Ah, the sun-dappled kaleidoscope of leaves. The crisp, cool air highlighted by wood-spiced bonfires. The roar of the bundled-up crowds during that seasonal punting of the pigskin.
It’s fall sports season in Cedar Rapids, and that means a plethora of great games to hit up, both by football fans and soccer specialists. Those who follow the pros are already snapping up tickets to see our own Cedar Rapids Rampage soccer club, while high-level hockey aficionados follow the Cedar Rapids Roughriders Hockey Club. Others prefer the energy output at Kinnick Stadium, where the University of Iowa Hawkeyes regularly show their stuff, or gridiron action via the Coe College Kohawks, which plays in the Iowa Conference and boasted a 4-0 overall record at press time.
Perhaps your heart is more with the nostalgia of good old high school football, in which case you’re always welcome to catch a game from any one of the teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference — most a mere 30 minutes away or fewer from Cedar Rapids proper.
A quick rundown of what the Rampage and Roughriders have to offer:
- As part of the Major Arena Soccer League, the Rampage opens its second season Friday, Oct. 7 by hosting the St Louis Ambush at 7:05 pm at U.S Cellular Center, with special events that include a costume contest with cash prizes, a halftime costume parade and trick-or-treating for kids. This year’s 22-game season continues with a series of Central Division battles against the Milwaukee Wave, Kansas City Comets and Chicago Mustangs; a face-off against Eastern Division teams including the Harrisburg Heat, Syracuse Silver Knights and Baltimore Blast; and a non-conference away game against the Tacoma Stars. Tickets went on sale Sept. 26; indoor season tickets run $80 to $350, while single tickets cost $9 to $40.
- Representing the highest level of professional indoor soccer in the world, The MASL was formed in 2014 by teams from the Professional Arena Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. Games are held coast-to-coast throughout the U.S. and Mexico, and players are 18 and older. After winning the Anderson Cup in April for most regular-season standings points in the U.S. Hockey League, the Roughriders open their 60-game season against Dubuque Oct. 1. Team players are all 20 or older to qualify for the U.S.H.L., the only Tier I junior league in America. They come from all over the U.S., Canada and Europe, and many go on to play at the college or professional level. “We’ve got a lot of new, exciting players, that’s for sure — probably the highest number of new players we’ve ever had,” Coach/General Manager Mark Carlson recently told the Cedar Rapids Gazette. ” Single-game tickets run $12.75 to $22.75, while season tickets run $315 to $556.
Looking for a home central to many of Iowa’s best spectator sports? Talk to a Coldwell Banker Hedges Realtor® today for information about living where you can access the best the state has to offer.
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