[NU Sports] Attendance (long rant, sorry)

[cherron604 at aol.com]

One possible reason for attendance problems - the worst customer service not only in football, but possibly in the entire consumer realm (Is football attendance allowed to be lousy, so that Kellogg professors will have a nearby lesson to teach on how NOT to behave in business ?)

My 'fun, exciting day of Wildcat football' started somewhat poorly when my West Lot pass was turned down - even though there were spaces back by Isabella, and several 'prominently displayed' Penn State tailgates were taking up more space than they needed to.  Also noted several cars without West Lot hangtags - or maybe they had all fallen of the rearview mirrors by accident.  We were directed to the practice field.  Not too bad, still a close walk to the stadium.

When I left the game, however, the World-Famous indifference of NU employees to the fans was on full display.  The passage ways on both sides of McGaw Hall that were open before the game were now blocked off.  The east-side passage was blocked off close to the stadium, so you could see you couldn't use it, but the west-side passage wasnt blocked off until the back of McGaw, and neither side had a sign or employee to direct patrons back to their cars, after the path had changed since the beginning of the game.  I saw several fans standing there puzzled - wondering how to get back to their cars.  Notably, I saw no NU employees or athletic department staffers to help these fans - the staffers were probably munching hors d'oeuvres in some skybox.  I could've probably slid under the gate at the back of McGaw hall, but a grim-faced guy in a yellow jacket looked ready to hassle me if I tried that...

Finally I had to walk over to Ashland and down to Isabella.  Of course, there is no sidewalk on Isabella (NU Athletics has chosen to plant bedraggled little trees on the parkway on Isabella), so you have to walk ON Isabella.  Finally you get back to the gate, which is blocked off by tarps (so no one steals any of McCall's innovative plays) and locked, reach through the middle to try and hail the two gatekeepers, then follow an obstacle course both to your car and out (so as not to destroy any more of the practice field, already a mess of mud and tire ruts).  Then wait for the gatekeepers to once again unlock the gate. Part of the all-day fun that we like to call 'a day of NU football'.

I have been to road games everywhere, in the conference and out - and almost all of them have a more efficient/better run football experience, from traffic control (most schools have good relations with their towns), directing you to and from parking, convenient gate access, etc.  NU drops the ball at almost every turn.

Thanks again, Mr AD, for overselling your West Lot - one wonders if subtle bribes are offered/accepted to get people without West Lot passes in there.  But that couldn't happen - not at a shrine to honor and integrity like Northwestern...

Chuck Herron   Tech '85

-----Original Message-----
From: mlinhardt at netzero.com <mlinhardt at netzero.com>
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Cc: Maureen.Linhardt at plexus.com
Sent: Mon, Nov 2, 2009 6:09 am
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Attendance



At NIU each student gets an extra ticket in the student section.  A co-worker 
rought a few friends and went to the game on his daugther's(and friends) 
ickets.
As for ticket prices don't change them.  We are low relative to the rest of the 
ig Ten and yet our costs are higher due to the "bribes" we have to pay 
vanston.  The free non-conference tickets we received as season ticket holders 
ent to good use so that added 3 bodies in the stands.
As pathetic as football attendance is wait until non-conference weekday 
asketball.  Ug-lee!
---------- Original Message ----------
rom: MHRJGScott at aol.com
Way too expensive, let students and one guest in for free, $10 youth, $20  
ndzone and corner, and $50 sideline with season tickets at $40 per might 
ake  it more better if not crowded.

oes anyone else think that $50 a pop for tickets for a team that (sorry,  
ill be brutal here) has not won a league title since 2000 or a bowl game 
ince  1949 is too much money? 

___________________________________________________________
egis University MBA
arn your MBA from Regis University, 100% online. Free info packs!
ttp://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/c?cp=hbtw1AFx7qhbpshq0mx_ZwAAJz7ALt5GO-C7JBKxLShv_Pw_AAQAAAAFAAAAAMBfGT8AAAMlAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAiHkAAAAAA=
_______________________________________________
wu-sports site list
wu-sports at tssi.com
ttp://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports