A red-headed orphan, antique collectors, a mouse king, a harmonica-playing bluesman and hard-hitting linemen were just a few of the key players that drew hundreds of thousands of people to UNI last year.

Each year the university hosts UNI-related and non-related events, bringing visitors to the community and exposing them to the people, resources and facilities they may not have had the opportunity to experience before. From July 2007 through June 2008, nearly 427,000 people attended UNI athletic and non-athletic events in the UNI-Dome, McLeod Center and West Gym; another 112,000 attended performances and events in the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

A few highlights:
• 80,370 attended the 2007 Iowa High School Athletic Association State Football Playoffs in the UNI-Dome.
• More than 76,000 people attended the Artist Series and Kaleidoscope Series at the GBPAC.
• Touring performances such as “Annie” and “The Nutcracker” draw as many as 1,600 to opening night at the GBPAC.
• The Farm Show, the Sports Show and the Antique Show pull in 8,000 visitors to the UNI-Dome each day of the shows.
• 11,000 people filled the UNI-Dome during RAGBRAI® in July 2007 to listen to the Blues Travelers, while thousands more filled the grounds surrounding the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center celebrating the completion of another day’s ride.

UNI not only draws people to the Cedar Valley, it reaches out across the state. UNI has cataloged impact data for all 99 Iowa counties, highlighting the role UNI plays in the state. Alumni who live in Iowa can get a snapshot of UNI in their county at
www.uni.edu/govrel/countydata.