[NU Sports] Wrigley Stupidity

[Ben Adler]

Okay, I'll be the naive contrarian today.

Wrigley Field is one of my favorite places on earth.  It's an amazing place to watch sports.  And while I don't favor doing this all the time, the novelty of one game would be a terrific experience and I'd love to attend.

Of course, the sad fact is: I live in California, have a limited income and spent far too much of it at the Outback Bowl.  So I probably won't make it to Wrigley.  But for the students, faculty, staff and alums in the Chicago area, what's so wrong with trying something new?

Don't want to deal with parking?  Take the L.  It's pretty darn easy.  I had a car at NU my last two years, and never once did I waste time and money driving to Wrigley.
Slightly worse seats than Ryan Field?  Get over it.  You'll have a great time, if you just let yourself relax and enjoy the experience.
A long line or two, or bathrooms that aren't impeccable?  I'm sorry it's not Jerry Jones' monstrosity of a WalMartized "stadium" but most sports venues - especially college venues - aren't posh $200 steakhouses!

I recognize there's some merit to arguments like "pick a non-conference game, not Illinois;" or, "make sure NU has more than five home games at Ryan Field."  But life isn't perfect.  You weigh the pros and the cons of each situation.  When you consider the added exposure, revenue and (most importantly) amazing game-day experience, I think this is by far a net positive.

If I could, I would go to this game in an instant.  I'd take the L, find my imperfect seat, down a couple drinks and have a blast.

That's enough for now - have at me...

-- Ben

P.S. Derrick Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Marlon Byrd (who replaces Milton Bradley), Ryan Theriot, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto, Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster ... and I'm not even a native Cubs fan.


________________________________
From: "hakirsch at aol.com" <hakirsch at aol.com>
To: cherron604 at aol.com; nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Sent: Wed, March 3, 2010 8:03:45 AM
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Wrigley Stupidity

Chuck
You must be a sox fan !
That aside I agree. Giving up a home game against a conference rival could bite us in the butt. Only if illinois agreed to do it in their home years as well would I go along with it 
We should look to do this as a novelty money maker with a non conf team. 
I still also think we ought to do Soldier field vs ND like in 1992. Talk about good bucks
Harry------Original Message------From: cherron604 at aol.comSender: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.comTo: nwu-sports at tssi.comSubject: [NU Sports] Wrigley StupiditySent: Mar 3, 2010 7:43 AM

It appears that our headline-grabbing, NIU caliber athletic director is at it again.  Teddy Greenstein reports http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0303-northwestern-illinois-wrigley20100302,0,4631198.storythat plans are advancing for next season's Illinois game (a particularly stupid choice) to be moved to the worst football venue in Chicago, Wrigley Field.
Put aside for a moment that Wrigley is a dump, has insultingly bad facilities (locker rooms, bathrooms and concessions), has no parking, and will likely be packed with Illinois fans.  Put aside that most summertime fans show up because it is the largest Singles Bar/Beer Garden in town, and most of them could not name more than 2 or 3 members of either lineup.  The article mentioned liquor sales would take place (making more money for the Cubs) - we will be treated to the spectacle of 30,000 Illini fans abusing the NU fans at what was once designated a 'home game'.  And the mind numbs at outdoor beer drinking on a day in late November.
I have a parking pass at Dyche - now I'll probably pay for a 6-game Dyche parking pass, plus pay some Lakeview landlord 20 or 30 bucks for the privilege of parking bumper to bumper in his muddy backyard.
Brick walls very close to the field of play are another problem - clearly not one on Jim Phillips' radar as he seeks more headlines for his scrapbook.  Are bowl possibilities screwed up for the 2010 Cats by giving up a home conference game ?  Phillips seems indifferent.  He gets to shake hands with Crane Kenney and Mayor Daley...woohoo !
A moronic idea, all around.  What will be the next nugget of marketing genius from ex-NIU guy Phillips ?  Maybe move the next home date against Ohio State to Cleveland ! (wait, thats been done already)
Chuck Herron, Tech '85  (and disgruntled 25-year season ticketholder)



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