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Full Version: Some off the field game day observations
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The tailgate lots (K, PS, Convo, Stevenson Grass, West & East lawns) looked like the best they have been in 2+ years. Unfortunately that did not mean all those people went into the stadium even for 10min. The Water Tower lot looked worse than it has for any Saturday game since that lot opened as a donor lot. Not sure what to make of that other than a lot of $100 donors didn't donate this year because of the schedule or other reasons.

2/3rds of the West side premium seats were empty, same as last week and based on pictures I saw same as last year. Are these seats sold and donor are just not showing up OR are these seats just not sold. If they are sold and I were on STF team I would contact the people not showing up to see why as this is one of those Saturday games that everyone says they can only show up to.

That being said, the sections to the sides and just above of the premium seats are relatively packed. Those are non-donor seats but full priced seats. The cheap discounted ticket areas are not as full so this is telling me that NIU fans a willing to pay a little more for a better seat but not donate at all or enough to get a chairback or benchback for their season ticket order.

Lots of visiting fans are sitting in section B. What happened with them just sitting in A? I wonder if those visiting fans are ordering their tickets thru NIU rather than their own school or if NIU is giving the visiting school tickets in section B.

Many non-students were sitting on the East side in-between the 30s. I know its family weekend and band day but it was maybe 50/50 with students in that area. One student passing by commented "isn't this supposed to be the student section"...I feel like there needs to be a more defined rowdy section of the East stands.

It seemed like HMB didn't play as much in the 1st half as they did in the 2nd half. It seemed like the speakers were always playing music in place of HMB...was that the case? The 2nd half seemed better but maybe I was just more conscious of it because I was next to the band rather than above them in the 1st half. Loved hearing HMB chants/comments/jokes that you can't hear sitting further away. I wonder if the students would get more involved if they surrounded the band rather then the opposite side of the East stands.

It seemed like for the 2nd week the Yordon endzone club section on the far left was not occupied...so I am guessing not sold. I wonder if they have any of these unsold by game week if they should send out a mass e-mail to donors for a discounted price just so they get some additional cash flowing. Maybe cut the donation portion in half?

Thanks to a board member who gave me the passes, my Wife and 3 kids got to escape the blazing heat of the East stands and escaped to the shade of the Endzone Club. Sorry if it killed anyone's drinking vibe but they had their best time at a NIU game ever. They all actually made it to the last 5min of the game compared to usually leaving for the car after the 3rd quarter after a fully quarter of "can we go yet". Ill have to see if I can get 2 more passes for HC for their last game of the year. Ill will now look into passes for all of us for next year.

I like the fireworks and am still ok with swapping the cannon for them. 05-duck I know many others disagree and I respect that.

The speakers/music sounded horrible. Turn down the treble! Not really attendance related but it being bad cant help attendance.

I was fine with the Neil Diamond song as the transition of holding up 5 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Much more tasteful transition then that "put your hands up in the air" party song they did a few years ago.

The sun angle in relation to the future skyboxes & club seats really is not going to be an issue....which got me thinking of the stadium upgrade vs reality of needs and the "optics" of it. I am still all for the building of the East side premium structure but I don't thing building the South bowl is a good idea...as part of phase 1. Athletics should build the Skybox & outdoor club but keep the East side bleachers 100% for the students and their 2 guest passes, not counting the handicap seating. IMO athletics would do better with spending the South bowl money on any of their other projects. I also think student attendance would drop even more. Better if the donors are surrounded by the student who then get a better atmosphere.
Great Write-Up John!

I can only contribute on Fattys, which said they had an hour wait on all food an hour before kickoff. Additionally, they tell there servers you can't upgrade the vodka in a bloody mary on gameday. Weird lol.
Another major issue that became present on Saturday was the moving of the student section DJ further east, away from the stadium...right next to the new RV parking spots and your donors.

