Illinois State football fans wanting to head to Iowa City, Iowa, to catch the Redbirds’ season opener September 5 against the Iowa Hawkeyes have several options to help them best enjoy their experience in Big Ten country.

Tickets are on sale now for Weisbecker Scholarship Fund donors and Redbird football season ticket holders by calling the Redbird Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000 or by logging into their online account at GoRedbirds.com. Tickets are now available and on sale for $55.

For those wishing to stay overnight, a fan block has been secured at the Hampton Inn Iowa City/Coralville for $169 per night (rate includes parking, hot breakfast and free wireless internet).  To book a room, call the hotel directly at (319) 351-6600 and ask for the “Illinois State University Redbirds” block or book online.

Illinois State Athletics and Alumni Relations will host a Redbird Rally Tailgate, located at the Hawkeye Village Tailgate, on game day for Redbird fans to gather and connect before the big game. The event will begin two-and-a-half hours prior to kickoff, will be free to attend and a cash bar will be available, with additional food and beverage for purchase. More details will be released about the Redbird Rally Tailgate at a later date once the game time has been announced.

In preparation for the big opener, Illinois State will hold its annual Red/White scrimmage during Redbird Fan Fair on August 15, in Hancock Stadium starting at 4 p.m. Fans are encouraged to come out to Redbird Plaza before the scrimmage to participate in fun and games starting at 2 p.m.