Northwestern/Illinois Football game at Wrigley?

[mordecaibrown]

No one outside the Midwest( or grads from the Midwest living in various places) watches Big Ten football. Outside of Michigan, Penn St and Ohio State the "average person" in Arizona or the whole west coast could not name another school in the conference.

 

The nhl is on nbc every sunday but does the average person watch it?

It would be the same for two teams on the low end of the Big Ten playing a non bowl game not matter where the game is played.

 

What exactly is your point? The "average person" in Arizona that you reference probably does not know where Wrigley Field is and would have no special interest in watching a football game there.

 

This is about generating more interest in a normally ho hum Illinois / Northwestern game, not to turn it into the national must watch event of the century.

 

Well, to answer your question

 

Seems like the Cubs new ownership group gets the short end of the stick without a big name team.

 

If the point of this game is for Illinois/NW gain only, then why would the Cubs new ownership ever approve such a game?

[Magnetic Curses]

No one outside the Midwest( or grads from the Midwest living in various places) watches Big Ten football. Outside of Michigan, Penn St and Ohio State the "average person" in Arizona or the whole west coast could not name another school in the conference.

 

The nhl is on nbc every sunday but does the average person watch it?

It would be the same for two teams on the low end of the Big Ten playing a non bowl game not matter where the game is played.

 

oh......kay. don't know what two teams without any illinois ties playing a game in wrigley field would do. but hey, as long as some guy who can't name a big ten team who lives in arizona wants to watch it.

[mordecaibrown]

Notre Dame has no Chicago ties????

 

Illinois or Northwestern could always host a big name.

[Magnetic Curses]

Notre Dame has no Chicago ties????

 

Illinois or Northwestern could always host a big name.

 

where did i say "chicago ties"?

 

and notre dame is exactly setting the world on fire lately.

[mordecaibrown]

I am just don't see why the Cubs would be motivated to have a game at Wrigley without significant national tv exposure or sponsorship.

 

Football fans will watch football regardless of who is playing and where, but to draw the "average fan" that is where the money is.(Winter Classic)

[Illini Iceman]

I am just don't see why the Cubs would be motivated to have a game at Wrigley without significant national tv exposure or sponsorship.

 

Football fans will watch football regardless of who is playing and where, but to draw the "average fan" that is where the money is.(Winter Classic)

 

The NHL and Blackhawks got a lot more exposure and benefit from the game at Wrigley than the Tribune or Wrigley field. Whatever the new owners get out of it is just gravy as the stadium would be sitting there empty generating no revenue if they don't play the game there. The point would be for Illinois / Northwestern / Big Ten to use it as a chance to get a lot of publicity about a game that would normally be 3rd page sports section news (even if they still aren't able to penetrate that coveted Arizona average fan demographic).

[mordecaibrown]

I am just don't see why the Cubs would be motivated to have a game at Wrigley without significant national tv exposure or sponsorship.

 

Football fans will watch football regardless of who is playing and where, but to draw the "average fan" that is where the money is.(Winter Classic)

 

The NHL and Blackhawks got a lot more exposure and benefit from the game at Wrigley than the Tribune or Wrigley field. Whatever the new owners get out of it is just gravy as the stadium would be sitting there empty generating no revenue if they don't play the game there. The point would be for Illinois / Northwestern / Big Ten to use it as a chance to get a lot of publicity about a game that would normally be 3rd page sports section news (even if they still aren't able to penetrate that coveted Arizona average fan demographic).

 

To be clear... by Arizona, I mean national fan with no ties to Illinois or Northwestern. I used Arizona as a example because I live in AZ.

[Magnetic Curses]

I am just don't see why the Cubs would be motivated to have a game at Wrigley without significant national tv exposure or sponsorship.

 

Football fans will watch football regardless of who is playing and where, but to draw the "average fan" that is where the money is.(Winter Classic)

 

why would wrigley field need to more national exposure? it's not like the cubs are trying to build a fan base. they'll make money no matter who plays in the thing.

 

if usc and florida come to them the next week and ask to play a game there, i'm sure they'll be interested, then, too. this is not a one time shot.

[mordecaibrown]

Well, for the Cubs just to lease out Wrigley Field, I would expect them go for all the revenue they can get. I am sure NW/Illinois would generate quite a bit of revenue but not as much as they could with a national draw.

 

Regardless of what happens, I think it would be a really cool event to attend. Wrigley Field with marching bands and cheerleaders and portable grandstand in right field like the Bears used.

[Illini Iceman]

I am just don't see why the Cubs would be motivated to have a game at Wrigley without significant national tv exposure or sponsorship.

