[NU Sports] An interesting offer, a game day fiasco

[cherron604 at aol.com]

As a season ticket holder, I got an email from the ticket office offering 'my friends' $50 seats for the Illinois game for a mere $40.? I am sensing an awful crowd at this final game, driven down by lousy weather, the lousy economy, lousy injuries (for us), a lousy defeat in Detroit (for them), etc. etc

On that subject (BEWARE - rant alert), our off-field performance in the OSU game was abysmal.? I walked past areas in the South horseshoe where people (mostly OSU fans) were waiting in lines 30-40 deep for porta-pottie access.? Restroom access was pretty bad throughout the stadium, with long lines at the breaks.

The concessions were horrific.? The line upstairs at my usual concession stand (around box 230) was horrible, I headed for the tower concession stand (which was worse), then went down the ramp to the main level of the stadium.? Here too, lines were horrible, and moved slowly.? When I got to the front of the line I noticed 3 guys staffing it, but only one taking money/dispensing product.? The two others seemed to be confirming that 'we're out of that'.

The Athletic Department knew this was a sell-out several weeks ago, and could have rented enough porta-potties so that lines did not extend 30-40 deep.? They could have brought in additional people to man the concession stands.? 20,000 extra fans at $50 bucks a piece means $1,000,000 extra dollars, which rents alot of porta-potties and hires a lot of temporary help.? Not to mention $ lost in concessions sales that were lost due to long lines, slow service and lack of product.? Not only are the concessions lousy (puny under-cooked hot dogs in stale, crumbly buns, tepid watery hot chocolate), but the lines were unending, and when many got to the head of the line, they were informed that something had run out.

I have been to games at our 10 conference mates, and they invariably do a better job with the little things - concessions, bathrooms, etc.? I know that we don't usually get big crowds anymore (surprise !), but if you know a big crowd is coming, at least try to plan for it.? It's as if Macy's gave half their clerks the day off on 'Black Friday', and took out bathrooms that day for 'maintenance'.

Even though I know small crowds are anathema to bowl committees, recruits and TV cameramen, I'll take them until the Athletic Department learns how to handle big crowds properly.? We were doing this?A LOT better in 1995 and 1996.?

(end of rant)

Oh well, at least the crowds will be small, the lines short, the parking lot easily entered at the Illinois game...

Chuck Herron?? Tech '85