at 6:15 p.m. at Valley Stadium, and a kids’ autograph session will follow. West and Southeast gates will open at 5:00 p.m. No tickets are required for the event, which is free to the public.
Roster cards, posters, schedule cards, and 2017 ticket information will be available at all open gates. Fans will not be allowed to bring autograph items into the stadium; only items issued by UI staff at the event will be autographed.
A 35-minute youth clinic will take place following the practice. The clinic is open for the first 300 children (ages 7-12), with all participants receiving a free t-shirt. Release of Liability forms will be distributed at the entrance gates. Forms must be completed and signed by the youth’s parent/guardian and presented to UI staff at the NW Field Gate. Parents/guardians will not be permitted on the field during the youth clinic.
“This has proven to be a popular event with our fans and our players, and we are pleased to once again have the event as part of our spring schedule,” said head coach Kirk Ferentz. “This event has been well received in West Des Moines and central and western Iowa. The clinic with our coaches and players was well-received a year ago, and we look forward to the clinic this year as well.
“The assistance and cooperation we receive from everyone involved from the West Des Moines Community School District and Valley High School makes this a successful event,” said Ferentz. “They have proven to be more than willing to work with our program in the planning, organization and hosting of this event, and we could not be more appreciative.”
Concession stands within the stadium will be open and the Hawkeye Fan Shop will be open outside the west entrance. No outside food or drink will be allowed in Valley Stadium. Other prohibited items include strollers and umbrellas. Bags may also be subject to search upon entry to Valley Stadium.
No tailgating, including open flame grills, is allowed on West Des Moines Community School District, city of West Des Moines, or Valley Church property; including before and after the practice. Alcohol is never allowed on the city of West Des Moines or West Des Moines Community Schools property. All WDMCS property, including Valley Stadium, is tobacco-free.
Iowa begins spring drills on Wednesday, March 22. The Hawkeyes will host a spring game in Kinnick Stadium on Friday, April 21 (TBA) to conclude spring practice.
Iowa opens the 2017 football season Sept. 2, hosting Wyoming. The Hawkeyes travel to Ames for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game with Iowa State on Sept. 9 and conclude nonconference play at home against North Texas on Sept. 16. The Hawkeyes will host five Big Ten Conference home games, beginning Sept. 23 with defending champion Penn State. Additional conference home opponents include Illinois (Oct. 7, Homecoming), Minnesota (Oct. 28), Ohio State (Nov. 4) and Purdue (Nov. 18). Iowa travels to Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
Questions concerning the purchase of 2017 football tickets, including general public, UI faculty/staff and UI student seasons tickets by current UI students, should be directed to the UI Athletics Ticket Office. The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office telephone number is 1-800-IA-HAWKS. Information is also available at hawkeyesports.com/tickets. The deadline for season ticket renewals is Friday, March 31.