 

Football fans will watch football regardless of who is playing and where, but to draw the "average fan" that is where the money is.(Winter Classic)

 

The NHL and Blackhawks got a lot more exposure and benefit from the game at Wrigley than the Tribune or Wrigley field. Whatever the new owners get out of it is just gravy as the stadium would be sitting there empty generating no revenue if they don't play the game there. The point would be for Illinois / Northwestern / Big Ten to use it as a chance to get a lot of publicity about a game that would normally be 3rd page sports section news (even if they still aren't able to penetrate that coveted Arizona average fan demographic).

 

To be clear... by Arizona, I mean national fan with no ties to Illinois or Northwestern. I used Arizona as a example because I live in AZ.

 

I know what you are saying since I live in Florida and the Big Ten is not paid much attention to down here either other than by transplants. However, I can say the same amount that would watch Michigan vs Notre Dame (very few, don't care, not SEC) would watch Illinois vs Northwestern (about same few, still don't care, more non-SEC teams that are probably such just as bad but don't care enough to even find out). The few that would watch it would only do so to see what Wrigley looks like as a football field.

 

However, it would get big buzz in the Illinois area if it was Illinois / Northwestern and sell out and get very good ratings and advertising. Maybe it would be better if a it was more marquis matchup (like one of these against Notre Dame or something) but I still think the game with Illinois / Northwestern would be the talk of the area for a week or two leading up so it would benefit everyone involved.

 

So, bottom line, you are right that Big Ten / Midwest college football gets very little interest outside of the Midwest (including Notre Dame at this point), but based on that I don't think short of transplanting USC / Florida / Oklahoma in to play the game (which would make no sense and would be just as popular at another site) the matchup of Illinois / Northwestern would be as good as any other regional game they may put together and has the best chance of happening since both programs are motivated to juggle the schedule a bit because they need the exposure (you know ESPN and the other national programs would cover it even if not that many people actually watch the game).

[Magnetic Curses]

besides, it's too cold in chicago. getting an sec team or a pac-10 team to play in football weather would be like pulling teeth.

[Jon]

This is being made a lot more complicated than it should be.

 

This is about Northwestern and a possible local media marketing attempt. No other Big Ten team, let alone Notre Dame, USC, or Florida, would want to sacrifice a home game and that much money (lost ticket sales, traveling expenses, payout to the Cubs, etc.) to play in a 41,000+ seat field. It has nothing to do about media exposure for the Cubs or Wrigley. Think of this as no different than a Jimmy Buffet concert. The owner would get some money out of it and that's all.

[Guest]

besides, it's too cold in chicago. getting an sec team or a pac-10 team to play in football weather would be like pulling teeth.

 

of course they wouldn't agree - they might have to actually play football.

[rchap24]

What's the word if they are going to have enough room? They were just talking about it a few days ago in the Trib?

[Jon]

What's the word if they are going to have enough room? They were just talking about it a few days ago in the Trib?

It won't be long. The final decision may come in a month or so, too. Apparently the Cubs didn't take any time to really look into the dimensions before. They wanted to wait until after the Winter Classic before they hired a firm. The field will likely have to run from home to center, which will suck a bit in terms of seating. On the plus side, it would make the entire bleacher section better off.

 

The Trib did mention that Northwestern won't need Illinois' permission, though.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing some throwback or retro-inspired uniforms.

[J.R.]

Field prep would appear to be underway.

 

http://cubs.truelook.com/timages/live20/chicagocubs/chicagocubs_cubs_club_only_camera2/imgbuf/buf_249/1286815300852395.jpg

[Jon]

Here's what Wrigley looks like this afternoon:

 

 

http://cubs.truelook.com/timages/live20/chicagocubs/chicagocubs_cubs_club_only_camera2/imgbuf/buf_252/1288011697278816.jpg

 

http://cubs.truelook.com/timages/live20/chicagocubs/chicagocubs_cubs_club_only_camera2/imgbuf/buf_252/1288011697279019.jpg

 

http://cubs.truelook.com/timages/live20/chicagocubs/chicagocubs_cubs_club_only_camera2/imgbuf/buf_252/1288011697279056.jpg

 

[mul21]

From those shots it looks like the field will run from the home dugout to right field.

[Jon]

From those shots it looks like the field will run from the home dugout to right field.

Yes, but slightly angled towards CF, I believe.

[ConstableRabbit]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1181.snc4/150297_490051638342_228401243342_7275764_5917005_n.jpg

SO PUMPED

[javy knows my name]

SRO only $200 :-?

[SouthSideRyan]

Check the rooftops

[Jon]

You'll likely see more tickets hitting the secondary market starting next week when people actually begin to receive the tickets and know exact locations. Probably not a ton, though.

[UMFan83]

Check the rooftops

 

My buddy is gonna get me into his group package on one of the rooftops for $75. Not bad considering he said they are opening up several hours before the game for "tailgating"

[UMFan83]

It's pretty crazy to see a football field on Wrigley Field. For some reason I have a hard time understanding how big a football field is vs. a baseball field. Now I know that Fukudome runs about a football field's length after catching a deep fly ball to right to end the inning.