(11-07-2016 05:57 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 05:52 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 05:44 PM)calvin12 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 05:24 PM)Mark26pt2 Wrote:  There were 4,790 in attendance at Huskie stadium last week for NIU vs BGSU. Weekday attendance at Huskie Stadium is horrible in November. If NIU was playing Toledo at Huskie Stadium this week attendance would be about the same (or lower) than the BGSU game. I have no doubts there will be > 15,000 in attendance at Guarantee Rate Field. Thus this is an improvement of over 10,000 fans and extra media exposure. The negative attitude on this board drives me nuts. This is a GREAT change for the Football program and NIU Athletics to drive attention, excitement and attendance.

When is the last time we had > 15,000 people at a weekday game at Huskie Stadium? This will be a HUGE WIN in attendance for NIU and hopefully a HUGE win on the field for NIU.

There was also a Cubs world series on. I know which I paid attention to.

Last year with a winning team we had two games in November at Huskie Field. Against WMU we had 10,200 in attendance and against Ohio we had 9,700. That was a team playing for a chance to go to the MACC. Do you think this team would draw better attendance?

In 2014 NIU played Toledo at Huskie Stadium in November for the MACC and attendance was 8,400

That was just about the coldest game I ever attended but it was glorious.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

(11-07-2016 11:58 AM)machoman83 Wrote:  Usually go to DeKalb +2. Going to Sox Park +8

Hoping for 15K, then 1,000 students in the bleacher student section. Not sure why the students wouldn't want to take the free bus ride into the city when so many of them already go home on weekends. Anybody know of the student motivation for this game?

Tickets are free for students, the bus ride is not. Very few students are actually planning on going, most see the game as a waste of time going to Chicago and back.
In fact a lot of students don't even know they get free admission to the game.

(11-07-2016 07:32 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 11:58 AM)machoman83 Wrote:  Usually go to DeKalb +2. Going to Sox Park +8

Hoping for 15K, then 1,000 students in the bleacher student section. Not sure why the students wouldn't want to take the free bus ride into the city when so many of them already go home on weekends. Anybody know of the student motivation for this game?

Tickets are free for students, the bus ride is not. Very few students are actually planning on going, most see the game as a waste of time going to Chicago and back.
In fact a lot of students don't even know they get free admission to the game.

Exactly. Not many students want to go and even fewer know the specifics of the tickets/bus. That part has been under marketed to students. I wasn't even really sure until another student told me. I hope that the game is well attended, but it will have very little to do with the students I fear.

(11-07-2016 07:32 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 11:58 AM)machoman83 Wrote:  Usually go to DeKalb +2. Going to Sox Park +8

Hoping for 15K, then 1,000 students in the bleacher student section. Not sure why the students wouldn't want to take the free bus ride into the city when so many of them already go home on weekends. Anybody know of the student motivation for this game?

Tickets are free for students, the bus ride is not. Very few students are actually planning on going, most see the game as a waste of time going to Chicago and back.
In fact a lot of students don't even know they get free admission to the game.

Why don't they know?

(11-07-2016 07:44 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:32 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 11:58 AM)machoman83 Wrote:  Usually go to DeKalb +2. Going to Sox Park +8

Hoping for 15K, then 1,000 students in the bleacher student section. Not sure why the students wouldn't want to take the free bus ride into the city when so many of them already go home on weekends. Anybody know of the student motivation for this game?

Tickets are free for students, the bus ride is not. Very few students are actually planning on going, most see the game as a waste of time going to Chicago and back.
In fact a lot of students don't even know they get free admission to the game.

Why don't they know?

speaking as a student, most everyone I know understands that there is free admission to the game

that being said, I think there is confusion in regards to the bus package (not many are aware that it's a thing)

(11-07-2016 07:44 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:32 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 11:58 AM)machoman83 Wrote:  Usually go to DeKalb +2. Going to Sox Park +8

Hoping for 15K, then 1,000 students in the bleacher student section. Not sure why the students wouldn't want to take the free bus ride into the city when so many of them already go home on weekends. Anybody know of the student motivation for this game?

Tickets are free for students, the bus ride is not. Very few students are actually planning on going, most see the game as a waste of time going to Chicago and back.
In fact a lot of students don't even know they get free admission to the game.

Why don't they know?

No one told us. Not much if any effort was put into explaining it to students, most of which have never been to a neutral site "home" game.

