For now. I'll go to my grave saying that, historically, Illinois is a football school. That is until we win a NC in hoops, of which we have 5 in FB. Laugh if you will at our recent lack of success, but football will get back to where it needs to be under BB. Football has the potential to be a huge money maker.
Guenther 20 years ago said, 'we can always count on 30K to 35K every game for football' cause of the ECI fan base....now? frankly that 30K 35K older or have passed away....the last ten years has killed interest in Illini football don't know where they can find the fans to get to 30K in ECI much less 35K....now they care about the luxury boxes, premium seating filling those which is possible but the days of 50K plus in the stadium consistenly....just a different generation don't see it happening in my lifetime but that's me.
I still think, with the right coach, which we most definitely have, and some quality, consistent football, I can see us drawing the 50K. "If you build, they will come." People like a winner, and we have a huge potential fan base within 3 hours of campus. We have a group of 15 former Marching Illini members (from the 80's when things were at the top) and we all still drive from Chicago weekly. I know we're the diehards, but I still think we can get to 50K. That's the eternal optimist in me.
One of the minority who gets that it all hinges on basketball
For now. I'll go to my grave saying that, historically, Illinois is a football school. That is until we win a NC in hoops, of which we have 5 in FB. Laugh if you will at our recent lack of success, but football will get back to where it needs to be under BB. Football has the potential to be a huge money maker.
Guenther 20 years ago said, 'we can always count on 30K to 35K every game for football' cause of the ECI fan base....now? frankly that 30K 35K older or have passed away....the last ten years has killed interest in Illini football don't know where they can find the fans to get to 30K in ECI much less 35K....now they care about the luxury boxes, premium seating filling those which is possible but the days of 50K plus in the stadium consistenly....just a different generation don't see it happening in my lifetime but that's me.
I still think, with the right coach, which we most definitely have, and some quality, consistent football, I can see us drawing the 50K. "If you build, they will come." People like a winner, and we have a huge potential fan base within 3 hours of campus. We have a group of 15 former Marching Illini members (from the 80's when things were at the top) and we all still drive from Chicago weekly. I know we're the diehards, but I still think we can get to 50K. That's the eternal optimist in me.