[NU Sports] Attendance

Mon Nov 19 14:58:27 CST 2007

Regarding voluntary payments for real estate purchases (which in turn
removes them from the local property tax rolls), Northwestern did recently
purchase the 1800 Sherman building and made $2 million in voluntary payments
to the city and school districts.  Of course this does not account for
future taxes and potential increases in property value that the city would
have reaped increased revenue from, but at least it's something.  Here's the
reference from the Daily:

http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2004/11/22/City/1800-Clubs.New.Landlord.Nu-1916552.shtml

Also, the university did pay about $700,000 to settle the historic district
lawsuit in order to have some properties removed from the historic district
(including such buildings as the Foster-Walker Complex: built in the mid
70's, Blomquist Gym: built in the late 70s, and the Hillel Center: built in
the late 90's).

In any case there's no doubt that the city and the university have had a
rough relationship and the night game restriction is most likely one of the
outcomes from that rough standing.  Anyways, if NU does have the opportunity
to host more than one night game in a year (decided by TV more than anyone
else) I would hope that the university and city could come to an
understanding of some sort, as the city and university hopefully both
realize that they need each other to continue surviving in their current
states.

Jonathan

On Nov 19, 2007 2:16 PM, Jeff Beamsley <jeff.beamsley at hilgraeve.com> wrote:

