There SHOULD be an Ivy Bowl at Wrigley Field

[NJCat]

[QUOTE="Hungry Jack, post: 389046, member: 860]

I then build an indoor 75,000 person stadium with a retractable rough and a snow making system for all the idiot fans who crave "Bear weather." Let them eat cake!
[/QUOTE]

I want a retractable rough when I play golf.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I want a retractable rough when I play golf.

That sounds like something Rodney Dangerfield's Caddyshack character would have.

 

[wildelk2]

FYI- Yankee Stadium has held regular-season games there as well as the Pinstripe Bowl. Army and Rutgers have moved games there, as well as Lafayette-Lehigh a few years ago (42,000 showed up btw - it's big stuff in the Lehigh Valley). The Cubs would be wise to speak to NIU, Illinois St. and Ill-noise if they're serious about playing football there after refurbishment is complete. Gives everyone in Wrigleyville something to do between November 1 and March 31.

 

[willycat]

Google is your friend. Thanksgiving falls on November 22, 2018.

Ah, as I said on or around Thanksgiving. Busy time for many and students on vacation.

 

[Alvious]

If they do adjust the stands at Wrigley for a proper football field, I hope the make it go north/south like it was back in the day when the Bears played there.

 

[willycat]

If they do adjust the stands at Wrigley for a proper football field, I hope the make it go north/south like it was back in the day when the Bears played there.

Think the plan is to go east-west. Even when the Bears played there the end zones were only about 8 yards. Guess that moving the bricks along 3rd base is a lot easier then moving the left field bleacher wall.

 

[Styre]

I'm a Bears STH (400 level). I like the SF after the redo. Being a regular I know which bathrooms to hit and I think it's very cool to hang out under the colonnade before the game. While I usually don't do the food, there is nothing wrong with the hot links or smoked turkey from the Robinson's stand in the NW plaza.

I'm not STH but I go to a couple of games a year. Some bathrooms are certainly better than others, and the bathroom situation is a *lot* better than it was when the stadium opened, but IMO there still aren't enough. They've diversified the food offerings a bit, too -- the Robinson's that you mention and a Bobak's sausage stand. But I don't think the quality of the food is very good in general, even the basic stuff like hot dogs and burgers. Still, I don't eat there very much.

Agree with you on the seating, sight lines and it getting loud. I've never understood people who complain about concessions - if you want a gourmet sandwich and craft beer for $25 why did you bother coming to a game and not just go out to lunch somewhere?

I'm not that guy - if I get anything it's a hot dog or a slice of pizza - but it's important to a lot of people nowadays. Diverse beer options are a good thing, too. I'd rather pay a couple bucks more for a craft beer than down a bucket of Coors Light, given the choice.

 

[No Chores]

It's freaking DETROIT man. You don't go to Detroit unless you have to.

Ford Field is a terrific venue, which has hosted a Super Bowl. It's right across the street from Commerica Park and walking distance to some excellent restaurants. Have you ever been there? On the other hand, Wrigley was the worst experience of my NU football life.

 

[BigNUFan51]

I dont need to see NU play at Wrigley again. I still have memories of Rashad Mendenhall tearing us up and Evan Watkins throwing picks.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Ford Field is a terrific venue, which has hosted a Super Bowl. It's right across the street from Commerica Park and walking distance to some excellent restaurants. Have you ever been there? On the other hand, Wrigley was the worst experience of my NU football life.

I did a hockey weekend at Detroit several years ago. We stayed downtown and partied in Greektown. Some big thug shook us down for $20 outside our Hiliday Inn.

 

[Sheffielder]

FYI- Yankee Stadium has held regular-season games there as well as the Pinstripe Bowl. Army and Rutgers have moved games there, as well as Lafayette-Lehigh a few years ago (42,000 showed up btw - it's big stuff in the Lehigh Valley). The Cubs would be wise to speak to NIU, Illinois St. and Ill-noise if they're serious about playing football there after refurbishment is complete. Gives everyone in Wrigleyville something to do between November 1 and March 31.

Worth noting that NIU played Toledo at the Cell this past season...10K announced but eye witness reports put it at about half that...also worth noting it was a Friday night game, but I think the Big Ten Conference office didn't bother reading that part of the memo...

