Coralville RAGBRAI stop will be tailgate themed

CORALVILLE -- As participants roll in to Coralville for its Friday night RAGBRAI stop, the scene may resemble that of the area around Kinnick Stadium on a Hawkeye gameday.

The Coralville RAGBRAI Committee announced it will hold a tailgate theme for this year's July 29 overnight stop. Riders will be encouraged to display their favorite sports team jersey as they leave Grinnell and enter what they are calling "Coralville U" at S.T. Morrision Park in Coralville.

Laurie Haman, publicity chairwoman of Coralville RAGBRAI, or Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, said several committee members have participated in RAGBRAI themselves and noted several people wear jerseys of their favorite teams throughout the event every year. The idea for the Coralville stop is for people to sport their team's gear all on the same day.

"We're hoping it will catch on and going forward there may be a time RAGBRAI makes Friday an official team jersey day," Haman said. "Hopefully by the riders reading our website, Facebook and Twitter, word will get out that is the day we want them to sport their jerseys."

The committee also launched its website, www.coralvilleragbrai.com, which contains the main source of  information for anyone interested in the Coralville overnight stop.

A logo for the Coralville stop shows a grill with black, yellow and white flames surrounding a bicyclist. The Roman numerals XXXIX, representing RAGBRAI's 39th year, are displayed in the grill stand. The slogan, “Coralville U: Tailgate Tested, Tailgate Approved,” is written on the body of the grill.

Haman said they received over 20 theme and logo combination and after a vote, the committee rested on the tailgate theme. Haman added the group wanted to find a theme that was both fun and family oriented.

"We just wanted to make sure it stayed community and family friendly," she said. "Naturally we didn't want it to be all about just partying. We wanted it to be more about the food and excitement of your favorite teams."