Yes but in some ways it is a whole season on a neutral court. Emotion is important and the players have to feel disappointed and ask themselves. "This is a home game?"
It's possible we had no other options--or at least very few options. But playing in a much larger arena pretty distant from campus is certainly not preferable. During the last Welsh-Ryan renovation while I was at NU in the early 80s, we played our home games at DePaul's old gym. Sure, it was small, outdated, and a glorified high school gym. But it was easily accessible by L train and had a pressure-cooker environment. It was actually kind of a fun change of pace for a year. Allstate, not so much from the looks of it.
Listen I'll be at more games than most on this board. My point is even know the place sucks there are ways to improve it. Why close the concession stands midway through the second half? Also because there is not a free parking option that might turn away a lot of people. On top of that their parking people are incompetent. They directed us to park on the complete opposite end of the entrance which was awful to walk around the stadium with a three year old in the freezing cold. There were a ton of open spots right by the main entrance and they should have been sending all cars there. Overall just improve some of the easy common sense type things. The ushers were cold and not welcoming and they keep the curtains closed during play, so you have to open them yourself to get back into your seat. I always knew I loved Welsh Ryan, but last night just reaffirmed it.
Actually it's the so called NU fans that need the kicking. They didn't come at W-R until the end of last season either. If they have four or five thousand ST holders, then where the hell were they. Or how about the purple seat folks, guess they are waiting for next season or don't have friends who could use their tickets. The students will come, they packed the place when NU played ND and DePaul there in the NIT.
Really, you would think that they could use the extra cash. I thought someone said that the seating capacity was to small. 5,000? Wonder if the UIC arena was considered?
But what other venue is feasible? Loyola for the nonconference games, but it wouldn't cut it for the Big Ten games. Sears Centre? If you can't get the students to Rosemont, good luck with Hoffman Estates. Same with downtown/UIC Pavillion.
I miss the WR scoreboards, Can't even see player points and fouls from half the stadium. The stadium was designed for something else. Not great for BB.
Thank the city fathers for that. They rezoned the land so it could not happen
It is a huge place by comparison to WR and the heat generators that are fans have a much bigger arena to heat up
I think there are a coupe of free options for limited numbers but you are taking a chance. Rosemont is a money gouging town sticking people up for parking every chance they get.
There isn't any parking on the North side. Best options are to park on West side but that is a still a bit of a walk. Go in through the S gate and at least you are walking around inside. Don't have to walk around outside.
They charge it because they can and it is not likely it is NU. Rosemont is a bunch of thieves. They charge for parking everywhere. Go to a hotel for a conference, pay lot. Shop pay lot. Allstate Arena.... At least with a parking pass it brings it down to $10. And isn't $15 about what NU charges in their lots? I think I heard there are a couple free alternatives in lots not likely to be towed but...
Not sure if it would be allowed, but I think even ETHS/New Trier would be better for the team.
Sure Rosemont has a poor reputation, regarding it's politics and policies but I can't think of an arena, stadium or ballpark that doesn't charge for parking. hey maybe we can get NU to make the west lot free for football games. All in favor...
Do you really think that playing at the Pavilion would be a problem for the students. It does have very good public transportation almost to it's front door.
Yeah, but it's still not exactly a short commute. Most students can't even be bothered to show up at W-R.
That's a long haul on the train (you have to transfer). Shuttles to Allstate much faster. Also, playing dates would be an issue at either UIC or Loyola. Hopefully, big crowds will show up for Big Ten games and we'll forget about this discussion. Early season games draw sparse crowds at a lot of college venues.