>
> How long did you live in Evanston?
>
> The cynicism about politicians aside, this is not the sort of relationship
> that can be easily lubricated with football tickets.
>
> The town and the University have been at odds for years because both feel
> that they would be better off if the other didn't exist.
>
> The city feels that the University uses more than its fair share of
> services
> since it pays no real estate taxes.  Also, unlike many other private
> universities, it makes no voluntary payments for additional real estate
> that
> it may purchase and remove from the local tax rolls.
>
> The University feels that between students, teachers, and staff; it
> contributes way more to the local economy than it uses in services.
>
> As a result, the city takes advantage of every opportunity it can to claw
> back revenue that it feels it is owed.  The University on the other hand
> has
> its own set of trench war tactics including continuing to expand its real
> estate holdings in the community.
>
> Jeff
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
> Behalf Of johnadeg at comcast.net
> Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 2:46 PM
> To: Jonathan Hodges; Michael Vance
> Cc: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Attendance
>
> I doubt that Evanston politicians are any different from those in
> Washington
> or at the state and local levels.  Revisit the limitations on night games
> and
> give them some season tickets and parking slots.
>  No connection between the two events of course.
> John DeGroat
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Jonathan Hodges" <jonathanwhodges at gmail.com>
> > I believe it is based on the start time of the game: e.g. anything
> > after 6PM would be a night game (2:30 starts, although requiring
> > temporary lights, are not considered night games).  Of course I can't
> > find any direct reference to the rule that allows only one night game
> > per year, although it may just be an "unofficial" agreement between the
> school and the city.
> >
> > Also, night games are typically announced before the season.
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> > On Nov 18, 2007 1:57 PM, Michael Vance < michael.vance at att.net> wrote:
> >
> > > What qualifies as a "night game" for the Evanston ordinance? Is it
> > > defined by kickoff beyond a certain time, regardless of the time of
> > > year and amount of available natural light or is it based on whether
> > > we need to put up the temporary artificial lights?
> > >
> > > -Michael
> > >
> > > Mark Ament wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Our game was allowed because it was on the ESPN family of
> > > > networks, of which ABC is only a small player these days. There
> > > > are certain weeks in which BTN has second choice, I believe it's
> > > > twice a year, but it won't be on the last week of the year. It may
> > > > have been last week as the tOSU-Wisky game was forced on the BTN.
> > > >
> > > > The BTN games I believe are exempt from the no conflict rule and
> > > > can be opposite both ESPN and ABC games so shouldn't interfere
> > > > with time changes, should NU decide to adopt a different start
> > > > time for some games next year. Keep in mind however, that NU is
> > > > bound by the Evanston ordinance that permits only one night game
> > > > per season and has shown no inclination to ask for that to be
> changed.
> > > >
> > > > Mark
> > > >
> > > > SportsBiz - The Business of Sports Illuminated
> > > > <http://thesportsbizblog.blogspot.com/>
> > > >
> > > > When it comes to sports, you know it's all about
> > > >
> > > > the money.
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
> > > > [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com ] On Behalf Of Michael Vance
> > > > Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 12:51 AM
> > > > To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
> > > > Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Attendance
> > > >
> > > > Are the rules regarding the scheduling of games opposite ABC
> > > > published
> > > >
> > > > somewhere? Because today there were two Big Ten games at 12:00 EST
> > > >
> > > > (Mich-OSU on ABC and NU-Ill on EPSN) and four at 3:30 (MSU-PSU on
> > > >
> > > > ABC/ESPN regional coverage, and the rest on BTN. Was our game
> > > > allowed
> > > >
> > > > opposite Mich-OSU because it was on another ABC network?
> > > >
> > > > Also, didn't I read something about BTN getting second pick some
> weeks?
> > > >
> > > > I agree that more late starts would help attendance a lot for NU
> > > > and
> > > >
> > > > other Central time teams.
> > > >
> > > > -Michael
> > > >
> > > > Jonathan Hodges wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Some good ideas - obviously some new and fresh ideas are needed
> > > > > to
> > > > address
> > > >
> > > > > this issue, because outside of winning a lot of games year in
> > > > > and
> > > > year out,
> > > >
> > > > > the old stuff isn't working. I would like to address some the
> > > > > things
> > > that
> > > >
> > > > > you brought up, though:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > - Starting times: it's all in the hands of the networks, and the
> > > > agreement
> > > >
> > > > > with ESPN says that no BTN games can be opposite the "marquee"
> > > > > ABC
> > > > matchup
> > > >
> > > > > of the day (typically the 2:30 slot, but in the case of the
> > > OSU/Michigan
> > > >
> > > > > game it's noon). ESPN/ABC gets their pick(s) first, and the BTN
> > > > > has to
> > > >
> > > > > schedule their games around those games, giving the Big Ten and
> > > > specifically
> > > >
> > > > > Northwestern little control in regards to time of games.
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > - Northern Illinois: NIU is now insisting on home-and-home
> > > > > series
> > > > games (NU
> > > >
> > > > > has never played NIU away from home), which I don't think NU is
> > > > willing to
> > > >
> > > > > do. Maybe if it was 2 for one or better, NU may go for it, but
> > > > > Murphy
> > > >
> > > > > insists on having 7 home games (something I don't disagree with)
> > > > > and
> > > >
> > > > > home-and-home series against MAC level competition won't let NU
> > > > > get
> > > > there.
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > - "Home" game away from Ryan Field: a bad idea and won't do
> > > > > anything
> > > for
> > > >
> > > > > numbers outside of on paper, especially since renting a facility
