pvk75
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RE: Big Announcement - Athletics
(02-18-2020 03:14 PM)Illini60940 Wrote: (02-18-2020 02:39 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote: (02-18-2020 02:03 PM)Illini60940 Wrote: (02-18-2020 01:52 PM)pvk75 Wrote: FYI. Average attendance, home games, post-BCS Orange Bowl:
2013: 20,669
2014: 13,563
2015: 13,942
2016: 10,879
2017; 11,291
2018: 10,404
2019: 8,518
Regardless of the teams' records, head coaches, weather, location, opponents, facilities, etc., the actual living breathing fans are not showing up at Huskie Stadium. It doesn't matter what STF does or doesn't do. There are too many factors beyond his or NIU's control. But STF is still obligated to try, and the BYU/SeatGeek game is another.
I don't like the idea of moving the one big game to Bridgeview, but I hope it works anyway. Those 160,000 Chicago alumni are not coming to DeKalb, and DeKalb/Sycamore does not have the population base to generate more attendance. It will not, I agree, increase attendance in DeKalb, but maybe the "engagement" is about getting some to contribute $.
This is a pipe dream, but fun to play with: if 160,000 alumni each contributed $100, that's $16 million. Too much? OK, at $10 apiece, that's $1.6 million.
It is actually $16M
The problem for NIU is the town of Dekalb, which needs to grow and show signs of life. Kids don't care about how a schools basketball team is doing, they want to be able to walk to Starbucks, Chipolte, BWW, microbrews and whatever else the current trend is.
When talking to the people at EIU, they tell me the same thing, but its difficult to get these companies to locate to these smaller town.
I think the town getting a couple of these larger corps (Fererra Pan & another one is coming) to have facilities in Dekalb is going to not only help with $$ from the taxes, but an influx of people moving out that way. A real good direction IMO for the city.
Somewhat of a trickle down effect with getting these companies out there. The local food places and businesses will have an increase of traffic during the week and the school has a chance to gain some more sponsors that are "local".
Need to have more people in Dekalb year round than just relying on the students as local places can't survive in the summer since the students are gone.
Isn't the candy company just building a warehouse? That's not the kind of jobs that need to be moved here.
When I look around at the state schools this is what I see.
UICU is obviously set in stone as the flagship, UIC tags along there and has a great location. Nothing needs to be said there, top tier school
ISU has the built in edge as its in a great metro area, was there last week and stayed in the new Marriott hotel, downtown Normal is awesome and right next to campus. The other thing that sets them above the rest is the off campus housing being built.
And then there is the rest and this is where NIU should stand out because of location. EIU, WIU and SIU are so isolated and limits what they can do. NIU has the potential to grow along with the city of Dekalb and they need to focus on that together. Do that and they can join UICU, UIC and ISU as the public schools that prepare out students in the future.
To me, having a future football game closer to Chicago is a small piece of a puzzle in a larger plan.. NIU fans need to be patient, look at whats going on in Champaign and Normal and learn. But this is not a 2-5 year plan, more like a 10-20 year plan.
#1. A minor point, but I already said $16m.
#2. NIU is already part of the Illinois Innovation Network with UIC and UofI. Planning $$ for an IIN hub facility at Northern was just announced.
#3. NIU is not located in Champaign or Bloomington/Normal. The economics, finances, student profile, development, access and fanbase metrics are all different when taken together. I agree, however, that NIU has advantages over Charleston, Macomb and Carbondale.
IMO, Northern's biggest problems are a history of internalism, Chicago-style campus politics, and a location close enough to the metro area to be a "suitcase school" but not far enough away to establish and build its own identity.
You are correct that the BYU/SeatGeek game is just one small piece, but the fact that it was the "big game" on campus has hit long-time fans hard. Northern has gradually disenfranchised its fanbase, and that fanbase is shrinking. Instead of heavy promotion, activities surrounding the game, i.e., making it a really big deal by drawing lessons from why the draw was only 16,700 for Utah, the decision was made to move the game in hopes of attracting some % of 160,000 Chicago alumni. And you can bet STF is counting heavily on BYU traveling well so the move can be justified.
But as you said, it's only one small piece. However, it is a huge slap to loyal fans who have steadily supported the Huskies over the years. And the students who had that one chance to see "big-time" football a short walk away? Not even a whisper of consideration in that regard.
There are plenty of people on the board capable of taking a longer view (though sometimes, when p'o'd, they don't). And in 10-20 years, a lot of us might not be around ... and that means they won't be getting our $$. Oh, the horror!
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Big Announcement - Athletics
