Make It a Hall of Fame Weekend

Arrive in Cedar Falls and settle in for a weekend of purple and gold.

Make your home base at the Country Inn and Suites near the University of Northern Iowa, putting you close to campus, College Hill and the UNI-Dome for Saturday afternoons game.

Drop your bags and head for College Hill to explore shops and eat dinner.

Grab a pizza at Chad's Pizza and soak up the vibe in a neighborhood generations of UNI students and alumni have called home. With campus just steps away, it's an easy place to start a weekend built around Panther football.

After dinner, take some time to explore College Hill before heading back to your hotel for a swim and sleep. Make a stop at the UNI Boookstore for Panther gear and game day swag.

Take a walk through the University of Northern Iowa campus.

Kurt Warner played quarterback for the Panthers from 1989 to 1993, helping UNI win four consecutive conference championships. As UNI's starting quarterback his senior season, Warner earned First Team All-Conference honors and was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year. His path after Cedar Falls was anything but ordinary.

After stops in arena football and NFL Europe, Warner became one of the greatest undrafted players in NFL history. He went on to win two NFL MVP awards, lead the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl championship, earn Super Bowl MVP honors and eventually receive a gold jacket in Canton.

This weekend, that story circles back to Cedar Falls.

Before heading to the UNI-Dome, make a College Hill tradition part of your game day. Stop at Sub City, a Panther favorite serving subs near campus for more than 40 years. Grab your sandwiches to go, then head to the tailgate and settle in for the game. Go Panthers!

Saturday, September 12 | UNI-Dome | 1 PM

Head inside the UNI-Dome as the Panthers take on Drake in their 2026 home opener. But this isn't just another Saturday under the Dome.

At halftime, the 2026 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame class will be recognized, including Kurt Warner alongside an accomplished group of Panther athletes, trailblazers and legendary voices.

It's a chance to watch today's Panthers take the field while celebrating the people who helped shape UNI Athletics history.

Don't call it a night at the final whistle.

Head back to College Hill or venture into Downtown Cedar Falls for a postgame drink, late-night bite or a little more time celebrating with fellow Panther fans. Then head back to your nearby hotel and get some rest.

Sunday morning calls for the classics.

Head to J's Homestyle Cooking for a hearty breakfast and the kind of relaxed, local atmosphere made for recapping the night before.

Order your favorites, refill the coffee and debate the best moments from the game before starting your trip home.

Have a little more time? Take one last walk through the UNI campus, head downtown to browse the shops or stretch your legs on the Cedar Falls trails before hitting the road.