ilphotog
The camera never lies
- Champaign
Hopefully if this is an issue, they will put the shorter students in front. So many questions will be answered tonight.
ray:
State Farm Center Renovation
Hopefully if this is an issue, they will put the shorter students in front. So many questions will be answered tonight.
ray:That used to interfere with the TV shot too.
Right, they took a tricky situation and made the right call to allow for student-driven atmosphere to coexist with the needs of the bluehairs.
Why, it's almost as if the project was led by someone completely different than the MS renovation! :tape::tape::tape:
Nicely done! Gives a great perspective of the renovation.
BirdDog9048
The Chief Lives
- Chicago, IL
Easy solution: Get there earlier, get a better seat. :thumb:
BirdDog9048
The Chief Lives
- Chicago, IL
I cared about the TV shot less than I cared about the blue hairs...
Dan fan 86
- N. Illinois
When did they flip sides that the benches are on? I am assuming that the main tunnel is in the same place.
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
So my impression from last night is that it looks good. I will say a few things though. In 200 level on the new clubs side, with orange Krush, the entrances to both sides are not connected. So if you were walking around the bowl you would have to walk, go down a few stairs, over 5 feet, and then back up a few stairs. This is a little annoying but also makes the William Tell song impossible because you can't run around the stadium with a flag anymore without going up and down stairs like 10 times. Little sad to see that die.
Also from that side, they took away the big Stat board, and the middle scoreboard blocks your view of the other, so I had no idea how many fouls or points any players had.
Lastly, with all the club seating and box seats in front of me, I felt a little disconnected from the rest of the stadium, but that will go away as I get used to it all.
Also from that side, they took away the big Stat board, and the middle scoreboard blocks your view of the other, so I had no idea how many fouls or points any players had.
Lastly, with all the club seating and box seats in front of me, I felt a little disconnected from the rest of the stadium, but that will go away as I get used to it all.
As a non-premium seat holder, I'm pretty unimpressed so far.
Disclaimers...I know the project isn't fully completed, and I'm still bitter about how misleading I feel the reseating process was.
Bathrooms on the upper concourse: I know there will be another set opening up next year, but did anyone else think that these were ridiculously small considering well over half of the assembly hall capacity will be using them? I figured the restrooms would be designed so that one end would be the entrance and the other would be the exit. Now you still have to walk through everyone waiting to get out of a single doorway.
Space on the upper concourse: I expect this will improve next year once construction is finished and you won't have so many people wandering around gawking like they were last night, but it was an extremely tight area in which to walk around.
Concessions: Minor issue, but don't try to sell me half the popcorn that I've been getting for the past 5+ years for the same price I was paying before.opcorn:
I'm wondering what kind of donor interest there's going to be during the next reseating cycle in 3 years if the quality of the team doesn't improve. Right now there's nothing about the stadium that makes me want to maintain my level of giving.
Disclaimers...I know the project isn't fully completed, and I'm still bitter about how misleading I feel the reseating process was.
Bathrooms on the upper concourse: I know there will be another set opening up next year, but did anyone else think that these were ridiculously small considering well over half of the assembly hall capacity will be using them? I figured the restrooms would be designed so that one end would be the entrance and the other would be the exit. Now you still have to walk through everyone waiting to get out of a single doorway.
Space on the upper concourse: I expect this will improve next year once construction is finished and you won't have so many people wandering around gawking like they were last night, but it was an extremely tight area in which to walk around.
Concessions: Minor issue, but don't try to sell me half the popcorn that I've been getting for the past 5+ years for the same price I was paying before.
opcorn:I'm wondering what kind of donor interest there's going to be during the next reseating cycle in 3 years if the quality of the team doesn't improve. Right now there's nothing about the stadium that makes me want to maintain my level of giving.
I am wondering what next year's season ticket renewal rate will be if the team does not show some improvement during the rest of this season.
I was not able to attend last night's game but does anyone have any comments on bathroom availability for non-premium seat holders on the east side of SFC
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KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
Side note: Krush is just as far away as everyone thought they would be, even with cheerleaders etc. The first row was probably where the last row used to be, plus another row or two.
Chambana13
- Charleston, IL
I was at the game last night and my biggest things that upset me was accessibility, out seats were in 213. we walked in on west side and missed the stairs to the left so we had to walk all the way around the get to another set of stairs, then we walked by an usher who asked us if we needed help, we knew where we were going but he told us that we can either walk all the way yup the stairs then around or go back out and walk around to the other staircase then back up to our section since you can walk around in a circle anymore...
2nd thing was the smokey fog from the fireworks, the whole game in 200 level it was foggy due to them.
Im not sure if we have discussed this but i thought it was odd that people in suites were served beer and drank during the game but the general admission tickets cant buy beer, dont really understand that, if we are struggling financially in football and basketball then sell alcohol! People will buy it!
Lastly, did anyone else notice how cramped the seats were? im 200 lbs soaking wet and i felt crunched the whole game!
Forgot to mention: The Krush atmosphere wasnt that impressive. not very loud, dont do chants like they use to, no big heads like last year.
2nd thing was the smokey fog from the fireworks, the whole game in 200 level it was foggy due to them.
Im not sure if we have discussed this but i thought it was odd that people in suites were served beer and drank during the game but the general admission tickets cant buy beer, dont really understand that, if we are struggling financially in football and basketball then sell alcohol! People will buy it!
Lastly, did anyone else notice how cramped the seats were? im 200 lbs soaking wet and i felt crunched the whole game!
Forgot to mention: The Krush atmosphere wasnt that impressive. not very loud, dont do chants like they use to, no big heads like last year.
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Let them drink cake.
