Illinois stops pursuit of D1 hockey program

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1521235053505875971

 

[JFGsCoffeeMug]

That's a bummer.

 

[Dan]

Illini discontinue pursuit of D-I men’s hockey program

The University of Illinois will not pursue adding men's ice hockey as a sport after years of exploration into the idea.

247sports.com

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Shoot, thought I remembered this being close to a done deal with Jimmy John’s money helping quite a bit? Bummer indeed, as there is the instate talent there for Illinois to compete in relatively short order.

 

[BretMyBeachHouse]

man, there was some major downtown property acquisition premised on this happening. I wonder if there are going to be some ripple effects.

 

[Joel Goodson]

ooof!

 

[SCottm]

Well that sux. Major Bummer. I was looking forward to an Illni Hockey team. I even got the Jersey Hoodie

 

[uinilli]

Oh, well, I had visions of great-looking hockey uniforms in orange and blue - a la style of Blackhawks...

 

[theNewGuy]

What a shame

 

[oldman]

Not a surprise. Penn State raised $102M to start their program. Pretty high mountain to climb.

 

[Gary J]

Focus on debt reduction and move on.

 

[derrick6]

NIL redirecting funds hurts projects like this

 

[WeWillWhen]

I presume this sinks the entire Illinois Terminal project in downtown Champaign.

 

[Central IL Illini]

Kudos to Whitman for having the courage to pull the plug on something he clearly wanted before it became a boondoggle. Many would have let pride get in their way.

 

[Central IL Illini]

NIL redirecting funds hurts projects like this

I think the free market is clearly speaking on what is more important to the fans.

 

[derrick6]

I think the free market is clearly speaking on what is more important to the fans.

Indeed.

 

[One Man Fast Break]

it was probably gonna happen if not for COVID. Ah well. It's pretty expensive.

 

[BRucks]

I presume this sinks the entire Illinois Terminal project in downtown Champaign.

Not a chance. Plenty of federal pork rolling in.

 

[suburbanILLINI]

Terrible news. Was really hoping this could be revived after it was so close prior to COVID

 

[ILikeCoffeeMugs]

Dagnabbit!

"at this time"

 

[the national]

I got myself a game day jersey when the club team was doing a fundraiser back in Covid. I really thought the light was green on making this happen. Whitman showing leadership on this one. I give him props for making the tough call.

Edit: Barstool Carl bought the same one I have

 

[DaChief4ever]

Major BAD NEWS......the $$$ is there, plenty of alums willing to write checks for Hockey...just got to tap the right folks. A lot more support than ya realize.

 

[RonC]

That really sucks!

 

[ktal]

Major BAD NEWS......the $$$ is there, plenty of alums willing to write checks for Hockey...just got to tap the right folks. A lot more support than ya realize.

Really? Josh has very clearly been trying to make this happen, so either the support you're mentioning isn't real, or it didn't make itself known to Josh...which is functionally the same as 'not real'. Money talks, bs walks.

 

[GrayGhost77]

Major BAD NEWS......the $$$ is there, plenty of alums willing to write checks for Hockey...just got to tap the right folks. A lot more support than ya realize.

Clearly not enough alums writing big enough checks. It's a very expensive sport to fund, so need a really huge donor or two or three who REALLY want varsity hockey to really make it happen. I believe it will happen someday in the future, though.