I recently watched the Iowa Energy take on the Rio Grande Vipers at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines. After a brutal day of shoveling and chiseling snow, I figured I was going to be the only one there. Instead, nearly 5,000 people showed up on a night when every sane person in Des Moines was huddled under a pile of blankets.
An hour before the game, parking was already scarce as fans piled in. And that was good, because I was there for the fans. I was there to find out how to fit in as an Energy fan. I found out that it’s pretty easy to do.
Dress the part: There was a lot of purple and orange around the Well. Iowa Energy shirts were a regular sight, too. Of course, the most loyal fans in the house wore their orange and/or purple wigs. I saw a couple at the beginning of the game, and before long I was spying them in every section. I chatted to a couple of the bewigged fans.
“So you come to every home game?” I asked.
“Nah – this is my first one of the season,” one fan replied.
If the team was able to convince people who were showing up for the first time in a year to wear a purple wig, just imagine what they could do to a fanatic. And in fact, I heard a couple of people tell stories about fans in face paint who heckled the visitors’ bench last year at every home game.
If supporting the Iowa Energy – that often leads the NBA Development League in win percentage – isn’t a good enough reason to don the colors, then keep this in mind – video of every D-League game is on the Web. I guarantee you that an Iowa Energy T-shirt will still look normal in ten years, while who knows whether your other outfits might be the 2018 equivalent of a Cosby sweater?
Come hungry: If you’re like me, stadium prices put you in the mood to heckle the visitors’ bench, too. But I have to admit that the Well offers something a cut above your general stadium fare. For the same price as a domestic beer at the arena you can get a Corona with lime, which is as classy as I generally get. The nachos were a surprise – beefy and spicy, with a lot more flavor than you’d expect.
Must love kids: The biggest fans were the kids, and it’s obvious that the Iowa Energy returns the love. The team holds regular camps and clinics for area children. Birthday boys and girls were given the star treatment at the beginning of the game, and these kids screamed up a storm courtside behind the basket, waving purple handkerchiefs to jinx the Vipers’ free throws and jumping with glee at every Energy field goal. At halftime, the kids from the Energy camp were let loose to play a quick game. Kids were running through the halls, playing games, and generally having a huge amount of fun. The Energy are a young team, but they are already making a determined effort to win the hearts and minds of Des Moines’ next generation – and they’re succeeding.
Be prepared to shout: The Energy keeps the music pumping throughout the game, so you’ll have to raise your voice if you want the ref to know what you’re thinking. And if you want to stand out as a real fan, take time to memorize the team chant. “EN-ER-GY! EN-ER-GY!” There! You’re ready to scream your head off. If the next game you plan to attend is anything like this one, you won’t have a problem getting excited enough to be heard across the Well. After a back-and-forth slugging match, the Energy took the lead with nine minutes left. Like an invisible switch had been thrown, the crowd shot to its feet. The Energy won in overtime, and the arena was full of hoarse but happy fans – including at least one new one.
