Melrose Avenue bustling market on gameday

On gameday, Melrose Avenue across from Kinnick Stadium is a smorgasbord of vendors, and business is good with Hawkeye fans.

'It's just what Iowa fans do,' said 20year season ticketholder J.D.

Debner, 57, of Keosauqua. 'I know fans with Hawkeye Christmas trees and Hawkeye rooms in their houses.

This is what Hawkeyes do.

They buy, buy, buy.' In Amanda Freese's experience, they give, give, give as well. Freese, 36, of Cedar Rapids, raised $1,400 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program before three Hawkeye games this season.

The gameday 'street market' is a mix of vendors, from street stands selling food and Hawkeye gear to non-profits hawking a message, like the Avoid the Stork campaign, or taking donations for charity, like Freese.

'The first few weekends were more lucrative. The last game I did was homecoming. ... People were starting to feel tapped out,' she said. 'There are a lot of organizations down there, not just us.' Neither Iowa City nor University Heights requires permits for any of them, so long as no alcohol is being sold. There are rules about where vendors can be located and requirements that stands have a private property owner's permission to be there.

University of Iowa-affiliated groups like Dance Marathon are allowed to come and go on campus property as they please.

Because they're not selling anything, organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society are permitted to solicit donations as long as they stay on public property. That means no UI parking lots.

'They are very nice about telling you,' Freese said. 'We're obviously there for a good cause.' Fans are generally easygoing about being approached, too.

'It's definitely something you have to be extroverted for, and having a little bit of a thick skin helps,' Freese said. 'I haven't had any real negative experience. I've been overwhelmed by the generosity. I can't tell you how many $20 bills go into my bucket.' The fact that she's giving away black and gold beads doesn't hurt, either. The necklaces are a thank-you token for donations.

The desire for anything black and gold makes gamedays worthwhile for all the vendors.

'People just keep on coming back,' said Tom Fennell, 62, of Iowa City, who has co-owned Iowa Game Merchandise's stand in University Heights, just outside the police station, for 25 years. 'It's part of the tailgating experience, coming back with a hat, sweat shirt or T-shirt.'

By Katie Stinson, The Gazette