Literally unacceptable. NIU has an incredible skill at finding ways to ruin the gameday experience. during a time when our attendance numbers suck, we should offer a fantastic in- game experience. However it's quite literally the opposite. SMH

Go Huskies! Beat Michigan.

(09-12-2021 08:57 PM)CMichFan Wrote:  FWIW, our lines seemed to take forever also, and I've seen similar complaints from Toledo and WMU fans. Seems to be par for the course, right now.

Did they run out of hotdogs or water before the game started? For a crowd of less than 10K?

(09-12-2021 02:03 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  The staffing issues aren't on STF and NIU athletics, as every industry is suffering with staffing right now. Maybe they could have hired some students? But there's no excuse for lack of supply with hot dogs and water. What the hell is that about?

All those concession applications must be sitting in a HR inbasket on someone's desk. They were underneath the MBB Assistant Coaches applications.

Maybe not many people know this, there are concessions on the ramps along the outside At every entrance. I almost never waited and if I did it was maybe 3 minutes for the one guy in line ahead of me. Worth the walk up the stands. Take you maybe ten minutes total to get your food/drink and be back in your seat.

Bathrooms too that are empty.

[img]http://[/img]

Anyone?

It does sound like some other schools had an issue with long lines, possibly because of staffing shortage, maybe Covid related. Still doesn't explain how you run out of stuff that quickly (and that happened before the pandemic too).

(09-12-2021 08:02 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  Pathetic attendance. Might want to try something besides pushing out a few tweets. Basically have two freshman classes new to going to games, parents weekend, nice traveling contingent from Wyoming and that’s what we come up with? Student tailgate lot was beyond sad.

Apparently they gave out free hats. Didn’t know or hear anything about this.

Concessions were a complete and utter joke. Ran out of water almost immediately. Electronic card readers were not working on the west side or in the end zone bar.

Surrounded by people in my section that didn’t have seats in our section.

The merch table was pathetic, from what I heard.

Had a group of 20+ at the game, including a bunch of first timers. About half of them left at halftime because of all of this. Good luck getting them back.

What the F are we doing? Like seriously, what the F are we doing? I am beyond words.

Maybe turn the concessions over to the School of Business. That's supposed to be one our strengths.

How do you screw up WATER on a warm day?

It literally costs what…10-20 cents a bottle? You don’t need Dasani.

It’s probably the most profitable item you can sell. Even Little League tournaments figure that out.

It’s not going to spoil if you have too much.

Have “satellite “ stations with just water, Gatorade and sodas. You could print money AND have happy fans. It’s not that hard.

Water is 4$ for Aquafina (Pepsi products), how they run out is beyond me. Then again, I went to a concert in 1998 at Alpine Valley and they "ran out" of water until they opened the cooler truck and had hundreds of bottles "for employees", and promptly had security pull his gun on me after a 3.5 hour wait, so. I guess we're not that bad, but still. We'll see if these fixes they promise actually help.

Oh, and how could I forget to mention the condition of Lot K. You know, one of the premium donor parking lots. It looked like the set of the walking dead.

SF should call the moms and dads of any local high school booster club that run their football concession stands. I have been to over 40 high school football games in the last four years and NEVER seen anybody run out of food, can pop or cold bottle water. Concession stands are a cash cow for the booster clubs with bottle water leading the way in profit margin.
How difficult can it be to have cases of water stacked up and a tube of ice? Any grade school student can run an ice cold bottle water stand with a couple of coolers. Give them a call SF ASAP.

PS. Do not forget the fans will need hot chocolate and hot coffee for the November games.

The water thing I really don't get. If you buy too much, you have it for the next game. If you end the football season with too much, sell it at basketball games. It doesn't go bad or anything.

(09-12-2021 08:50 PM)Dtownboys Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 12:01 PM)pjfleck82 Wrote:  The only time the lines aren’t unbearable is mid-week November games. Best idea is to eat at Burroto Loco before the game.

Dangerous proposition considering the lines in the bathroom sometimes.

Very good point!

https://niuhuskies.com/news/2021/9/20/fo...ience.aspx

Quote:Immediately following that game, we met internally as a staff, and subsequently with our partners to address and find solutions to these issues. Going forward, we have enacted the following changes which will be in place for Saturday's game and throughout the 2021 season.
 
• Staffing numbers will be increased throughout the stadium, and especially in concession and premium areas, as well as at entry points requiring check-in, including recruit and player guest will calls.
• Each fan will be permitted to bring one (1) sealed plastic water bottle (smaller than 17 oz.) into Huskie Stadium.  The clear bag policy remains in effect.
• All water fountains in the stadium will be operational.
• The main concession stands on the ground level of the East and West sides will have the ability to accept cash or credit card payments. All smaller stands will be cash only.
• A beverage only stand will be added to the north end of the East Side.
• A small concession stand will be added to the south end of the East Side.
• An additional check-out pay station will be in place at the East Side main stand.
• Concession stands located at the 300 level on the West Side will be stocked with cold beverages and staffed to provide efficient service.
• All food and beverage stations will be open and appropriately staffed 15 minutes prior to gates opening on game day.
• Additional customer service training and orientations will be provided to all new gameday operation employees prior to their first working shift.
• Each entry point location supervisor will have the ability to make immediate decisions to help facilitate solutions to problems at their gates.
• Senior Athletic Administrators will be assigned to monitor locations around the stadium to continually evaluate and make real time adjustments to improve gameday operations.
 
In addition, fans who visit The Yard on the West Lawn prior to the game will see improvements in the stage and sound capabilities for this game, with a live band in The Yard prior to the Homecoming game on October 2.  
 
Like many venues across the country which have experienced staffing shortages, NIU Athletics and its partners continues to search for solutions to the challenge of meeting staff levels needed for effective gameday operations. Groups and organizations interested in exploring fundraising opportunities by working games and events at NIU Athletics venues can contact John Cheney, NIU Executive Associate Athletic Director via email at jcheney2@niu.edu.

That’s good to see; any improvements from the Wyoming game is a step in the right direction!

I had to email Athletics after the Wyoming game. I noted what was said about the game experience (lack thereof) here. I also stated how disappointed I was in The Yard having only a table with a DJ and the small jumbotron and that the description in the Fan Guide and The Yard on the Athletics website isn’t even close to what it was at the Wyoming game.

https://niuhuskies.com/sports/2016/6/13/...-html.aspx

https://niuhuskies.com/sports/2016/6/13/...-html.aspx

It’s a very bad look to have the actual not even close to what is advertised. Either make The Yard what is advertised or change the advertising.

When I got to UM game I immediately went to S concession to get free hot dog and pop that came with ticket. About 8-10 ahead, but took only about 10 min, no issues

But then roommate from college was in line in the S. Endzone concessions from mid second quarter until midway through 3rd quarter!!! So 1 hr probably

Even better, he was in one line for about 20 minutes, got up to front and was told that concession did not take the free dog/pop voucher! It clearly stated sec9-13 concessions.
He asked for manager, guy came back and said none were on. Then even better, they closed window right in front of him and others! The also closed another! He then went into another line, probably 30+ and I saw him near the front and we used the voucher's of others in our group.

So don't think this is isolated, as even a school with more money than god had issues with workers and customer service. The Bears I heard had same issues, didn't have all items I guess albeit I didn't buy anything.

While running out of water, especially on a hot day, and hot dogs with a small crowd is pretty bad, the world still, believe it or not, is having supply chain issues whether people want to accept it or not

(09-12-2021 12:01 PM)Teamduh Wrote:  They had no water at half in west side. It was an 80+ day with plenty of sun. Are you kidding?

I also heard they ran out of hot dogs BEFORE the game.

Q: Is a hot dog a sandwich?

A: The only thing a hot dog is at Huskie Stadium is… MISSING.

https://twitter.com/NIU_Football/status/...1833699339

This board needs one of these dancing guys to be a wiener.

Get on that Mods.

How many people can we get to dress up in these hot dog costumes for Saturday's game?



https://www.amazon.com/Rasta-Imposta-Lig...175&sr=8-2

(09-22-2021 04:31 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  How many people can we get to dress up in these hot dog costumes for Saturday's game?



https://www.amazon.com/Rasta-Imposta-Lig...175&sr=8-2

I’d love to do it (because that’s just me), but I’m afraid people would eat me. Then again….what the hell!

Just want to get this out there - no, a hotdog is not a sandwich. Not in the United States, anyway.