We were in line at the SEZ entrance to the Shoe at 2:10ish. The line barely moved for 5-10 minutes as the crowd swelled. They didn't have enough workers scanning tickets. There was one older lady doing her best to scan, but it was obvious she was overwhelmed with her long line. The other lines didn't seem to be moving much faster. About 2:20ish someone more official looking just began waving people in and all you had to do was flash your tickets at a student worker as you walked in. Had that not happened, we would have missed the kickoff. We should have entered earlier, but we got parked late and wanted to walk through the Grange Grove area to look around. I'm glad they recognized that they needed to just let people in. It's highly unlikely that people will show up at a gate and try to get in without a ticket, especially after they spent much of the season begging people to attend in the first place.
Memorial Stadium Game Day Experience
- Status
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I know first hand it’s difficult these day, esp on weekends , finding workers , but geez , pay them bonuses or whatever , but double the workforce !!
illini80
- Forgottonia
Robert makes valid points and there is truth in them. But as has been discussed at length in the Memorial Stadium Experience thread, there is much, much more to the story. And it’s not the same story for every fan. There is also a lost generation of fans that either had a bad or no student experience at all as a football fan. There is work to do and some will take time, but it can be fixed. Like the guy who called in to Monday Morning QB complaining that concessions in his area were sold out shortly after halftime. If you’re bringing a young family to the game, there better be food available.
Last edited:
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I agree. I really respect Robert and love his work, and I admit that he probably has as good of an understanding of the state of Illinois athletics as anyone. But him simplifying this issue down to a faction of fans that said "not a cent" for whatever condition and somehow convincing the masses to go along with them sounds like a bit of a conspiracy theory. Not all Illinois fans are on message boards or Twitter or Facebook consuming toxic reactions to Illinois athletics.
Rather, I think we need to look at this as a perfect storm that has crushed enthusiasm for our football team due to many, many factors, some more easily controllable than others. Poor performance. Lacking amenities for the stadium. Sometimes odd ticket prices. Depressed student attendance leading to generations of alumni that have no desire to come back down to attend football games (a point that I hadn't really realized but I think it makes all the sense in the world). The list goes on and on.
Two points I'd make about the students as well. I know picking a college for their sports team can be a relatively silly reason for a decision that will shape the rest of your life. But for some, it happens. Building excitement from following a college team can build your enthusiasm for going to that school. Maybe you still have many good, practical reasons for choosing that university other than sports. But it could be the sports that makes some fall in love with a school. To that point, these prospective students out there who prioritize football and would end up showing great enthusiasm and support for our football team are getting, are getting captivated by other teams. Compared to schools in some other regions of the country, there are countless options for high level academic institutions in our region that have excellent football culture. Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Michigan, OSU, even Iowa. I just think that the huge football fans over the past 20 years are going to be more likely to go to one of those schools because they grow up cheering for those teams because they have been good. I know my experience in high school in the Chicago area there were barely any known Illinois fans. Every supported one of those teams I mentioned. This isn't the problem. Its one of many.
On a related point, and one that I think has a huge effect that is rarely talked about (out of a fair concern from the conversation turning xenophobic): international students. It looks like currently 1 out of 5 students at Illinois are international students. That is a massive number. These students come to Illinois with no experience in American football culture. It is a completely new thing to them. Surely, I'm sure many come with baffled with our country's obsession with the sport. Now maybe its not impossible to get them to buy into coming to games. But I imagine its a whole lot harder to get them to buy in if the team stinks and the hype is down. So we probably have been looking at 10-15 years of one fifth of the student body coming in, maybe going to one or two games their freshman year, and then never returning, because why would they? This isn't the problem. Its one of many.
But why do I think its a major problem for Illinois in particular? Look at other schools. We've been comparing ourselves to Kansas this whole season. Why does their attendance snap back up to capacity so quickly? Look at the numbers. We have one in five students being international students. They have roughly one in twenty. Robert has compared us to Iowa State. Why has their attendance improved so quickly when they are good and our doesn't? They have 8% international students, we have 20%.