The professional speakers absolutely killed my families tailgate and was quite uncomfortable in how loud it was. Also, some of the music played was not very "family friendly" as many explicit lyrics were being sung. including multiple "N-bombs".

I do have to give credit to STF and his support staff, who I contacted as this was going on. STF came over personally and realized that the new placement of the DJ was probably not the best idea. His staff also emailed me today to say they were being moved back closer to the stadium and the songs would be on radio edit.

I dont have a problem with the students having their fun, just wasnt happy with how it overshadowed my experience, especially paying what I pay to park my RV at games.

I hope that STF and staff continue to evaluate and make changes as needed to accommodate all tailgaters, donors and students.

GO HUSKIES!!!!

04-cheers
Since HH64 bought up customer service I have this to add too.

My wife was in line on the East side main concession stands closest to the Endzone Club and after she was in line for a bit and she went to pay for her order they said they didn't take credit cards at that register. There was no signage saying cash only or other lines saying that they did take credit cards. They told her she had to go in the next line. So she got in that line and apparently half of the people in that line were from the line my wife just got out of so it wasn't something she just missed.

Now typically that isn't a huge deal but her having 3 kids who are not really into the games to begin with this makes a big impact on her/their/my game day experience.

Just so I didn't forget to tell them later I sent a DM to HAF and one other person in athletics about the issue. They got back to me within a few min (during the game) and got more info from me (what specific stand and line) so they could immediately investigate.

After I got home I got a DM reply saying that they have ordered more credit card machines for the next game.

That response was impressive to me.
(09-11-2017 01:58 PM)huskiehog64 Wrote: [ -> ]Another major issue that became present on Saturday was the moving of the student section DJ further east, away from the stadium...right next to the new RV parking spots and your donors.

The professional speakers absolutely killed my families tailgate and was quite uncomfortable in how loud it was. Also, some of the music played was not very "family friendly" as many explicit lyrics were being sung. including multiple "N-bombs".

I do have to give credit to STF and his support staff, who I contacted as this was going on. STF came over personally and realized that the new placement of the DJ was probably not the best idea. His staff also emailed me today to say they were being moved back closer to the stadium and the songs would be on radio edit.

I dont have a problem with the students having their fun, just wasnt happy with how it overshadowed my experience, especially paying what I pay to park my RV at games.

I hope that STF and staff continue to evaluate and make changes as needed to accommodate all tailgaters, donors and students.

GO HUSKIES!!!!

04-cheers

IMO, the music everywhere is bad and way too loud. The music in the Yard was so loud that that my group could not hear ourselves talk. We had to walk away. And, what is this with the fear of a few seconds of quiet while the game is going on? Between plays and until the ball is snapped, the DJ blasts what he calls music. Do people constantly need their senses stimulated with loud noise? I'd much rather hear the HMB, who are one of the best parts of game day. Plus, they work so hard only to be overshadowed by blaring noise.
(09-11-2017 02:18 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]IMO, the music everywhere is bad and way too loud. The music in the Yard was so loud that that my group could not hear ourselves talk. We had to walk away. And, what is this with the fear of a few seconds of quiet while the game is going on? Between plays and until the ball is snapped, the DJ blasts what he calls music. Do people constantly need their senses stimulated with loud noise? I'd much rather hear the HMB, who are the one of the best parts of game day. Plus, they work so hard only to be overshadowed by blaring noise.

Serious question...does anyone enjoy MOST of the music being played in the stadium during the game (not talking about HMB).

...I dont.

IMO for SATURDAY games the only time from kickoff until the end of the game that music should be played on the PA is when HMB is leaving the stands to go do the half time show and when they are finished with the half time show until kickoff of the 2nd half.
Traveling to numerous pro and college stadiums, I do find the music topic interesting.

In Bloomington, I would say 3/4 was some type of hip-hop that was unrecognizable. Rest was mainstream people, some classics. % of newer stuff was shocking actually. Not even any country of John Mellancamp! lol

I found the music at NIU somewhat similar, did not know a lot of the music.

