[NU Sports] Wrigley Stupidity

[Trey McAdams]

I completely disagree.   This subject always gets me going.

I treasure the time I got to see a Cowboy-Packer game in County stadium.  Do I remember the bad sight lines - Nope.  Do I remember the experience - Yes.

1. This is great for creating national "buzz".  An NU-Illinois Ryan field game means nothing Nationally.  A Wrigley NU-Illinois will get highlights all over the nation.
2. I see this as a great experience for the players.  An opportunity to play in a unique and historical building.  It sends a message that NU football is a program that is willing to try new things and create great experiences for players.
3. The game will be sold out.  Zero chance of that at Ryan.
4. Cool fan experience.  Ryan may have better seats and parking, but certainly not concessions.

This is not moving a Home Game with OSU to Cleveland - that was beyond moronic.  This is a great marketing idea.  It will also up the intensity of the game for both sides - that has to be a good thing.

If we are going to do this - we have to do it right...

Next Steps for Philips - no particular order:
1. Start picking out the throw back uniforms for the game for both teams.
2. Create a "tailgating" experience for the fans outside the field in Wrigleyville.
3. Do something to get kids/families/fans safely onto the field after the game to run the bases or catch a pass in Wrigley.  Could be an extra ticket for purchase or something like that.
4. Make sure that the manual scoreboard in center field is posting scores from around the Big 10 and other conferences.
5. Design the NU-White "W" flag to fly after the game.
6. Beg/Plead/Bribe - whatever it takes to make this the ABC game at 2:30.  Worst case ESPN at 11(although this is not acceptable - 2:30 is the only acceptable option).
7. Honor the 1995 Football team at half time - 15th year anniversary (Wow!  I am shocked it has been 15 years)
8. Keep working on the Wrigley/Fenway Home and Home with Boston College.
9. Gotta have a really great NU person to sing the 7th Inning stretch between the 3rd and 4th quarter.  Someone who can really sing which would make it unlike almost all 7th inning stretches.  Need an update for the words as well.  We have a strong music school - this should be easy for us.
10. Fireworks after the win.

Think EVENT.  Not football game.

Chuck - Again, I offer my garage to park in for the game.  I live 12 blocks away.




________________________________
From: "cherron604 at aol.com" <cherron604 at aol.com>
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Sent: Wed, March 3, 2010 9:43:00 AM
Subject: [NU Sports] Wrigley Stupidity


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.story
that 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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