(11-07-2016 07:55 PM)ptownhuskie Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:44 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:32 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 11:58 AM)machoman83 Wrote:  Usually go to DeKalb +2. Going to Sox Park +8

Hoping for 15K, then 1,000 students in the bleacher student section. Not sure why the students wouldn't want to take the free bus ride into the city when so many of them already go home on weekends. Anybody know of the student motivation for this game?

Tickets are free for students, the bus ride is not. Very few students are actually planning on going, most see the game as a waste of time going to Chicago and back.
In fact a lot of students don't even know they get free admission to the game.

Why don't they know?

No one told us. Not much if any effort was put into explaining it to students, most of which have never been to a neutral site "home" game.

(11-07-2016 08:26 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:55 PM)ptownhuskie Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:44 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:32 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 11:58 AM)machoman83 Wrote:  Usually go to DeKalb +2. Going to Sox Park +8

Hoping for 15K, then 1,000 students in the bleacher student section. Not sure why the students wouldn't want to take the free bus ride into the city when so many of them already go home on weekends. Anybody know of the student motivation for this game?

Tickets are free for students, the bus ride is not. Very few students are actually planning on going, most see the game as a waste of time going to Chicago and back.
In fact a lot of students don't even know they get free admission to the game.

Why don't they know?

No one told us. Not much if any effort was put into explaining it to students, most of which have never been to a neutral site "home" game.

Why would students go to a week night game in Chicago?

(11-07-2016 10:07 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 08:26 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:55 PM)ptownhuskie Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:44 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:32 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  Tickets are free for students, the bus ride is not. Very few students are actually planning on going, most see the game as a waste of time going to Chicago and back.
In fact a lot of students don't even know they get free admission to the game.

Why don't they know?

No one told us. Not much if any effort was put into explaining it to students, most of which have never been to a neutral site "home" game.

Why would students go to a week night game in Chicago?

To drink and tailgate and maybe watch a football game?

(11-07-2016 10:11 PM)HuskieRak Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 10:07 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 08:26 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:55 PM)ptownhuskie Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:44 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Why don't they know?

No one told us. Not much if any effort was put into explaining it to students, most of which have never been to a neutral site "home" game.

Why would students go to a week night game in Chicago?

To drink and tailgate and maybe watch a football game?

They can do that for free, on a TV, and then not have to take two, one hour and a half bus rides

(11-07-2016 10:15 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 10:11 PM)HuskieRak Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 10:07 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 08:26 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 07:55 PM)ptownhuskie Wrote:  No one told us. Not much if any effort was put into explaining it to students, most of which have never been to a neutral site "home" game.

Why would students go to a week night game in Chicago?

To drink and tailgate and maybe watch a football game?

They can do that for free, on a TV, and then not have to take two, one hour and a half bus rides

The goal of this game wasn't to entice students. It was to bring NIU football to those alums closer to downtown and make a midweek game more appealing.
I know about 12 people going who haven't been back to DeKalb since they graduated. Seems to be a common theme amongst other posters too. I was going to join them and fly up but decided not to spend the money after a dismal year. I'll be watching and I'm sure attendance will be better than expected.

(11-07-2016 05:11 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 04:50 PM)thetachihuskie Wrote:  I am taking the over on this: 21,00.

did you mean 21,000 or 2,100?

I think there are plenty of football fans who can not make the bear games. [40,00 waiting list] in Chicago and the bears are having a bad year. In addition the Sox had a tough year and their fans have been exposed to constant marketing to their season ticket base. I think you and many others need an attitude adjustment concerning the huskies. 2,100 or 21,00? I think I am a bit closer, we shall see...

(11-07-2016 05:11 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote:  

(11-07-2016 04:50 PM)thetachihuskie Wrote:  I am taking the over on this: 21,00.

did you mean 21,000 or 2,100?

I think there are plenty of football fans who can not make the bear games. [40,00 waiting list] in Chicago and the bears are having a bad year. In addition the Sox had a tough year and their fans have been exposed to constant marketing to their season ticket base. I think you and many others need an attitude adjustment concerning the huskies. 2,100 or 21,00? I think I am a bit closer, we shall see...

Over 20,000 would be nice but 10,000-15,000 is what I think the numbers will end up at.

I have two seats box 121 Row 15 Seat 1 & 2. Free if anybody wants them. I live near Orland Park. I am going to be lucky enough to sit in a suite tomorrow!!