Northwestern was the opposite. 3/4 classic rock, recognizable newer and older people.

Bears are more like NW. Also have similar type crowd.

Musical taste and what has become the mainstream taste has really changed. I have been at numerous college functions, namely NIU, where not only was the music questionable but to me unacceptable. The spring game at Gately comes to mind. Don't think they always have a handle on it until after the fact.

Cater to what you think you need to I guess.
I HATE "Sweet Caroline." Every stadium in the country plays it. It was especially to hear it played at the Boston College game, since the popularity of that song originated in Fenway Park.

The last few years the band has played a portion of Holst's "The Planet" before visitors' third down plays. This is being continued, yet at the same time some rap/thrash garbage is played on the scoreboard speakers. Use one or the other. I'm sure you can guess which one I prefer.

Not only do they not play "Guess the Attendance" any longer, but you have to hunt far and wide to find it in postgame releases. I realize attendance isn't great, but why hide it?

Yes, these are some complaints, but at least I don't list the same tired complaints on every post.
A couple more observations:

1. Best band day I have seen in years. The songs were appropriate. An excellent selection of songs, and a great selection of bands from the area. It helped that my alma mater Hinsdale South Marching band was one of the bands there. My worlds collided. Only criticism I have is I would like to see all the visiting high school bands play the Huskie Fight Song. Not just the HMB. It would be pretty cool and a nice sound.

2. They are ruining the pup club. The kids are standing so far back from the newly implemented fog machine that only 1 player, that's right 1 player took the time to go give some of the kids a high five. Many of the kids are walking away disappointed this year as no one even acknowledges them. My son was fortunate that the one player stopped by him. But he was lucky. The athletic department needs to fix this by the Oct. 7th game.

Hope the department is reading this thread as there is good feedback on this thread so far.
The popcorn is too salty. For someone who's combined top and bottom blood pressure number is about the same as the over/under number of points the (football) Huskies will score this year, I'd like less salt or the option to add my own salt. 03-phew

Less salt = buy season tickets for more years.
(09-11-2017 02:18 PM)Dog Fan Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-11-2017 01:58 PM)huskiehog64 Wrote: [ -> ]Another major issue that became present on Saturday was the moving of the student section DJ further east, away from the stadium...right next to the new RV parking spots and your donors.

The professional speakers absolutely killed my families tailgate and was quite uncomfortable in how loud it was. Also, some of the music played was not very "family friendly" as many explicit lyrics were being sung. including multiple "N-bombs".

I do have to give credit to STF and his support staff, who I contacted as this was going on. STF came over personally and realized that the new placement of the DJ was probably not the best idea. His staff also emailed me today to say they were being moved back closer to the stadium and the songs would be on radio edit.

I dont have a problem with the students having their fun, just wasnt happy with how it overshadowed my experience, especially paying what I pay to park my RV at games.

I hope that STF and staff continue to evaluate and make changes as needed to accommodate all tailgaters, donors and students.

GO HUSKIES!!!!

04-cheers

IMO, the music everywhere is bad and way too loud. The music in the Yard was so loud that that my group could not hear ourselves talk. We had to walk away. And, what is this with the fear of a few seconds of quiet while the game is going on? Between plays and until the ball is snapped, the DJ blasts what he calls music. Do people constantly need their senses stimulated with loud noise? I'd much rather hear the HMB, who are one of the best parts of game day. Plus, they work so hard only to be overshadowed by blaring noise.

The music is so loud and you can't understand a word they are saying. They are just screaming, not singing. And the hair, it's so long you can''t tell the boys from the girls. 03-hissyfit 03-lmfao LOL And tell those "so-called" musicians to stay off my lawn! 05-mafia
(09-11-2017 04:10 PM)HUSKIEFOOTBALLFAN Wrote: [ -> ]The popcorn is too salty. For someone who's combined top and bottom blood pressure number is about the same as the over/under number of points the (football) Huskies will score this year, I'd like less salt or the option to add my own salt. 03-phew

Less salt = buy season tickets for more years.