> > > > > and
> > > > dealing
> > > >
> > > > > with travel, etc. won't really make NU any money. And I
> > > > > completely
> > > > disagree
> > > >
> > > > > with the idea of selling out by moving a home game closer to an
> > > > opponent as
> > > >
> > > > > an attempt to get more fans - in that case don't even try to get
> > > > > home
> > > > games.
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > - Day of Game discounts: GREAT idea. This is a college (amateur
> > > > > level)
> > > >
> > > > > sport. A $50 tag drives away almost every casual fan family who
> > > > > can't
> > > >
> > > > > afford that steep price - oh, and once they get to the game
> > > > > there's
> > > > no money
> > > >
> > > > > left for the pricey concessions. Especially for nonconference
> > > > > games,
> > > NU
> > > >
> > > > > needs to play with the prices (bring them down A LOT) to attract
> > > > people to
> > > >
> > > > > the game. The fact is that it can't hurt, NU saw TWO games this
> > > > > year
> > > > under
> > > >
> > > > > 20,000 in attendance with another THREE just over 20,000.
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Anyways, not trying to shoot down any idea, the fact is NU needs
> > > > > a new
> > >
> > > >
> > > > > well-thought-out strategy regarding attendance and filling the
> seats.
> > > I
> > > >
> > > > > would hope that this discussion is starting in the athletic
> > > > > department
> > > >
> > > > > shortly, and IMHO it would be advisable to include NU fans in
> > > > > the
> > > > discussion
> > > >
> > > > > (maybe a town hall type format or an internet exchange).
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Jonathan
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > On Nov 16, 2007 8:49 PM, < WildElk2 at aol.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > >> Master of the Obvious Dept.: The 12 game schedule has made it
> > > > >> more
> > > >
> > > > >> difficult
> > > >
> > > > >> to get decent crowds, although Mark Murphy is on record that he
> > > > >> will
> > > > take
> > > >
> > > > >> a
> > > >
> > > > >> win at home in front of 15,000, as he feels that more wins will
> > > >
> > > > >> eventually
> > > >
> > > > >> equal more people.
> > > >
> > > > >> With the BTN, there may be more flexibility of starting times.
> > > > >> Maybe
> > > >
> > > > >> we
> > > >
> > > > >> can ask the BTN for more 2:30 PM games (as well as an
> > > > >> occasional
> > > night
> > > >
> > > > >> game)? 11:00 AM kick-offs have to keep at least a few people
> away.
> > > The
> > > >
> > > > >> Duke
> > > >
> > > > >> game is perfect example, as it produced 6,7,000 more than the
> > > >
> > > > >> Northeastern/Nevada games.
> > > >
> > > > >> Get a series with Northern Ill.. A five year series with 3
> > > > >> games in
> > > >
> > > > >> Evanston. This would help both programs , who struggle with
> > > > >> early
> > > season
> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > >> attendance issues.
> > > >
> > > > >> Schedule a "home" game outside of Dyche Stadium. This is not a
> > > paycheck
> > > >
> > > > >> game like the one we disgustingly played vs. Ohio St. at
> > > > >> Cleveland
> > > >
> > > > >> Municipal
> > > >
> > > > >> Stadium in the early Nineties. There are plenty of small
> > > > >> stadiums
> > > >
> > > > >> across the
> > > >
> > > > >> country that hold 20,000-25,000. An example would be Hershey
> > > > >> Park
> > > >
> > > > >> Stadium
> > > >
> > > > >> in Hershey, Pa., which holds 20,000. In 2009 we play Towson; a
> > > perfect
> > > >
> > > > >> game
> > > >
> > > > >> to make it easy for east coast alums and fans. Notre Dame is
> > > > >> playing
> > > >
> > > > >> "home"
> > > >
> > > > >> games in San Antonio and Jacksonville in the near future.
> > > >
> > > > >> On the day of the game, if we have a 20,000-25,000 ish crowd,
> > > > >> sell
> > > the
> > > >
> > > > >> end zone and goal-line seats for $5, and advertise the hell out
> > > > >> of it
> > > >
> > > > >> via
> > > >
> > > > >> newspapers, radio, TV. Just get people here; they'll buy hot
> > > > >> dogs,
> > > >
> > > > >> programs,
> > > >
> > > > >> and once in a while, they'll get a junkie hooked like me, who
> > > > >> paid
> > > > $4 for
> > > >
> > > > >> end
> > > >
> > > > >> zone seats circa. 1980. In the same vein, bring back Band Day
> > > > >> and
> > > sell
> > > >
> > > > >> all
> > > >
> > > > >> those crappy seats for a $1 for each band member.
> > > >
> > > > >> Crowds(?) of 16,000, 17,000, and 20,000 for a conference game
> > > > >> is
> > > >
> > > > >> unacceptable. Time to take steps to change.
> > > >
> > > > >> As far as the Illinois game, I anticipate a hard-hitting
> > > > >> nail-biter,
> > > >
> > > > >> but
> > > >
> > > > >> I'm picking Illinois to win, as after 4 straight wins, it's
> > > Illinois's
> > > >
> > > > >> turn.
> > > >
> > > > >> They will not take us lightly, and after 4 straight losses and
> > > > >> so
> > > > much on
> > > >
> > > > >> the line, I see no let-down. We need to stop the run, period.
> > > > >> With
> > > that
> > > >
> > > > >> said,
> > > >
> > > > >> I see a 31-27 Illinois win. If we can stop the run , we'll give
> > > >
> > > > >> ourselves
> > > >
> > > > >> a chance to win.
> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > >> GO CATS!!! Eric
> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > >> ************************************** See what's new at
> > > >
> > > > >> http://www.aol.com
> > > >
> > > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >
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> > > >
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> > > >
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> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > >
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> > > >
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> > > >
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> > > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jonathan W. Hodges
> > 1237 Emerson St Apt 2
> > Evanston, IL  60201-3577
> > (847) 736-2449
> > jonathanwhodges at gmail.com
> > _______________________________________________
> > nwu-sports site list
> > nwu-sports at tssi.com
> > http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>
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-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
1237 Emerson St Apt 2
Evanston, IL  60201-3577
(847) 736-2449
jonathanwhodges at gmail.com