They have blocked off the whole right field bleachers for students and our sadly small band. *Sidenote* I went to the game at Western Michigan, and the size of their band and cheer squad put ours to shame. And their enrollment is very close to ours. What is up with that?* I hope we have a good enough student turnout to at least decently fill up the right field bleachers

(11-08-2016 01:59 PM)machoman83 Wrote:  They have blocked off the whole right field bleachers for students and our sadly small band. *Sidenote* I went to the game at Western Michigan, and the size of their band and cheer squad put ours to shame. And their enrollment is very close to ours. What is up with that?* I hope we have a good enough student turnout to at least decently fill up the right field bleachers

While very good, our band is embarrassingly small. Nothing adds to the game-day experience like a strong band. Something needs to be done. What and how, I don't know, because there may be politics or a power struggle involved. Whether the band becomes part of Athletics or stays with the Music dept., somebody needs to roll up his sleeves and figure out how to get this done. We have a badly outdated small stadium. We should at least have a band that is on a par with other schools. It's so sad to see the small numbers in the band. Many high schools have bigger bands.

(11-08-2016 02:07 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-08-2016 01:59 PM)machoman83 Wrote:  They have blocked off the whole right field bleachers for students and our sadly small band. *Sidenote* I went to the game at Western Michigan, and the size of their band and cheer squad put ours to shame. And their enrollment is very close to ours. What is up with that?* I hope we have a good enough student turnout to at least decently fill up the right field bleachers

While very good, our band is embarrassingly small. Nothing adds to the game-day experience like a strong band. Something needs to be done. What and how, I don't know, because there may be politics or a power struggle involved. Whether the band becomes part of Athletics or stays with the Music dept., somebody needs to roll up his sleeves and figure out how to get this done. We have a badly outdated small stadium. We should at least have a band that is on a par with other schools. It's so sad to see the small numbers in the band. Many high schools have bigger bands.

Just last month athletics raised the recruiting budget from 60k to 100k for the band. They know about the band issue, there can only be so much done with money though.

(11-08-2016 06:41 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(11-08-2016 02:07 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-08-2016 01:59 PM)machoman83 Wrote:  They have blocked off the whole right field bleachers for students and our sadly small band. *Sidenote* I went to the game at Western Michigan, and the size of their band and cheer squad put ours to shame. And their enrollment is very close to ours. What is up with that?* I hope we have a good enough student turnout to at least decently fill up the right field bleachers

While very good, our band is embarrassingly small. Nothing adds to the game-day experience like a strong band. Something needs to be done. What and how, I don't know, because there may be politics or a power struggle involved. Whether the band becomes part of Athletics or stays with the Music dept., somebody needs to roll up his sleeves and figure out how to get this done. We have a badly outdated small stadium. We should at least have a band that is on a par with other schools. It's so sad to see the small numbers in the band. Many high schools have bigger bands.

Just last month athletics raised the recruiting budget from 60k to 100k for the band. They know about the band issue, there can only be so much done with money though.

Understood, but are we the only school with money problems? The other schools seem to find a way to do it.

(11-08-2016 07:52 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-08-2016 06:41 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(11-08-2016 02:07 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-08-2016 01:59 PM)machoman83 Wrote:  They have blocked off the whole right field bleachers for students and our sadly small band. *Sidenote* I went to the game at Western Michigan, and the size of their band and cheer squad put ours to shame. And their enrollment is very close to ours. What is up with that?* I hope we have a good enough student turnout to at least decently fill up the right field bleachers

While very good, our band is embarrassingly small. Nothing adds to the game-day experience like a strong band. Something needs to be done. What and how, I don't know, because there may be politics or a power struggle involved. Whether the band becomes part of Athletics or stays with the Music dept., somebody needs to roll up his sleeves and figure out how to get this done. We have a badly outdated small stadium. We should at least have a band that is on a par with other schools. It's so sad to see the small numbers in the band. Many high schools have bigger bands.

Just last month athletics raised the recruiting budget from 60k to 100k for the band. They know about the band issue, there can only be so much done with money though.

Understood, but are we the only school with money problems? The other schools seem to find a way to do it.

We don't have a money problem, we probably have the highest paid marching band in the country. Those big bands you see on tv almost never give out scholarships. At niu, you get a 1k scholarship as a freshman and another 1k to return, and we still can't get kids to join/stay. Obviously there are bigger issues within the band turning kids away.