Iowa State University: Jack Trice Stadium North End

The Tunnel Experience

Tapping into our tenured experience in collegiate sports facility design, DI got to work on the home-team tunnel with a cardinal and yellow-tinted vision. Our goal was to take the existing space and create an energy-filled, heart-racing environment designed to hype the Cyclones as they storm through the tunnel on game day. 

Inside the tunnel, massive face-lit letters line the ceiling, spelling “CYCLONES” from entry to exit, with bright hues of red illuminating the concrete walls. In addition to the tunnel’s interior, DI designed, built and installed branded ISU football signage upon the tunnel’s entry, accompanied by the Jack Trice logo patch, symbolizing solidarity against racism and discrimination.

Near the exit, oversized aluminum “WE WILL” letters occupy the wall, commemorating Trice’s famed letter he wrote the night before his untimely passing. Built with a thick powder coating, the symbolic letters are meant to withstand all hand slapping and helmet banging. DI added strobe lights to mark the tunnel’s exit and surrounding corridor to complement the stadium’s “Weather Alert” as the Cyclones rush the field.

All-American Wall

Working from existing architecture, DI elevated a second stadium experience designed to honor every ISU All-American athlete and recognize two influential donors. Located outside of the renovated North End entry, the new-and-improved All-America Honor Walls serve as a comprehensive tribute to ISU greats, now with a classic, refined look.

With a polished gold finish, the two paneled walls are etched with a running list of honored athletes, their sport and induction year, accompanied by three possible icons – a tree representing All-American Grove status, a Cyclones logo for ISU Athletic Hall of Fame Members, and an NCAA logo patch to distinguish National Champions. 

DI designed the updated All-America Honor Walls not only to be a sleek and comprehensive experience but also as an evergreen tribute, allowing the university to add newly awarded ISU All-American athletes as time goes on.

Stark PerformaNce Center Photo Op  

What’s a 21st-century stadium without an exciting photo op for student-athletes, recruits and special visitors? ISU stakeholders were looking to add an interactive element inside the repurposed space but were uncertain of what that might be. ISU turned to DI to brainstorm this one-of-a-kind, wow moment to life. 

Three massive ISU football helmets built by Tivoli Too line the cardinal red wall, offering a larger-than-life photo op Cyclone fans will cherish forever (and share on their social media). Sitting over seven feet off the ground, DI meticulously designed these supersize helmets to look like the real deal – all the way down to their glossy, ISU-branded shells and tinted visors. 

As collegiate athletic programs compete on and off the field, creating a memorable stadium experience is paramount – for the team, the fans, and the university. Through distinguished experience design, branded storytelling and a whole lot of Cyclone spirit, DI was honored to help create an unforgettable gameday experience throughout the legendary Jack Trice Stadium.

Learn more about Athlete Facilities, Donor Recognition, Brand Storytelling, Large-Scale Graphics, and Social Media Experience.