Magic Bus still homeless
The Magic Bus is still homeless.
Jeremy Freerks, the manager of the Magic Bus, said he hoped he would have good news for fans on Thursday. That announcement didn't happen.
Negotiations had been occurring regarding the tailgate's longtime home at 817 Melrose Ave., but those came to a standstill.
"As to nailing something down for Saturday, that doesn't look feasible," Freerks said.
However, the Iowa City Ducks Rugby Club, which organizes the bus, is still looking and hasn't run out of options. Team members were working Thursday night, and "friends of the bus" were reaching out to different people.
"We're the kings of winging it," Freerks said. "We've been winging it for 15 years."
Freerks stressed that the team still has one more day. He would not release the possible locations for this weekend's event but did confirm the tailgate would not be held at 817 Melrose Ave.
Doug Boothroy, the director of Housing and Inspection Services, said he would be informed of any change.
"The only thing I know is that they don't have a new location," he said. "It's getting pretty late for this weekend."
But the rugby team will tailgate this weekend, Freerks said, even if it has to rent a space.
A statement on the Bus's fan page — "dedicated to all the fans and bands that have ever walked on the sacred ground south of Kinnick Stadium that was 817 Melrose Ave." — said briefly the Magic Bus found a new home for seven games this year, but that was an overlooked mistake, according to Freerks. Its current location is marked as "homeless."
Iowa City City Counselor Connie Champion said she's heard little public comment on the issue.
"People generally always have something to say about everything," she said. "It just hasn't happened."
The Magic Bus lost its traditional location on Melrose Avenue when the Barkalow Associates Realtors purchased the property in August 2009. The rugby club applied for temporary permits for the 100 block of Woodside Drive and the traditional Melrose location — both were denied.
Boothroy said the team had moved on to search for other options, but Magic Bus organizers are still looking for a spot near Kinnick.
"It feels like it wouldn't be the Magic Bus without putting it up toward the stadium," Freerks said.
The club will know soon if there will be a spot for the Magic Bus.
If not, it could still make an appearance, just not serving its normal purpose.
Until things are decided, Freerks said, the bus sits in a parking lot by the Eagles Club — waiting for orders.
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