Student Seating at BB Games

Miscellaneous discussions. Things that don't have anything to do with Western, Leatherneck Athletics, college sports in general, etc.
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wiu712
Posts: 6864
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:05 pm

Today's paper had an article about the renovations that have taken place at the UIUC Assembly Hall.
http://www.sj-r.com/article/20151119/NEWS/151119446

The Assembly Hall will re-open on December 2.

Three-fourths of floor seating at the Assembly Hall will belong to the students, while the remaining courtside seating is for donors and premium ticket holders.

That should certainly make for a "home court advantage".

Perhaps something similar could be incorporated at Western Hall.

A full-time freshman at Western (taking 15 hours each semester) currently pays $537 annually in athletic fees.
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Neckfansince71
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Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:06 pm

712, many years ago Lou Henson sat down with some student leaders to discuss student support at the assembly Hall. The goal was to give the Illini a true "home court" advantage! In order to do that it was suggested that students be brought closer to the action, in fact down on the floor. But there was a catch, the students would be expected to stand and cheer from their arrival to the end of the game in an organized and choreographed manner. The "Orange Crush" was born. That is still the expectation. They pay a lot for student fees also, but still have to stand in line to get in the game and must follow the "Crush" rules. You want to put students close to the floor, organize them and get them off their butts! I live too far away to get that organized although I did just that in the 80's at my school! ;) jc
wiu712
Posts: 6864
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 2:05 pm

Kirk Wessler has an article in today's Peoria Journal-Star about the newly-renovated Assembly Hall at UIUC:

State Farm Center, which used to be called Assembly Hall and still resembles a flying saucer outside, finally looks like a real basketball arena inside, as opposed to a multi-purpose building that occasionally presents basketball games.

The place used to look as if it were decorated by the U.S. Army. Now, all the seats in the joint are Illini Blue, except for the ones that are Illini Orange and occupied – well, stood in front of – by Orange Krush.

And there are lots of Krush, packing both end zones, the lower-bowl walls of which have been pushed back to accommodate more seats, and then stretching from one end to the other – although no longer courtside. The Krush’s old courtside seats, unobstructed by the teams and a row of evil media, are now occupied by fans, or friends of fans, with lots of money.

But the Krush are on camera now, and that was the idea. Now, when TV pans the benches for either team, viewers in homes and bars see raucous Krushers jumping up and down and behaving as if a basketball game is going on, rather than a bunch of old folks at the opera, too self-important to stand or to show real excitement.
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sealhall74
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Your students must be closer to the court than the other patrons (except for Jack Nicholson types of course) to have any real home court advantage. Just like in the real estate world, it is all about location, location, location. I hope our new seating next year can address this shortcoming.
Embrace the pace of the race.
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