Influence of Allstate Arena location on team performance

[purplebirder]

Everyone has high expectations for the coming season but will playing the games at Allstate potentially dampen team performance ?

Seemingly there are at least of a couple of issues : (1) Presumably the team will not be able to practice there often (BTW where will they practice) and if they do,the bus ride to and from Allstate will take up valuable time . Will playing there will take away home court advantage.(2) I assume some students will not take the time to travel to and from Allstate (hopefully though the university will provide shuttle buses) and therefore the loud crowd support that the team has had at Welsh-Ryan may be diminished(although of course alums will be in attendance)

I hope I am worrying too much but opinions are welcome. Nonetheless I am already anticipating watching the football and basketball Cats on national TV (I live in Tucson) this coming fall and winter.

 

[Deeringfish]

Everyone has high expectations for the coming season but will playing the games at Allstate potentially dampen team performance ?

Seemingly there are at least of a couple of issues : (1) Presumably the team will not be able to practice there often (BTW where will they practice) and if they do,the bus ride to and from Allstate will take up valuable time . Will playing there will take away home court advantage.(2) I assume some students will not take the time to travel to and from Allstate (hopefully though the university will provide shuttle buses) and therefore the loud crowd support that the team has had at Welsh-Ryan may be diminished(although of course alums will be in attendance)

I hope I am worrying too much but opinions are welcome. Nonetheless I am already anticipating watching the football and basketball Cats on national TV (I live in Tucson) this coming fall and winter.

I'm not sure there are many upsides. The location is more convenient for a larger population of people to attend but that means opposing fans as well. Our good season last year may bring out a few more Purple people from the Chicagoland area and flying in for a game would be a breeze due to proximity to O'Hare.

One slight advantage will be that as the season goes on, veteran opposing players who have gotten a feel for WR will be playing in a strange place. Not sure that helps much.

The guys are just going to have to make it their home. Find the mindset that they are Chicago's Team defending the City. I think they learned to play with attitude at the tail end of the season last year. I look forward to them bringing that attitude into the new season and being undefeated "at home" when the BIG schedule begins.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

It gives us a built-in excuse if we perform poorly.

Honestly, I'd be surprised if it affects our performance. Our team is mentally pretty resilient...especially our PG BMac.

 

[Styre]

The guys are just going to have to make it their home. Find the mindset that they are Chicago's Team defending the City

...of Rosemont

(Although I think it's actually the Village of Rosemont)

 

[Deeringfish]

...of Rosemont

(Although I think it's actually the Village of Rosemont)

Well, they easily should win the village championship and there will be a new banner on the arena wall in 2018-19. Silver lining. Is O'hare actually not in the city either?

 

[JournCat]

We only went 5-4 in conference home games last year, but there were a few close calls where being at home did help (Michigan and Rutgers come to mind). Tough year to lose Welsh-Ryan.

 

[Sec.112]

 

[Styre]

Well, they easily should win the village championship and there will be a new banner on the arena wall in 2018-19. Silver lining. Is O'hare actually not in the city either?

O'Hare is in the city, along with a portion of Higgins Road connecting it to the rest of the city. Chicago annexed the land back in the '50s.

 

[Figrating]

These factors may dampen performance, but if the team just delivers most of the performance we expect, their record will be better and the dampening will be hidden.

CC must practice in the new court as often as possible to create a home field advantage. Sure, we'll lose student-fans because one more bus ride is one too many. OTOH, the team is exciting enough to attract new student-fans that don't have the problem.

 

[willycat]

These factors may dampen performance, but if the team just delivers most of the performance we expect, their record will be better and the dampening will be hidden.

CC must practice in the new court as often as possible to create a home field advantage. Sure, we'll lose student-fans because one more bus ride is one too many. OTOH, the team is exciting enough to attract new student-fans that don't have the problem.

Nu did pretty good when they played a season at DePaul's Alumni Hall. Got a NIT bid that year , if my memory serves me.

 

[hdhntr1]

Well, they easily should win the village championship and there will be a new banner on the arena wall in 2018-19. Silver lining. Is O'hare actually not in the city either?

I think they annexed it. Huge for the tax revenues

 

[DawkinsBoy]

They're practicing at Blom (or at least they have been this summer). They just redid the courts there and put up a lot of Northwestern marketing materials on the walls to make it seem like a more legit practice area (I presume).

 

[Deeringfish]

What do other schools do? This must happen from time to time. How have other programs done?

It is actually an interesting example. We have every reason to believe that the personnel on the teams should be improved. We lost our 4th and 6th best contributors but in College that isn't much and we are adding some very talented young players. Assuming the talent upgrade and increased maturity and development of returning players, we should be a better program this year, if we are not it would point to the adversity of the venues. IMO.