I'm pretty sure every football recruit that picks NU does so in spite of its gameday atmosphere.
Season Ticket Holders Should Be Ashamed
- Thread starter thewildcat2011
- Start date
Having a full or nearly full stadium makes for a nice atmosphere. I don't care too much what is the percentage of NU fans that make up that crowd. The games are fun when the stadium is full. What's the big deal about lots of MSU/Iowa/Wiscy/Nebraska fans coming to the game? It's not like the NU alums have been deprived of chances to buy. It was fun yesterday.
And therein lies the structural problem that needs to be fixed--don't see why there can't be a dedicated NU ticket exchange that can connect Wildcat fans for these purposes. Yes, we'd probably still have an overall demand problem, but I'm assuming at least some of the issue would be alleviated.
Were you surrounded by MSU fans? IMO it's not that fun to be yelled at for celebrating your team in your own stadium in your STH seats, but maybe this is my lawn that people need to get off of.
As a matter of fact, yes, there were many MSU fans near my seats. I went from 10 season tickets down to 2 this season. Every week there are new people sitting in what were formerly my seats. I can only conclude that NU is selling these off weekly either thru their website or in the secondary market. Or maybe, before the season, NU sold those season tickets off to the professional scalpers...
The opposing fans have been fine. It's actually kind of fun having different people up there from game to game (these are good seats). If they behave like assholes you let them have it but it has been no big deal this year. By the way, when I go to away games I like good seats and buy them in the secondary market and sit among those mostly good, hardcore fans. It's part of the fun of college football. I don't get this idea that a stadium 100% full of the home team crowd is a good thing.
I think we have a core 50% season ticket holder base and things never get below that but I think the rest of it is up to the expectations around the team and also the policies of the NU AD. To illustrate how policies make a difference, I had 26 season tickets up to the 1997 season. Then I went to 12 and, later, to 10. Now I'm at 2. Those decisions were related to policy change on parking passes and how I choose to consume the product. My story is not all that unusual. I do not think that NU has replaced long time season holder cutbacks with new NU fan ST holders. Not unexpected.
I’m pretty sure those who don’t also consider game day atmosphere. It also has to affect team performance.
The Blackhawks have such an exchange. I always list there unsuccessfully and have still only sold via StubHub and Craigslist (and friends/fam).
Pretty sure those MSU fans have flat screens too, they seemed to make it out alright.
I don't have the long term insight on this, and parking is not an issue I care about as a STH, but the point is that yes, the administration's policies CAN have an affect on fan behavior...for the "what ever could we do about this" crown.
villox and I were actually discussing how much longer we would go to every home game (it's been since 2001 for me and he has been there for almost all of them) because it is indeed often just as fine, or better, an experience to watch at home. I say this as I enjoy my 7 games of Sunday Ticket right now on my 60 inch TV.
It's a different story if you can't see your team at home every other week. Makes it more an event to see them play at an opposing stadium live. It's also an event to travel, especially to a city like Chicago, for those who are not Chicago area resident visitor alums.
I hear the frustration of you and others. I used to feel more that way, too. But it's just not realistically going to change, nor really *should* it - it's just NU football. If we ever get 1995-96 good again, we'll be a hot ticket in Chicago.
I guess it's a testament to the flaccidity of any AD programs/policies over the past however many years in attempts to create an actual fanbase. I'm a little saddened by the attitude of what are supposedly the NU diehards on this board, but I do get it.
You're right, it's much more comfortable for my to be at home with my flatscreen and a decent drink and food than dealing with opposing fans, which are at best a neutral presence and at best a game-ruining factor. Something to consider.
I'm excited to see what happens in the new WR. If it's same old, same old, I'll have 0 expectation that this is an issue that can ever truly be addressed.
IMO, it is directly related to whether or basketball program can continue to build and, just as importantly, sustain success. If so, it'll be a lot more purple than old WR. If not, it'll be same old, same old. Winning is all that matters, and winning consistently.
I'm definitely agreed on the winning mantra for both football and basketball, but as a counterpoint I'll raise the fact that, while we have absolutely not reached the highs of 95/96, this stretch has been consistently the best NU has ever been.
It's not exactly super exciting, but it's the truth. We've won 10 games twice in the past 5 years...we've won 2 bowls. If people are waiting for a consistent B1G contender, is that really ever going to happen? Or, do we need one more Rose Bowl season to bolster the consistent success?
But the key is attracting casual fans and Chicago-area people who have zero ties. And the way to do that is with *national* success. Yes, that means winning B1G Titles. The fact that we're "better than NU has ever been" is not enough. The causal Chicagoan isn't going to get excited about 8-4 or 9-3, even, regular seasons and third-tier bowl wins.
And these are probably either one of two types of MSU fans (1) live in Chicago area so this is their 1 game for the year or (2) don't live in Chicago or east lansing and this is their 1 game for the year and a road trip to Chicago sure as hell beats most of the rest of the places on MSU's schedule.
I used to have ST's but 6 or 7 Saturday's are a valuable commodity - I can't commit to that. Every game is on TV, if a Saturday opens up and the team continues to be interesting I'll go, but why commit ahead of time for more than I (or anyone) would need to?