Ha yes I thought it was just me but that popcorn was extremely salty.
Considering they removed the canon due to the noise in the Endzone club...the speakers are much worse as the noise is much more frequent than the cannon ever was.
(09-11-2017 04:19 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ]
(09-11-2017 04:10 PM)HUSKIEFOOTBALLFAN Wrote: [ -> ]The popcorn is too salty. For someone who's combined top and bottom blood pressure number is about the same as the over/under number of points the (football) Huskies will score this year, I'd like less salt or the option to add my own salt. 03-phew

Less salt = buy season tickets for more years.

Ha yes I thought it was just me but that popcorn was extremely salty.

Blood pressure aside, the popcorn is way too salty and because of that doesn't taste that good.
(09-11-2017 04:09 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote: [ -> ]A couple more observations:

1. Best band day I have seen in years. The songs were appropriate. An excellent selection of songs, and a great selection of bands from the area. It helped that my alma mater Hinsdale South Marching band was one of the bands there. My worlds collided. Only criticism I have is I would like to see all the visiting high school bands play the Huskie Fight Song. Not just the HMB. It would be pretty cool and a nice sound.

2. They are ruining the pup club. The kids are standing so far back from the newly implemented fog machine that only 1 player, that's right 1 player took the time to go give some of the kids a high five. Many of the kids are walking away disappointed this year as no one even acknowledges them. My son was fortunate that the one player stopped by him. But he was lucky. The athletic department needs to fix this by the Oct. 7th game.

Hope the department is reading this thread as there is good feedback on this thread so far.

They used to allow all the bands to play the fight song, and it's disappointing it's not longer done. This could be a recruiting tool. You could get a band kid excited about playing the fight song on the field. So much so that he might want to attend NIU and play it regularly as a member of the marching band. Plus, if all the bands played it, the fighting song would be nice and LOUD. What's the deal, band director?
I am just north of the chairbacks on the west side and you can't hear the music or anything else that is being said on the PA. Loud? It needs to be turned up! Louder is better as it gives the illusion of a big time event. Go to Nebraska this weekend and see how loud things are. Any big time school or Chicago sports teams play things loud. The problem with NIU's attendance is it's fan base is old! I go to so many of the events and at 50 I am usually one of the youngest there. We need more late 20's-40's fans. The older you get the more you need a perfect environment or you won't attend.
I like a decent amount of salt on my popcorn but I agree, it's too salty.

I actually like when they play Sweet Caroline, it's one of the few things that seem to get the crowd to make noise, at least temporarily. That and the Red Black chant which appears to be a fading memory. If they did those in the first half when people are still there, it would be better. And maybe more would stay if there's something going on to get them into the game. I believe Ohio State does their O-H-I-O chant even before the game has begun.

I still would prefer the cannon but the fireworks are okay.
(09-11-2017 05:18 PM)dekalb222 Wrote: [ -> ]I am just north of the chairbacks on the west side and you can't hear the music or anything else that is being said on the PA. Loud? It needs to be turned up! Louder is better as it gives the illusion of a big time event. Go to Nebraska this weekend and see how loud things are. Any big time school or Chicago sports teams play things loud. The problem with NIU's attendance is it's fan base is old! I go to so many of the events and at 50 I am usually one of the youngest there. We need more late 20's-40's fans. The older you get the more you need a perfect environment or you won't attend.


I just made a huge investment in audiology clinics and hearing aid companies. I'll be wealthy, but no discount for you - even on our new Huskie logo hearing aid.
(09-11-2017 11:17 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ]The tailgate lots (K, PS, Convo, Stevenson Grass, West & East lawns) looked like the best they have been in 2+ years. Unfortunately that did not mean all those people went into the stadium even for 10min. The Water Tower lot looked worse than it has for any Saturday game since that lot opened as a donor lot. Not sure what to make of that other than a lot of $100 donors didn't donate this year because of the schedule or other reasons.

