[NU Sports] Attendance (long rant, sorry)

[Arthur Miller]

That was interesting, Chuck, thanks for sharing.  One would think that Northwestern, being fundamentally disadvantaged to the rest of the Big Ten in so many ways, would at least endeavor to be excellent in those things within our control.

And you didn't even mention the concessions!

Art Miller


--- On Mon, 11/2/09, cherron604 at aol.com <cherron604 at aol.com> wrote:

> From: cherron604 at aol.com <cherron604 at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Attendance (long rant, sorry)
> To: mlinhardt at netzero.com, nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Cc: Maureen.Linhardt at plexus.com
> Date: Monday, November 2, 2009, 9:06 AM
> 
> 
> 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
>