I’ve been to GG on probably the absolute worst opportunity - a 63-0 loss to Iowa on a Saturday when the students were on break, it was cold/rainy and our season was totally over - and you could STILL see the amazing potential for this area.
Tailgating atmospheres take time to build, but when you consider how let down we have been as fans for well over a decade, Grange Grove is actually quite impressive. If my boy Bert gets us to being a team knocking on the door of the top 25 in a few years and we can maintain some momentum, it will no joke be one of the coolest tailgating setups in the conference. I desperately yearn for that day.
On a side note, I think Illinois is unique in how night and day its game day atmosphere is depending on the time of year. I get that how good the team is and the weather are going to be huge factors, but our game day atmosphere for September/October games actually always looks very impressive even when we’re bad. However, by November it is an absolute joke. I know it will take time, but I truly look forward to the day where Illini fans actively plan their fall schedules around tailgating for Illini games, rain/snow or shine, like Iowa fans I grew up with. I honestly believe it’s not that far away!
