These games are getting soooo old
Is Illinois trying to get the State Football Finals back to Champaign? That was reason NIU got the bid on odd years. Illinois was hosting Northwestern in Champaign on Thanksgiving weekend.
(02-09-2015 02:48 PM)Doggone Wrote: [ -> ]Is Illinois trying to get the State Football Finals back to Champaign? That was reason NIU got the bid on odd years. Illinois was hosting Northwestern in Champaign on Thanksgiving weekend.
UI might consider that a side benefit of the move (I'm not sure it's even a factor or possible given the contracts currently in place) but that's not why they chose to move the games, no.
UofI giving up these as true home games. Really UofI will get more exposure with recruiting, Chicago area alums and TV than if this game were played in Campaign. It really makes sense for both parties.
I do think this certainly kills any chance of NIU playing UofI at Soldier Field before 2021.
(02-09-2015 02:48 PM)Doggone Wrote: [ -> ]Is Illinois trying to get the State Football Finals back to Champaign? That was reason NIU got the bid on odd years. Illinois was hosting Northwestern in Champaign on Thanksgiving weekend.
We the games thru 2021 so it really cannot be a primary reason.
IHSA was very excited about our master plan announcement as far as the football stadium facilities goes.
Maybe Illinois is trying to become Chicago's Big 10 team.
Tim Beckman on tour! Get your laughs while they're still here!
I'm amazed this was never done before
Is there another BCS team in the country who is willingly giving up three conference home games?
Not a good look, IMO. It's not even both teams giving up home games, it's just U of I.
(02-09-2015 02:45 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote: [ -> ]These games are getting soooo old
+1... This series is the sealer on playing in NFL stadiums for coolness. Overdone. BTW - IL must be feeling the presure to rebuild the brand.
I wonder if NU is going to have its home games vs UofI in 16/18/20 moved to Wrigley Field.
NU does have an agreement with Wrigley Field for 5 football games which was announced 2 years ago.
Downstate Illini fans are likely not gonna make the trek northward to Chicago and pay more for tickets than they normally would in Champaign. Sure, people will bring up the Wrigley game, but that's a completely different facility with different historical significance. Also, will Chicago area U of I fans come out in bigger droves for a November game at Soldier Field than they normally would to Champaign?
Also, do fans really think of the U of I/NU game as that big of a rivalry? Part of me thinks that they won't even come close to filling Soldier Field for the game.
Having the game up there once, I could understand, but 3 times in 5 years and the novelty effect could wear off, risking a precipitous drop in attendance by the time the 2019 game comes around, especially if neither team sees a marked improvement in performance.
Of course, if either team is successful in either year, it could make a big difference, but if both teams are similar to what they were this year, this may not end up looking good attendance wise.
(02-09-2015 03:17 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]Is there another BCS team in the country who is willingly giving up three conference home games?
Not a good look, IMO. It's not even both teams giving up home games, it's just U of I.
Arkansas does something similar when they play in Little Rock once a year, but that's a completely different situation with a rabid fanbase.
Judging by the reaction down here to this, the Illini better hope for an upturn in fortunes by the football team which will hopefully bring out the supporters from the Chicago area because I don't think there's gonna be many from down here making the trip up north to pay twice as much for a game at a smaller stadium than they normally would at Memorial Stadium. Student attendance will be almost zilch, which is how it is now anyway, but that's besides the point.
(02-09-2015 03:28 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote: [ -> ]Downstate Illini fans are likely not gonna make the trek northward to Chicago and pay more for tickets than they normally would in Champaign. Sure, people will bring up the Wrigley game, but that's a completely different facility with different historical significance. Also, will Chicago area U of I fans come out in bigger droves for a November game at Soldier Field than they normally would to Champaign?
Also, do fans really think of the U of I/NU game as that big of a rivalry? Part of me thinks that they won't even come close to filling Soldier Field for the game.
Having the game up there once, I could understand, but 3 times in 5 years and the novelty effect could wear off, risking a precipitous drop in attendance by the time the 2019 game comes around, especially if neither team sees a marked improvement in performance.
Of course, if either team is successful in either year, it could make a big difference, but if both teams are similar to what they were this year, this may not end up looking good attendance wise.
Do the UofI fans show up for the NU game in Champaign now that it is the Saturday after Thanksgiving? (Question not a jab)
(02-09-2015 03:39 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote: [ -> ] (02-09-2015 03:17 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]Is there another BCS team in the country who is willingly giving up three conference home games?
Not a good look, IMO. It's not even both teams giving up home games, it's just U of I.
Arkansas does something similar when they play in Little Rock once a year, but that's a completely different situation with a rabid fanbase.
Judging by the reaction down here to this, the Illini better hope for an upturn in fortunes by the football team which will hopefully bring out the supporters from the Chicago area because I don't think there's gonna be many from down here making the trip up north to pay twice as much for a game at a smaller stadium than they normally would at Memorial Stadium. Student attendance will be almost zilch, which is how it is now anyway, but that's besides the point.
I think Im going to place a small amount of money on Arkansas to win the national championship next year. Should be a great team that gets favorable betting odds for a big win.
This also give UofI an excuse to take Recruits out on a night in Chi town from 2016 thru Dec 2019.
(02-09-2015 03:17 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]Is there another BCS team in the country who is willingly giving up three conference home games?
Not a good look, IMO. It's not even both teams giving up home games, it's just U of I.
why not just have UI play NU at NU when The IHSA palys in Champaign.
(02-09-2015 03:47 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ] (02-09-2015 03:28 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote: [ -> ]Downstate Illini fans are likely not gonna make the trek northward to Chicago and pay more for tickets than they normally would in Champaign. Sure, people will bring up the Wrigley game, but that's a completely different facility with different historical significance. Also, will Chicago area U of I fans come out in bigger droves for a November game at Soldier Field than they normally would to Champaign?
Also, do fans really think of the U of I/NU game as that big of a rivalry? Part of me thinks that they won't even come close to filling Soldier Field for the game.
Having the game up there once, I could understand, but 3 times in 5 years and the novelty effect could wear off, risking a precipitous drop in attendance by the time the 2019 game comes around, especially if neither team sees a marked improvement in performance.
Of course, if either team is successful in either year, it could make a big difference, but if both teams are similar to what they were this year, this may not end up looking good attendance wise.
Do the UofI fans show up for the NU game in Champaign now that it is the Saturday after Thanksgiving? (Question not a jab)
The game in 2013 was the least attended out of the 7 home games. Granted, neither team was any good that year so that, coupled with the holiday, likely accounted for it.
The previous time it was held in Champaign on Thanksgiving weekend was in 2007. Of course, that was the Rose Bowl team and 50,000 showed up because of it.
Not great numbers admittedly, but if U of I is banking on more Chicago area fans coming to watch a mediocre team play at Soldier Field than they would normally get for the same game at Memorial Stadium, I think they're going to be sorely disappointed.
I get it, they're trying to drum up Chicago-area support, but as has been discussed repeatedly by us in regards to NIU in similar circumstances, Chicago is a pro-sports town and not many casual fans will be interested in the game, especially if you have a mediocre team like the Illini have had the last few years.