2/3rds of the West side premium seats were empty, same as last week and based on pictures I saw same as last year. Are these seats sold and donor are just not showing up OR are these seats just not sold. If they are sold and I were on STF team I would contact the people not showing up to see why as this is one of those Saturday games that everyone says they can only show up to.

That being said, the sections to the sides and just above of the premium seats are relatively packed. Those are non-donor seats but full priced seats. The cheap discounted ticket areas are not as full so this is telling me that NIU fans a willing to pay a little more for a better seat but not donate at all or enough to get a chairback or benchback for their season ticket order.

Lots of visiting fans are sitting in section B. What happened with them just sitting in A? I wonder if those visiting fans are ordering their tickets thru NIU rather than their own school or if NIU is giving the visiting school tickets in section B.

Many non-students were sitting on the East side in-between the 30s. I know its family weekend and band day but it was maybe 50/50 with students in that area. One student passing by commented "isn't this supposed to be the student section"...I feel like there needs to be a more defined rowdy section of the East stands.

It seemed like HMB didn't play as much in the 1st half as they did in the 2nd half. It seemed like the speakers were always playing music in place of HMB...was that the case? The 2nd half seemed better but maybe I was just more conscious of it because I was next to the band rather than above them in the 1st half. Loved hearing HMB chants/comments/jokes that you can't hear sitting further away. I wonder if the students would get more involved if they surrounded the band rather then the opposite side of the East stands.

It seemed like for the 2nd week the Yordon endzone club section on the far left was not occupied...so I am guessing not sold. I wonder if they have any of these unsold by game week if they should send out a mass e-mail to donors for a discounted price just so they get some additional cash flowing. Maybe cut the donation portion in half?

Thanks to a board member who gave me the passes, my Wife and 3 kids got to escape the blazing heat of the East stands and escaped to the shade of the Endzone Club. Sorry if it killed anyone's drinking vibe but they had their best time at a NIU game ever. They all actually made it to the last 5min of the game compared to usually leaving for the car after the 3rd quarter after a fully quarter of "can we go yet". Ill have to see if I can get 2 more passes for HC for their last game of the year. Ill will now look into passes for all of us for next year.

I like the fireworks and am still ok with swapping the cannon for them. 05-duck I know many others disagree and I respect that.

The speakers/music sounded horrible. Turn down the treble! Not really attendance related but it being bad cant help attendance.

I was fine with the Neil Diamond song as the transition of holding up 5 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Much more tasteful transition then that "put your hands up in the air" party song they did a few years ago.

The sun angle in relation to the future skyboxes & club seats really is not going to be an issue....which got me thinking of the stadium upgrade vs reality of needs and the "optics" of it. I am still all for the building of the East side premium structure but I don't thing building the South bowl is a good idea...as part of phase 1. Athletics should build the Skybox & outdoor club but keep the East side bleachers 100% for the students and their 2 guest passes, not counting the handicap seating. IMO athletics would do better with spending the South bowl money on any of their other projects. I also think student attendance would drop even more. Better if the donors are surrounded by the student who then get a better atmosphere.

Would love to see the students stay on the East side as well, but also want the bowl built now, not later. The added seating, in addition to the suite facility, would hopefully combined make it harder for the Indiana's and Northwesterns of the world to say no to an away game in beautiful Dekalb.
I made it to the game this week (hurray for Saturday)---and during the first timeout of the fourth quarter---well, just after the first timeout of the fourth quarter the cheerleaders got in exactly ONE red and zero blacks for the Red/Black cheer.

What a joke! Why they don't do the red/black cheer right before OPENING kickoff or at the very least the first media timeout is beyond me.

Will be there in a few weeks---on a Saturday!!!

If anyone from the athletic department is reading---please try the red/black cheer as mentioned above. If it fails then---scrap it completely.
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