Those opponents are of similar caliber, and you'd have to sell out the hall 4X to fill memorial stadium
Illinois #12 in Preseason AP Poll
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Dan
Admin
"Over the last four seasons, Illinois has experienced the largest growth in attendance in the nation and the largest growth in the Big Ten by a wide margin. Average attendance increased by nearly 20,000 from 2021 to 2024, ranking Illinois #1 in the nation in three-year growth."
Have you been to a non-conference basketball game against some lesser-known opponent? There are plenty of empty seats. It’s just harder to see them on TV because the only thing really shown is the Orange Krush.
I know my comp was a little over the top. Lol. You get the gist. No guarantees until Ohio State rolls in. That bums me out. I get the WIU game being a dud, but it's still a Friday night. Hit the game and if you're young enough(a student), hit Kam's then La Bamba.
The giant is waking up...."Over the last four seasons, Illinois has experienced the largest growth in attendance in the nation and the largest growth in the Big Ten by a wide margin. Average attendance increased by nearly 20,000 from 2021 to 2024, ranking Illinois #1 in the nation in three-year growth."
Totally get it. The one I am disappointed in is USC. LOTS of seats available in the corners of the upper deck. That should 100% be a sellout for a top 25 team. No excuses.
Read the room. Four sellouts in ~20 years. Not rated preseason in ~20 years. Keep winning and it will be a non-subject. ILL...
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
It is Aug 14th, not sure why you are disappointed. There are over 6 weeks until that game happens. That game will get sold out well before the game takes place. Look back to the past years, and you could walk up to the box office and get tickets to virtually every game (including Homecoming). Now, you will likely have to get a secondary market ticket (at a markup) if you make a last ditch decision to attend.
Season tickets are sold out...so we are in very good shape for attendance. I get disappointment about the opener, but when you play a directional state school on a Friday night (competing with High School Lights and which also happens to be Labor Day weekend), and you will get quite a few empty seats. If the opener was against a power conference non-conference foe (i.e., Mizzou), then that game would easily sell out.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
ESPN is so @$$. They have us preseason 27th and the 8th best team in the B1G, behind Iowa.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
That’s a computer model, football’s KenPom equivalent. KFord, the other popular model, has us 30th.ESPN is so @$$. They have us preseason 27th and the 8th best team in the B1G, behind Iowa.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Never say never. Our basketball support didn’t materialize out of thin air, it developed due to years of winning at a level that would be comparable with at least Auburn historically in football. If we TRAIN Illini fans over a 5- to 10-year period to become rabid football fans (which will require continued winning), I think they’ll get just as addicted to the experience of the “football school” fans. Hope so, anyway!
The fact we’ve sold out a game and are trending close to selling out a second in mid-August is already an unfathomable increase in fan support compare to just two years ago!
Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
Seriously, we’re the fastest growing fanbase in the country statistically. You can’t expect perfection sellouts now!
The giant doesn’t have his legs yet!
27th in Preseason SP+. No respect...
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
I’m warming up to the disrespect. We have yet another opportunity to expose these brilliant “analysts” as clowns. It also leaves their favored teams looking weaker. Better to overdeliver than disappoint.
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Respect comes with victories.
Also it's a computer model, so no disrespect specifically to Illinois. Maybe disrespect to our team's profile
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
So we needed 11 instead of 10?
"Over the last four seasons, Illinois has experienced the largest growth in attendance in the nation and the largest growth in the Big Ten by a wide margin. Average attendance increased by nearly 20,000 from 2021 to 2024, ranking Illinois #1 in the nation in three-year growth."
20,000 x 7 games x $30 ticket = $4.2 mil. (I'm sure expenses are up too, but still, wow).
Everyone involved from top to bottom deserves credit for improving the health of the program. Been fun to see the growth from basement to 10 win and borderline CFP invitation. Jaw-dropping really. Must be dreaming territory
Let them. More fuel and bulletin board material for the players. We will find out pretty soon!ESPN is so @$$. They have us preseason 27th and the 8th best team in the B1G, behind Iowa.
THANK YOU! This is what I think.
I for one welcome the negative opinion by ESPNSEC. It's like the Citrus Bowl last year. Not many people picked us if any at all. No one on Gameday did. If you remember everyone before the pregame picked the Game Ticks and talked them up BIGTIME. Them and their weezle coach Shane Bummer. No one picked us! I like it when we are the underdog! Suits me just fine!
MustangWally
- Mayfield
Polls are for the 2025 season now, not last year.
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