 

[Bwm57]

Yes, that indoor stadium has been a boon for attendance for the bowl in Detroit.

Remember that the next time they are having a Super Bowl or Final Four or B1G Championship game in Indianapolis.

 

[Fitz51]

The only thing worse than the Bears are Bears fans going on about "Bear weather." Holy shit what a miserable fanbase.

 

[Styre]

Worth noting that NIU played Toledo at the Cell this past season...10K announced but eye witness reports put it at about half that...also worth noting it was a Friday night game, but I think the Big Ten Conference office didn't bother reading that part of the memo...

It was a Wednesday night game.

 

[willycat]

It was a Wednesday night game.

Right and it was Northern vs. another MAC program. Also the "Cell" or "Down Arrow " doesn't come close to Wrigley, as a place to go to. Northern would be lucky to draw 20,000 in DeKalb.

 

[Hungry Jack]

The only thing worse than the Bears are Bears fans going on about "Bear weather." Holy shit what a miserable fanbase.

LOL.

The funny thing is that Bears hibernate in winter. They barely go outside once the temps drop and the snow hits.

 

[villox]

I guess Teddy gets his ideas from here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...d-bowl-game-cubs-spt-0106-20170105-story.html

 

[DarthCat]

Well, I've been making some calls.

Catuli Bowl 2020!

 

[Hungry Jack]

I guess Teddy gets his ideas from here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...d-bowl-game-cubs-spt-0106-20170105-story.html

LOL. A bowl would draw well in Chicago. It's a great City that people will visit any time of year. How many bowl games this year drew more than 40,000? I'd bet 10 at most.

EDIT: I count 18, with 2 more at 39,000. A few were under 20,000.

 

[Williesfan]

If I am Virginia McCaskey and I want a new stadium, I am going to the City with a plan to develop the substantial tract next to the river just south of Roosevelt Rd. It is an ideal site-close to the expressway, one block from the El, one block from Metra, close to the convention facilities and the entertainment areas. I lobby for TIF money and other City funding, DoT money and other public money.

I then build an indoor 75,000 person stadium with a retractable roof and a snow making system for all the idiot fans who crave "Bear weather." Let them eat cake!

I also enact plans to build a large hotel and commercial complex on the plot just across Roosevelt road, including a Bears HOF, Walter Payton roadhouse brewpub, and other stuff. I own all this stuff, and I make sure that my stadium gets used for a Super Bowl, B1G championship game, NCAA Final Four, Big Shoulders Bowl, and all the Hanna Montana concerts I can book. I also extract concessions from the convention unions so that my space is not so costly to use.

On game day, I run shuttles from Phoenix in China Town (dim sum!) to my new stadium. I also invite boaters to boat to my stadium on the river in early fall, and tailgate on their boats as they tie off on my docks next to the stadium. Women in bikini serve cold beer and hot wings to the boaters, who have ponied up $800 for a temporary slip during home games in September and October. In December, I run a promotion with the Blackhawks where attendees can attend a Hawks game on Sunday night, taking the shuttle over the UC.

I also run a gambling river boat hydrofoil shuttle to the boat in Joliet, serving lots of booze and wings on the way.

 

[Williesfan]

If I am Virginia McCaskey and I want a new stadium, I am going to the City with a plan to develop the substantial tract next to the river just south of Roosevelt Rd. It is an ideal site-close to the expressway, one block from the El, one block from Metra, close to the convention facilities and the entertainment areas. I lobby for TIF money and other City funding, DoT money and other public money.

I then build an indoor 75,000 person stadium with a retractable roof and a snow making system for all the idiot fans who crave "Bear weather." Let them eat cake!

I also enact plans to build a large hotel and commercial complex on the plot just across Roosevelt road, including a Bears HOF, Walter Payton roadhouse brewpub, and other stuff. I own all this stuff, and I make sure that my stadium gets used for a Super Bowl, B1G championship game, NCAA Final Four, Big Shoulders Bowl, and all the Hanna Montana concerts I can book. I also extract concessions from the convention unions so that my space is not so costly to use.