Finally, why do I think this has a lot to do with it when we are only talking about a fraction of our student body? Let's compare ourselves to a few other schools. If I were to say "think of two other schools in a similar boat to Illinois that are massive flagship state institutions with very good academics and a massive international student population," I think we would all think of the same two schools: Cal, and UCLA. What do these schools have in common with Illinois? Terrible football attendance. In fact, we have spent so much time comparing ourselves to Kansas, but UCLA has had just as much of an incredible resurgence this season that we should be comparing Illinois to. Lets look at their attendance numbers at the 90k+ seat Rose Bowl: 27,143, 33,647, 29,344, 41,343, 42,038, 43,850, and 44,430 as a top 12 ranked team with hopes of reaching the CFP. Those are Illinois numbers. Yes their stadium is off campus, but I'm sure if we were talking about Cal we'd see the same thing. Rather than Kansas and Iowa State, Cal and UCLA are our peers in facing these kind of football problems.
So while Robert has had an exorbitant amount of interactions with adult Illinois fans over the past 15 years, I guarantee you he is not mingling with the students that much. The students aren't failing to show up do to some "Team Eyeball" campaign over the past 10 years. As I have demonstrated, we are now a university with a massive population who have no interest in American football culture and who leave the state and country after graduation, and another large chunk of the population who are more academically focused and did not come to Illinois to support the sports, and suddenly we are talking about a school with a fraction of the football-interested population that you would expect. Their lack of interest to coming to games as students and spilling over to post-grad years, combined with all of the other logistical issues we face are the collective reason we have the lack of support that we do.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
As I said before, Mrs. Fighter and I came down for the Purdue game last weekend and ended up going to the basketball game Friday night, as well. Between driving back on Sunday and a crazy week at work, I have not had time to give some of my thoughts, for anyone who cares! I have been hard on our fan base in the past, while always acknowledging the intense and impressive loyalty of our "diehards," but I want to be very clear about last weekend with my first two points:
1. I was INCREDIBLY impressed with Illini nation! The basketball game looked almost completely full, which is the kind of amazing fan support we got for November home games vs. nobodies back in the glory days and I was honestly afraid were gone. Yes, it was the banner raising, but we have had the following attendance capacities for our first four home games, counting the exhibition: 97%, 83%, 99% and 89%. It isn't just great to see for us fans and the players, it is again reinforcing what was a given back in the mid-2000s - that Illinois has one of the largest, most passionate basketball followings in the nation, which can only help the perception of the program and recruiting.
2. I was also REALLY happy with our football fan turnout. I believe at one point, the "real feel" temperature was in the 20s, and it even started to flurry a bit in the second half. By the end of the first quarter, the student section had filled in, the entire lower bowl looked packed and the upper deck swelled to over 50% full - 46k in the freezing cold the week after a completely deflating loss.
3. Another football note, the tailgating scene was really impressive and fun! My wife had never been down for a football game, so I was a little nervous, given how much we have both tailgated with friends in Iowa City (an atmosphere not outdone by anyone in the Big Ten, maybe even the nation). However, in AWFUL weather without even a sliver of sunshine, Grange Grove was decently full and the lot across from it actually looked bumpin'! The fans walking about seemed to all have good/energetic vibes, and it really showed what CRAZY potential we have as a "tailgating must" location within the Big Ten should our program continue to improve!
4. One thing that has always weirded me out is that there are very few options to get a good mimosa or Bloody Mary in the morning in Champaign before a game, at least that I was aware of! After the game, I was chatting with the bartender at Blind Pig (Brewery), and it was really encouraging to hear him say that they think next year they are going to open up way earlier than 3:00 pm on gamedays to capitalize on the renewed interest in the football program. Despite a setback or two the past two weeks, it appears VERY clear that the perception is changing, and that's great!
