We have a special event planned for the September 19th home football game - Military & First Responders Night!
The I-35 Activities Department partnered with our local Iowa Army National Guard Recruiter, Mercy One, community members, the I-35 Booster Club, After Prom, and other groups to create this special event.
We encourage everyone to come out and take part in all of the events. Items noted with an asterisk involve loud or booming noises.
Game Details:
September 19, 2025
7:00 PM start
$7/admission, ages 3+
Free admission for current and former military & first responders. This is done on the honor system. Simply inform the gate workers and they will allow you in free of charge.
Youth flag and tackle football players also get in free so they can help hold the national anthem flag. They need to be wearing their jerseys / T-shirts.
Event Summary:
Below is a brief summary of the special items planned for the evening. There are additional details about these items in the Timeline section.
Pre-game tailgate dinner - Sloppy joes/cheesy potatoes/baked beans. Free Will Donation. Proceeds go towards After Prom festivities. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and is served through 7:00 PM.
Helicopter Game Ball Delivery - The Mercy One helicopter will deliver the game ball at approximately 6:40 p.m. (unless unavailable due to emergency needs).
Super-sized, on-field flag - Presented by I-35 youth flag & tackle football players who will be holding the flag during the national anthem. Youth players get in free with their football jersey or flag football T-shirt.
Brief fireworks* show following the National Anthem.
Half-time recognition of past or current military/first responders. Submit names online!
Additional Details and Timeline:
5:30 PM - Pregame Dinner Tailgate Begins! The dinner is FREE WILL DONATION and includes sloppy joes, cheesy potatoes, and baked beans. Proceeds go towards After Prom festivities, which help create a safe after prom environment for I-35 seniors. Dinner is served until 7:00 PM.
6:40 PM - Game ball delivered by the Mercy One helicopter. Time is approximate. Please note, in the event of an emergency requiring use of the helicopter, this will not occur.
6:30 PM - Youth flag and tackle football players should arrive at the stadium if they’d like to participate in presenting the super-sized national anthem flag. They’ll be given additional instructions on-site. This fun experience is available to all youth football players. There is no need to RSVP. The students will be holding a flag that stretches across the field, like what’s seen at professional football games. By wearing their jerseys or football T-shirts, all youth football players get in free to the game.
6:56 PM - The National Anthem plays, accompanied by a super sized, on-field flag display. This flag is held by the I-35 Youth Football Players. Additional details above.
6:57 PM - A brief fireworks display commences* A special thanks to community members for putting on the display!
7:00 PM - The game begins! Cheer on the Roadrunners!
Half-time - Former and Current First Responders and Members of the Military recognized. Submit names of our community’s heroes so we can honor them at half-time. You can submit more than one name. Simply resend the form with a different name each time. We've also included a field for pronunciation clarification if needed. (Ex: Stephen - Pronounced Stefan and not Steven). The people submitted do not have to currently reside in the I-35 Community. The names will be read over the loudspeaker and we'll encourage each person to stand (if they are in attendance) as their name is announced. Name submissions will close Thursday, 9/18/25, at 4:00 p.m.
Thank you to everyone who’s helping make this entire evening a reality. We hope to see you there! Go Roadrunners!!