On game day, I run shuttles from Phoenix in China Town (dim sum!) to my new stadium. I also invite boaters to boat to my stadium on the river in early fall, and tailgate on their boats as they tie off on my docks next to the stadium. Women in bikini serve cold beer and hot wings to the boaters, who have ponied up $800 for a temporary slip during home games in September and October. In December, I run a promotion with the Blackhawks where attendees can attend a Hawks game on Sunday night, taking the shuttle over the UC.

I also run a gambling river boat hydrofoil shuttle to the boat in Joliet, serving lots of booze and wings on the way.

Hungry Jack now can you run for mayor, governor, president or even develop a consortium to purchase The Bears to achieve those aspirations that you previously described.

 

[1830sherman]

Do you have any insight into when (if ever) the modifications to Wrigley to permit a safe, full length football field will be complete? NU's plans to play there have gone suspiciously silent.

Northwestern football 'eager and anxious' to get back to Wrigley in 2020

 

[phatcat]

It's freaking myth right up there with Sasquatch and the story where you go to a party and end up having your kidneys stolen.

I was at a party and Sasquatch stole my kidneys

Pissed me off

 

[ubercat]

If the Cats ever return to Wrigley, good luck to those who end up sitting in the left field bleachers like we did in 2010. At least we had such terrible sight lines that we could barely see the debacle.

 

[FeralFelidae]

If Illini-NU game at Soldier Field flopped then why would a Chicago bowl game succeed?

The NU Wrigley game sold out only out of novelty; if there were a game every year, I think the novelty would wear off. And it will be cold, perhaps VERY cold, late December. Not for the casual fan.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

If Illini-NU game at Soldier Field flopped then why would a Chicago bowl game succeed?

The NU Wrigley game sold out only out of novelty; if there were a game every year, I think the novelty would wear off. And it will be cold, perhaps VERY cold, late December. Not for the casual fan.

The novelty factor would be there annually for out of town teams.

 

[DarthCat]

Flopped?! It sold out and had ESPN Gameday in attendance. The only thing that 'flopped' were the last minute dimension issues and our play with our quarterback hurt the week prior.

The site lines were likely no worse tha yankee stadium.

 

[NJCat]

The novelty factor would be there annually for out of town teams.

In the bowl game they should run the field at Wrigley from home to center field just like the Pinstripe Bowl. Yes, it would be less than 100 yards, but they could expand the width of the field to keep the area constant. That would really bring a novelty factor no other venue could touch!

 

[Styre]

The site lines were likely no worse tha yankee stadium.

The difference was the orientation of the field - the people in LF bleachers were a mile from the field and they weren't high enough up to make up for it.

 

[FeralFelidae]

Flopped?! It sold out and had ESPN Gameday in attendance. The only thing that 'flopped' were the last minute dimension issues and our play with our quarterback hurt the week prior.

The site lines were likely no worse tha yankee stadium.

Read my post again. Soldier Field flopped.

 

[FeralFelidae]

The novelty factor would be there annually for out of town teams.

Forsooth.

 

[Bwm57]

If I am Virginia McCaskey and I want a new stadium, I am going to the City with a plan to develop the substantial tract next to the river just south of Roosevelt Rd. It is an ideal site-close to the expressway, one block from the El, one block from Metra, close to the convention facilities and the entertainment areas. I lobby for TIF money and other City funding, DoT money and other public money.

I then build an indoor 75,000 person stadium with a retractable roof and a snow making system for all the idiot fans who crave "Bear weather." Let them eat cake!

I also enact plans to build a large hotel and commercial complex on the plot just across Roosevelt road, including a Bears HOF, Walter Payton roadhouse brewpub, and other stuff. I own all this stuff, and I make sure that my stadium gets used for a Super Bowl, B1G championship game, NCAA Final Four, Big Shoulders Bowl, and all the Hanna Montana concerts I can book. I also extract concessions from the convention unions so that my space is not so costly to use.

On game day, I run shuttles from Phoenix in China Town (dim sum!) to my new stadium. I also invite boaters to boat to my stadium on the river in early fall, and tailgate on their boats as they tie off on my docks next to the stadium. Women in bikini serve cold beer and hot wings to the boaters, who have ponied up $800 for a temporary slip during home games in September and October. In December, I run a promotion with the Blackhawks where attendees can attend a Hawks game on Sunday night, taking the shuttle over the UC.