5. Regarding food ... Nando Milano truly is an exceptional Italian restaurant, and it's gotten to the point that it's my only dinner "must" in Champaign. I think it's that good, and the atmosphere is great. I also finally tried a fish sandwich at Legends, and it did not disappoint! Lastly, I must say ... maybe I built Papa Dels up too much in my head over the years, but I was pretty saddened by the apparent drop in quality. Even as a Chicagoan, I considered that my favorite deep dish pizza until this Sunday, when we got it for carry-out ... it was still very good, but I remember it being much better. Sad.
Anyway, we had a great time as always, and I really look forward to seeing how Champaign, Urbana, the campus and the atmosphere around Memorial Stadium/SFC continue to improve and grow over time! The sky is the limit for Illinois, and I truly believe that the current trajectory could have Champaign-Urbana and the U of I sports scene talked about in the same breath as somewhere like Ann Arbor in a decade or two.
1. I was INCREDIBLY impressed with Illini nation! The basketball game looked almost completely full, which is the kind of amazing fan support we got for November home games vs. nobodies back in the glory days and I was honestly afraid were gone. Yes, it was the banner raising, but we have had the following attendance capacities for our first four home games, counting the exhibition: 97%, 83%, 99% and 89%. It isn't just great to see for us fans and the players, it is again reinforcing what was a given back in the mid-2000s - that Illinois has one of the largest, most passionate basketball followings in the nation, which can only help the perception of the program and recruiting.
2. I was also REALLY happy with our football fan turnout. I believe at one point, the "real feel" temperature was in the 20s, and it even started to flurry a bit in the second half. By the end of the first quarter, the student section had filled in, the entire lower bowl looked packed and the upper deck swelled to over 50% full - 46k in the freezing cold the week after a completely deflating loss.
3. Another football note, the tailgating scene was really impressive and fun! My wife had never been down for a football game, so I was a little nervous, given how much we have both tailgated with friends in Iowa City (an atmosphere not outdone by anyone in the Big Ten, maybe even the nation). However, in AWFUL weather without even a sliver of sunshine, Grange Grove was decently full and the lot across from it actually looked bumpin'! The fans walking about seemed to all have good/energetic vibes, and it really showed what CRAZY potential we have as a "tailgating must" location within the Big Ten should our program continue to improve!
4. One thing that has always weirded me out is that there are very few options to get a good mimosa or Bloody Mary in the morning in Champaign before a game, at least that I was aware of! After the game, I was chatting with the bartender at Blind Pig (Brewery), and it was really encouraging to hear him say that they think next year they are going to open up way earlier than 3:00 pm on gamedays to capitalize on the renewed interest in the football program. Despite a setback or two the past two weeks, it appears VERY clear that the perception is changing, and that's great!
5. Regarding food ... Nando Milano truly is an exceptional Italian restaurant, and it's gotten to the point that it's my only dinner "must" in Champaign. I think it's that good, and the atmosphere is great. I also finally tried a fish sandwich at Legends, and it did not disappoint! Lastly, I must say ... maybe I built Papa Dels up too much in my head over the years, but I was pretty saddened by the apparent drop in quality. Even as a Chicagoan, I considered that my favorite deep dish pizza until this Sunday, when we got it for carry-out ... it was still very good, but I remember it being much better. Sad.
Anyway, we had a great time as always, and I really look forward to seeing how Champaign, Urbana, the campus and the atmosphere around Memorial Stadium/SFC continue to improve and grow over time! The sky is the limit for Illinois, and I truly believe that the current trajectory could have Champaign-Urbana and the U of I sports scene talked about in the same breath as somewhere like Ann Arbor in a decade or two.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Let me make this very clear Mr. & Mrs. FOTN............We need you to keep your posts first and foremost in your schedule ........Work takes a back seat to your
great stat posts and i love to hear about the dining and drinking preferences also......When I finally am able for NL # 3 and I to attend a BB or FB game , i need as much info as possible , so keep cranking out dem posts Bro.....( I was kidding about work being 2nd.......maybe )............
