The Cyclones might have lost yet another football game, but children who attended Saturday’s matchup against Texas Christian found something else to occupy their time.

The “Clone Zone,” a mini-amusement park strictly for children, was set up just south of Jack Trice Stadium two hours before kickoff.

“The kids looked like they were having a great time, and that’s why we did it,” said Thad Dohrn, assistant director of marketing.

“When you’re a kid, there’s not much to do while your parents tailgate besides play football in the street and get run over,” he said. “This is a way to enhance the environment that’s out there.”

The “Clone Zone,” which attracted almost 500 children on Saturday, will return for the next three football games at Iowa State.

“It was really exciting for us, because we didn’t know if we would have five or 500,” Dohrn said. “It made the effort worthwhile.”

Organizers said they would have liked to continue “Clone Zone” through the end of the season, but weather concerns stopped them from scheduling it for the last two Cyclone football games.

Dohrn said the idea for the event came to him at a Kansas City Royals game, where he saw an “interactive zone” for children.

“My wife and I were in the stands, and we thought, ‘Why can’t we do something similar to that and showcase our student-athletes?'”

One of the activities at the first “Clone Zone” was basketball, sponsored by The Tribune and run by members of the men’s and women’s basketball teams

“It’s a chance for us to expose our student-athletes to kids,” Dohrn said.

It is hoped that the interaction between the children and Cyclone athletes will spark more interest in ISU athletics, said Associate Athletics Director Chuck Beddingfield.

“This will create a link between our programs and the youth,” he said.

At the Sept. 19 game against Ball State, athletes from the men’s track team and the gymnastics team will also help out with “Clone Zone,” Dohrn said. The tracksters will demonstrate the long jump and triple jump, and the tumblers will show off their balance beam skills, he said.

Another attraction at the event was the “Moonwalk,” an inflatable play area provided by Clear 96.1 Radio in Ames.

“It’s kind of a fun concept,” said Brad Olson, the station’s general manager. “[The university] needed some help promoting the event, and we have a keen interest in ISU athletics.”

Central Iowa Fencing also helped out by donating 160 yards of chain-link fence, Dohrn said.

“They really upped our level of what we could provide, because now there’s safety for the kids,” he said.

The budget for the “Clone Zone” is next to nothing, Dohrn said.

“Basically, we have funded this all through the support of the other people and through the equipment from our coaches,” he said.