I also run a gambling river boat hydrofoil shuttle to the boat in Joliet, serving lots of booze and wings on the way.

I'm not sure is any of this will work, but I like all of it!!
As a matter of fact I'm starting to look for a boat now.

 

[willycat]

Read my post again. Soldier Field flopped.

Soldier Field is not Wrigley or in Wrigleyville and neither is "Down Arrow Park".

 

[FeralFelidae]

Soldier Field is not Wrigley or in Wrigleyville and neither is "Down Arrow Park".

Who cares when it's below zero in late December. Chicago doesn't care about college football (except perhaps Notre Dame), won't even come out to support the two IL Big Ten teams when they play at Soldier Field. Why would they come out to watch a MAC team play a non-IL Big Ten team at Wrigley when it's below zero in late December? Not convinced that a bowl game in Chicago would work.

 

[pawildcat]

And that myth came about when the season ended in early DEC. and when it was only 12 or 14 games. (14 in 1963 with last game DEC 15 and Championship DEC 29)

How is it a myth? When have the Bears ever played indoors in Chicago, whether the season has been 12, 14 or 16 games?

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

Who cares when it's below zero in late December. Chicago doesn't care about college football (except perhaps Notre Dame), won't even come out to support the two IL Big Ten teams when they play at Soldier Field. Why would they come out to watch a MAC team play a non-IL Big Ten team at Wrigley when it's below zero in late December? Not convinced that a bowl game in Chicago would work.

So of the 37k at the pinstripe bowl how many were Pitt fans who traveled in, NU fans who traveled in and New Yorkers who were college football fans? Wouldn't the same dynamic be in play for a wrigley bowl? I would guess 90%+ fall into the first two categories. Chicagoans who want to go to a random college football game isn't the target audience here.

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

How is it a myth? When have the Bears ever played indoors in Chicago, whether the season has been 12, 14 or 16 games?

How is this any different than the packers, giants, jets, patriots, browns, steelers, eagles, redskins etc. etc. most of these players are from warm climates, they are certainly not gaining an advantage by playing in balls cold.

 

[NU Houston]

I guess Teddy gets his ideas from here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...d-bowl-game-cubs-spt-0106-20170105-story.html

I clicked on the link, and the Tribune website says it's currently 7 degrees in Chicago. Sorry, but that's too cold for a bowl game.

Quotes in the article mention the history of "cold" bowl games in places like Nashville and Birmingham, but I'm sure temps for those games were nowhere near single digits. And even the comparison to NYC isn't exact. Chicago is generally 10-15 degrees colder than NYC in winter.

College football in Chicago in November is one thing, but trying to do it in late December is a different story. Good luck with getting teams and fans from the South up there that time of year.

 

[Windy City Cat Fan]

I clicked on the link, and the Tribune website says it's currently 7 degrees in Chicago. Sorry, but that's too cold for a bowl game.

Quotes in the article mention the history of "cold" bowl games in places like Nashville and Birmingham, but I'm sure temps for those games were nowhere near single digits. And even the comparison to NYC isn't exact. Chicago is generally 10-15 degrees colder than NYC in winter.

College football in Chicago in November is one thing, but trying to do it in late December is a different story. Good luck with getting teams and fans from the South up there that time of year.

Between Christmas and New Years it was upper 30's, lower 40's, which I would call typical - but there is a risk it could be single digits like we are having now. I think people would still be intrigued by the idea of a visit to Chicago at Christmas time, see the sites, hit the restaurants and go to the game. People sit through NFL games in sub 30's weather - if you have a routing interest in a game it isn't bad. The idea that non-affiliated chicagoans would go to the game i don't think is realistic.

 

[willycat]

How is it a myth? When have the Bears ever played indoors in Chicago, whether the season has been 12, 14 or 16 games?

They played inside the old Chicago Stadium, thinking in the 1930's or maybe the 40's. A huge snowstorm hit Chicago and the Championship game was moved indoors and played on an 80 or 90 yard field.