Starting in August. This is stepping up in class and will be a big benefit to NIU and opposing teams.

http://northernstar.info/city/article_ed...f6878.html

Quote:“The FAA has to do inspections, and we have to come up with an airport certification manual and some equipment, and we’re partnering with NIU in trying to get it done...,” Cleveland said. “We’ve been acquiring equipment over the past few years to try to get this done, but we are pushing towards next August.”

The university met with the city several months ago to discuss the necessary certifications and weight restrictions that come with chartering teams. Across all sports, Athletics will schedule 15 to 25 flights a year. Any competition further than 400 miles or longer than a nine-hour bus ride will warrant a flight.

This is bigger news than most people realize. This is big boy sandbox stuff and great, I mean GREAT, news for NIU.

Does this mean opposing teams can use it to COME to DeKalb?!

Very nice!

(12-11-2013 02:51 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  This is bigger news than most people realize. This is big boy sandbox stuff and great, I mean GREAT, news for NIU.

Mmhmm.

This news, combined with some of the hires Athletics has made in the last few months, makes me think that NIU and the Athletic Department is positioning themselves for something bigger.

(12-11-2013 02:53 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  Does this mean opposing teams can use it to COME to DeKalb?!

Doesn't do much for proximity to hotel but would be great for heading back home

Nice recruiting boost and chance to get host bigger name schools.

Just new a skybox suite for a visiting AD now to eliminate any non financial barriers to scheduling bigger name football teams in Huskie Stadium.


I guarantee you the B12 woul also require this before they even considered to add us.

(12-11-2013 02:55 PM)HuskieRak Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 02:53 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  Does this mean opposing teams can use it to COME to DeKalb?!

Doesn't do much for proximity to hotel but would be great for heading back home

Do all opposing teams stay at the Hyatt in Lisle?

(12-11-2013 02:51 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  This is bigger news than most people realize. This is big boy sandbox stuff and great, I mean GREAT, news for NIU.

GREAT news? DeKalb Airport is 10 minutes from NIU. Rockford Airport, which the charters use now, is 35 minutes from NIU.

Not sure why a savings of 25 minutes in travel time is that big a deal.

(12-11-2013 02:58 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 02:51 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  This is bigger news than most people realize. This is big boy sandbox stuff and great, I mean GREAT, news for NIU.

GREAT news? DeKalb Airport is 10 minutes from NIU. Rockford Airport, which the charters use now, is 35 minutes from NIU.

Not sure why a savings of 25 minutes in travel time is that big a deal.

When you fly, is travel time to the airport the only concern? Nope.

Using the DeKalb airport will save costs on charter buses to the airports, speed up security clearance times, will see to probably fewer delays on takeoff and landing, and certainly using the local airport will facilitate a smoother, more professional user experience for all parties. Plus a couple extra dollars stay in DeKalb with user fees etc. And as the article says, sometimes the teams have to use Chicago airports with all of that built-in hassle, delay, and expense.

That's why it's great news.

Yeah, I'm in the group that thinks this is really good news for NIU.

Take that West Virginia!!!

This ia a very useful and proactive step for our future.

We will probably pay for it when ticket prices go up, but that's business.

Midways runways are 3800 to 5500 ft. Dekalb is 7000. I never realized it was that long. Wonder how big of a plane can land there? The biggest issue has to be aircraft weight.

(12-11-2013 05:39 PM)calvin12 Wrote:  Midways runways are 3800 to 5500 ft. Dekalb is 7000. I never realized it was that long. Wonder how big of a plane can land there? The biggest issue has to be aircraft weight.

A pilot friend who lives in Sycamore told me DeKalb runway could handle anything that would land at Rockford or Midway. They were only missing the equipment to handle those planes...like the portable stairs to get on/off the plane and any luggage too.

So what hotel facilities does DeKalb have for these teams once they get here?

Big time donors can start flying their jets in for NIU football. DeKalb will start looking like the airport in South Bend on football weekend.

Rockford Airport is 40 miles from campus per the article. More like 45-50+ minutes travel on a bus.

Sent from my HTCONE

(12-11-2013 02:57 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 02:55 PM)HuskieRak Wrote:  

(12-11-2013 02:53 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  Does this mean opposing teams can use it to COME to DeKalb?!

Doesn't do much for proximity to hotel but would be great for heading back home

Do all opposing teams stay at the Hyatt in Lisle?

Visiting teams almost always stay in Rochelle