Iowa City Today

The University of Iowa Athletics Department has announced it will host “Hawkeye Hoops from Downtown presented by HyVee” on Friday, October 17. The event will take place at the outdoor basketball court behind Burge Residence Hall and is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Central Time.

This hour-long gathering offers fans their first opportunity to see the 2025-26 Hawkeye men’s and women’s basketball teams ahead of the upcoming season. The event serves as an unofficial kickoff for both programs.

First-year men’s coach Ben McCollum commented on the collaboration with the women’s team, stating, “I am looking forward to joining forces with our women’s team in the ‘Hawkeye Hoops from Downtown’ event. This will be a great opportunity to build excitement for our programs and for our players to interact with the Hawks Nest, students and our community. It should be a great on-campus event.”

Second-year women’s coach Jan Jensen also expressed enthusiasm about engaging with supporters: “We’re so excited to see our fans at the Hawkeye Hoops from Downtown event with our men’s basketball team. The best fanbase in the country will get a chance to see our new players and teams for the very first time. We look forward to seeing everyone on Oct. 17.”

Attendees can expect player introductions, contests involving fans and players, prizes, and music throughout the evening.

Admission is free for all attendees. Parking is available in downtown Iowa City parking ramps; there is no charge for parking during the first hour, while each additional hour costs $2.