I live about 1000 miles from NU but have been an "absentee STH" for almost 20 years. I have never put my tickets on Stubhub and the seats generally have been empty for many of the games,especially the non-conference games? For a few years after I met Uber, I sent him the tickets for distribution to his NU fans because he has graciously hosted me at his tailgate for many years
My son now lives in Kenilworth, so I have given him the tickets for his use or for his business contacts
The only times I have used the board to get tickets to another board member, I have been stuck with the "overnight" costs of delivering the tickets and never collected the one beer that I charge for the 40 yard line tickets
If they have seat licenses in the future, I would think many STH like me will simply buy tickets on the after market sites
I had high hopes of attending many games this year but cancelled all my trips after traveling to the Duke fiasco. My confidence in the coaching staff reached an all time low after watching the lack of preparedness of both the offense and defense for that game
I will try to get to the Minnesota game for a total of 4 games this year- 2 away and 2 home
Even if your goal is to pack the stands with purple, I’m not really sure how you do that. Me desiring to sell tickets to an NU fan won’t magically make it so. I could indeed literally offer them for free on the condition they cheer for the ‘Cats and I still doubt I’d have that much luck. We can’t magically materialize support.
I think Jules nailed it when he stated that policies, such as the donation requirement, will affect season tickets. I think it will hit the non-alums who buy.
It amuses me when people castigate folks on selling their tickets to the opposition fans. If they can sell their ticket, what's the problem with that? I see little loyalty coming from the administration. They just want the $.
If you are castigating people for selling or not attedning, you should tell us how many tickets you are filling? As much as we like to go to the games and root for the Cats, which I do even though I am not thrilled with the coach, it is hard to get people to go. NU is just not that big of a draw in the Chicago area. Face facts.
We give our seats away. We are lucky since one buddy will always take tickets. For Iowa and MSU, we had 2 people crap out at the last minute and we can always pick up a ticket in our tailgate area. He brings two 7th Grade boys. I had two 7th Grade girls and two high school boys in our group to fill in our seats. They all rushed the field. The two 7th graders got JJTBC's game gloves. The kids went because the adults do not want to go. They were expensive last resorts due to the constant need for sustenance.
Unless the games are sold out, what's the point of discussion? Go ahead and refuse to sell your tickets to the opposing fans, they will easily purchase seats directly from NU.
You do realize that Northwestern fans can buy tickets from scalpers just like the visiting fans, right? These visiting fans aren't taking seats away from NU fans that want to go to the games...they are simply filling seats that would otherwise be empty. Until demand from Cats fans increases, why worry about what STH do with their tickets?
And if/when demand exceeds supply, Chicago puts on purple, and Ryan Field sells out every game, we'll see if loyalty is a two-way street or if you will be rewarded for years of not selling your tickets with a big old mandatory "donation" to retain your seats.
You do realize that Northwestern fans can buy tickets from scalpers just like the visiting fans, right? These visiting fans aren't taking seats away from NU fans that want to go to the games...they are simply filling seats that would otherwise be empty. Until demand from Cats fans increases, why worry about what STH do with their tickets?
And if/when demand exceeds supply, Chicago puts on purple, and Ryan Field sells out every game, we'll see if loyalty is a two-way street or if you will be rewarded for years of not selling your tickets with a big old mandatory "donation" to retain your seats.
Well. we're an absolute lock to outnumber Illini fans (both of them!) in the season finale. So there's that.
Well, if they're not going to get excited about 8-4 or 9-3, I'd say that's a problem for Northwestern as realistically the Cats (nor most other B1G teams) are not going to exceed that on many occasions. A 9-3 record against a schedule that usually is going to include at least two schools from among Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State and Michgan, plus usually other some other good teams, is always going to be a major accomplishment for NU.
Sounds much like my experience. I don't live quite as far away as you, but it is hard to make more than 1-2 games a year. The distance and expense are a problem now that I'm retired. I did get to the Penn State game this year. Thought about the Maryland game, which is close to my home, but was a little bummed out after Penn State. I definitely plan to go up to Rutgers next season. Have copaid for tickets with a younger alum for years, but now have basically turned over the account to him. I probably will continue to buy the occasional ticket from him for some games at Ryan and will try to see away games in my area. Glad there is now Maryland and Rutgers for that reason, but NU will only be playing them as well as Penn State every few years.
It's just gotten a lot easier as I get older to go 40 minutes up the road to watch the Division II undergraduate alma mater, where I get free admission to all sporting events for donating a few hundred to the school and a decent hot dog is $2.50 at the game. And with no TV and replay delays, games are done in well under three hours. Besides, the Ship Red Raiders are 7-1 and competing for a spot in the Division II playoff.
I love way out of town yet have kept my s asin tix gor 20yrwrsmake itto about half the games. Never sell. Almost impossible to give away to DNUfans. Just saying. Thesesrw ggeat 45 us
yes I am ashamed of keeping my seaaon tix for 25 yrs and living 350 miles away. Am going to reconsider! Giving these away to cats fans is, well, not easy. Despite fact they are on50.
So why is that a problem? What's wrong with winning 8 or 9 games and drawing 40k per game? You can't force people to care about NU football
I hope you don’t drive to the games.
Ageeed, but I think that the card stunt fail gets a few points. Sadly for the lolIlini, we could dedicate an entire thread to the gifs.This is more like it.....
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