I may be remembering incorrectly, but I believe there are restrooms on the east side of the upper concourse.
As mentioned above, though, they aren't large. In the men's restroom, I believe there were five or six urinals and three or four stalls. And yes, the flow is not good. The entrance is barely wide enough to accommodate both the people waiting to enter and the people exiting. If you need to throw away a paper towel, the people waiting to enter will likely be standing in front of it.
I don't know if the nearby women's restroom is similar in layout and size. When I went, about one minute game time before half, there was a line of about 40 or 50 for the men's and no line for the women's.
hooraybeer
- Pittsburgh, PA
just one time i was hoping to see us do something exciting enough to get the whole Krush jumping up and down like the Cameron Crazies. didn't happen
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
As a non-premium seat holder, I'm pretty unimpressed so far.
Disclaimers...I know the project isn't fully completed, and I'm still bitter about how misleading I feel the reseating process was.
Bathrooms on the upper concourse: I know there will be another set opening up next year, but did anyone else think that these were ridiculously small considering well over half of the assembly hall capacity will be using them? I figured the restrooms would be designed so that one end would be the entrance and the other would be the exit. Now you still have to walk through everyone waiting to get out of a single doorway.
Space on the upper concourse: I expect this will improve next year once construction is finished and you won't have so many people wandering around gawking like they were last night, but it was an extremely tight area in which to walk around.
Concessions: Minor issue, but don't try to sell me half the popcorn that I've been getting for the past 5+ years for the same price I was paying before.
I'm wondering what kind of donor interest there's going to be during the next reseating cycle in 3 years if the quality of the team doesn't improve. Right now there's nothing about the stadium that makes me want to maintain my level of giving.
I would say that the arena itself looks quite a bit better than before. But, to your questions,
Bathrooms worked out very well for me, but I absolutely did expect to walk through 2 doors, not one. I made a stop after the game, which I feared would be a heavy time and had no problems. My wife seemed to make a pretty quick stop as well.
Space on the upper concourse was better than before, but there are still areas that are constricted by the old windows and/or temporary walls. Some of the brick-o block walls are braced by steel beams that I assume will be removed when the wall is anchored at the top. That did all surprise me a bit, as I wouldn't have thought that work in the bowl would impair the ability to clean up the top. It will get better again next year, but not sure exactly how much better.
I didn't put myself out, but I walked around the top twice and of course never found the hall of fame section. That was dissappointing to me, I expected that to be absolutely front and center.
Popcorn and other concessions have never interested me, so I didn't know of the price increase. They could charge $100 and never hurt me.
I don't like the big fancy seats at the (I think) south end of the building, behind our 2nd half basket. They make that section look dead or empty to my eye. This huge section has been carved out and draped in a dark brown look that just doesn't work for me.
Having 8 rows of students down on the floor was a major win in my view. There was cohesive action and it made the place much more vibrant. Having more students behind the north basket doing the same things was also great. I didn't feel so good for the much smaller crowd of students behind the south basket, as they are broken up by a tunnel and just don't reach the same critical mass.
The parking lot was much fuller than I've seen in some time. And the crowd was better, too. But this might turn out to be the best crowd of the year. How sad is that?
MS looked great across the street all lit up. It felt like a more vibrant sports area of campus as a result.
The temporary wooden handrails leading into the SFC were a surprise to me. First thing you see as you walk up is wood? Seriously? Well, ok, its a work zone, but first impressions are first impressions.
Like you, sorry to lose the flag race. That was a great effect. I know that we needed to get better accommodations for the fat cats, so if that is the only loss, so be it, but it was a cool "Illinois only" thing and who wants to lose those?
It was great to see that about 99% of those in attendance stayed in their seats for the Lou Henson honors. While I'm not as gung ho for Lou as some, I enjoyed the tribute and I appreciated the attendance of the entire crowd.
It was a good evening and I wanted to see the building. But they're going to have to win more to keep the crowd. Duh
I also sat in 213. I didn't have a problem but knew about the first-level "block" going in. I just went upstairs immediately and did my walking on the upper concourse.
I noticed smoke from the fireworks and dissipating fog from the second half entrance display hanging in the air, but it didn't really impede my view.
Well, they're the same as last year, but yes they're cramped. And I'm probably 150 soaking wet.
I thought Krush was pretty good. They did at least a couple chants during play that sounded like they were directed at opposing players. And I thought the coordination on the foul shots was decent.
I think they're still too far away from the court, but that's not their fault.
Chambana13
- Charleston, IL
I thought those "luxury seats" by the 2nd hoop were media tables at first? i dont think those will ever sell...where was the media sitting then?
Illinifanatic4ever
- Orange & Blue Blood in my Veins
Seems like a lot of complaining on here. I for one thought the place looked great. Knowing there is still more construction and some of the amenities such as a new scoreboard and the banner striping next year is going to make the place look even better. The seat colors are amazing looking. My son and I went and had a great time except of course for the games outcome. Everyone wants to complain about so many minor things just come and watch the game and root our team on. Is that asking to much?
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
I agree with your goal . . . root the team on. However, if that is all that matters, why did we spend $170 million? Are you really indifferent to that?
The building looks a lot better and the experience is better, but it is more than fair to ask what we got for the money and for missing 5 games at home.
Illinifanatic4ever
- Orange & Blue Blood in my Veins
I get where you are coming from but it just seems like every one wants to nit pick something. I get the cost of the renovation but they had to do it. You can't please everyone that's foresure. I wonder how other Big Ten arenas stack up to the SFC as far as comfort and other amenties go?
It isn't done yet.
Illinifanatic4ever
- Orange & Blue Blood in my Veins
:clappy:
Exactly
Exactly