I'm getting so excited about the Illini BB & FB games this weekend ........Two BB games against top notch competition and a FB game against a top 5 scUM squad has me already lining up my menu's and 420 schedules to make NL # 3 and I's home tailgating as memorable as possible ...........We give a whole new meaning to tailgating , but that's maybe for the Old Age Anon thread for further clarity..........
LET'S GO ILLINI.........SMASH THE scUM and and bash the bruins , then declaw the bears or crush the cavaliers..........i don't care who or how we get it done .....
We want 2 BB victories and a big upset in FB to quell our anxiousness...........
We really really do............................................
..
Why do I feel like somebody's watching me ??..it's just a fantasy........whoa-o
Last edited:
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Love your thoughts!
I have to agree that the last few times I've had Papa Del's I have been disappointed too. Too doughy to the point where its a chore to eat the crust.
Other than Black Dog, I really haven't partaken in downtown Champaign restaurants. I am really eager to try them at some point in the future, and I am glad for the Nando Milano recommendation!
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
you have a valid point .
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Foreign students aren't as interested in football. Illinois has way more foreign student than e.g., Kansas. Our football attendance problems are also being experienced at schools similar to ours, like UCLA.
Think UCLAs problem is being located in LA.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
And their stadium in Pasadena.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Thanks for the recap. We have a pretty large student population on the whole so that doesn’t seem to hold water. Out here Oregon packs it in and the school is much smaller. And Illinois has a huge alum population too that come back time to time to watch games, plus central Illinois is more populous than ppl think.
So does the Mrs' want to return? That's the real test...did we pass?
I thought the game day experience improved throughout the year. The group I attended games with this season were new to the season ticket experience and all had a great time. We decided to make this a thing, and to raise our game next year. We've already got a simple system nailed down, but next year we're going to improve our cold weather gear, and add some tailgating. Our thinking is to improve our tailgating kit every year, and just make this a new tradition for them and their kids.
Bret won us over. This is the start of something. And I'm looking forward to going along for the ride.
We’ve enjoyed very good meals at Big Grove in downtown Champaign. Saturday they had a great barrel aged Manhattan.
DIA did surveys/focus groups across the entire student body (not just foreign students) a little bit ago that showed:
Students come to the University of Illinois for the academic degree they will receive
Students feel no connection to any traditions with the University
Students who enter the University of Illinois as students are more likely to maintain the sports affinity the entered with.
Illinois is a party school, and students are proud of it.
Students will go where their friends are going. Students can’t find people to go with them.
So, it's really a lot of things that need to be addressed and it will probably take a lot of time and success in the arenas to make big changes.
Black Dog was (unsurprisingly) packed for MSU/Dad's weekend, so we ended up at Seven Saints and loved it.
Definitely agree. But, I think the NEZ should also be reworked to look more like the images for the proposed SEZ. As it stands now, the NEZ looks too much like a disjointed addition to a fine Victorian mansion as much as the horseshoe looks like the fungi-thickened toenail of Memorial Stadium's distinguished 100-year-old foot.If there is one thing that can unite Illini fans, it is that the current status of the Horseshoe is a hideous eyesore and general black mark on an otherwise beautiful stadium...
Blech ... lol.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Winning will fix the first bolded point. It's more fun to cheer for a winning team.
For the second, this is why tickets for football need to be free for students, at least for the next few years until we can build something. It's much easier to get friends to go with you when they don't have to pay to be there.
Addressing traditions, the weak kneed university administration did a lousy job of protecting the beloved (by an overwhelming majority of people of all political and social persuasions) symbol which united the fan base in support of our sports teams. This has played no small part in the problem.
Mrs. Illiniguy74 and I have been residents of Georgia for 22 years now. We've learned to appreciate great pork barbeque. We've considered trying Black Dog when we get back to Champaign. How does it stack up?
- Status