Football Attendance

[wiu712]

NIU had 8,872 for their Thursday night (Oct 26) home game with Eastern Michigan.

NIU's final five games are all mid-week games instead of the more traditional Saturday.

[sealhall74]

NIU had 8,872 for their Thursday night (Oct 26) home game with Eastern Michigan.

NIU's final five games are all mid-week games instead of the more traditional Saturday.

Must be ESPN pulling some strings. Before long, we will have some college football somewhere on the tube 5 days a week and home field advantage will be irrelevant.

[wiu712]

2017 Western Football Home Attendance (one home game remaining):
5,631 (Homecoming)
3,217 (Family Weekend)
2,247


2016 Western Football Home Attendance:
6,732 (Family Weekend)
5,487 (Homecoming)
5,329
3,589
3,412


2015 Western Football Home Attendance:
5,985
7,125 (Homecoming)
6,298 (Family Weekend)
2,610
1,853


2014 Western Football Home Attendance:
3,584
9,445 (Family Weekend)
5,111 (Homecoming)
4,641
2,588
1,783


2013 Western Football Home Attendance:
6,437
4,021
5,732 (Family Weekend)
10,232 (Homecoming)
3,624
3,104

At Saturday's game with SDSU, I was talking to some long-time Western fans. One of those guys was going to Western football games back in the Lou Saban days (late 50's).

They think that instead of building a new West side, Western should instead use that money to construct a Press Box level on top of the East stands. That could include some private corporate boxes as well as some decks that would be open to all. The East side would then be the "home" sideline with the team and all of the Western fans being on that side of the field.

They would demolish the current West stands and replace it with a smaller Visitors section that would hold 1,000-2,000. The visiting team would be on that sideline.

Any comments on their ideas ???

[Tere North]

At Saturday's game with SDSU, I was talking to some long-time Western fans. One of those guys was going to Western football games back in the Lou Saban day (late 50's).

They think that instead of building a new West side, Western should instead use that money to construct a Press Box level on top of the East stands. That could include some private corporate boxes as well as some decks that would be open to all. The East side would then be the "home" sideline with the team and all of the Western fans being on that side of the field.

They would demolish the current West stands and replace it with a smaller Visitors section that would hold 1,000-2,000. The visiting team would be on that sideline.

Any comments on their ideas ???

Certainly the East side is much nicer than the West side, and ADA accessible, closer to concessions and restrooms, etc. However, you are hit by the sun in your face, so it wouldn't be perfect fit, and I'm not sure how many would like sitting with the band. All that aside, it would certainly be the least inexpensive fit to a deplorable west side.

[wiu712]

Certainly the East side is much nicer than the West side, and ADA accessible, closer to concessions and restrooms, etc. However, you are hit by the sun in your face, so it wouldn't be perfect fit.

The sun seems to be a problem with the 3PM games. So if the games started at 1PM or 6PM, there should be no problem.

[sealhall74]

How about planting a "hedge" of "General Sherman"-like trees along the West Side? I am thinking about five of these trees say at each goal line and the 25 yard line and midfield and no one on the east side will be able to see the sun any time after noon. What's not to like? It fits our military heritage. It is a 100% "green" solution. Hanson Field would become a tourist stop for many to admire their natural splendor. Geez, we could get really creative and put up some "tree house" suites in them for the really big donors. Some ROTC-students could train those lucky folks on how to get to their suites and rappel back down. The only downside I see is someone needs to come up with a really fast-growth tree hormone so we don't have to wait 50 years for the solution. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Sherman_(tree)

[Neckfansince71]

Not enough space on the eastside to make that idea work! jc

[wiu712]

Based on the attendance figures (shown above), there are too many seats at Hanson Field.

Any renovation ideas should take that into consideration.

[Neckfansince71]

The westside reno plans actually will reduce the number of seats on that side because of ADA and seat width issues along with walk way areas. In my opinion, we have got to make watching a game at Hanson Field more classy and enjoyable. Guess I support the notion of "if you build it they will come!" Right now, its the same old same old since the 1980's. Western Illinois University, football, Macomb, and Leatherneck football fans deserve a football facility that they can be proud of. One that says, we truly belong in the MVFC. Hanson is smack dab in the middle of campus and a press box design that mirrors the Library will provide a really nice "bookended" quad area. No, we don't need more seats, just nicer seats with areas where fans, students, faculty, and alumni can meet and enjoy the beauty of Hanson Field. We need to once again create the excitement that will move the Necks forward. When you walk into Western Hall now, you are surrounded by purple seats (of course some black ones thrown in) with end line stands at either end and video boards to match. It no longer has the look of used and abused, but with the new entrances and all the visual additions it is finally a D1 facility that we all can be proud of. No its not brand new, but it sure seems that way. There are a lot of reasons why the women had such a great season, the major ingredient was talent, coaching, and a feeling of destiny, but the new digs at the "Hall" can be thrown into the mix too as a wild card. Our major team sport locker-rooms are as good as any in the FCS and better than some in the FBS. I want to repeat something that I said up above one more time. Western Illinois University, Football, Macomb, and Leatherneck football fans deserve a football facility that they can be proud of. A structure that can be celebrated by both university and community. I have heard comments in the past like, "well remember, its Macomb and its out in the middle of no where!" Well thats just bunk in my opinion. Enough said! jc

[Tere North]

I wonder. The Jets and the Giants have shared a football stadium. Now the Rams and the Chargers are doing so. What about Western and Macomb High doing the same? When Macomb plays, they would help pay for the facility by splitting ticket revenue. Maybe less $ for Macomb, but a far better fan experience and, maybe the same net $ as they wouldn't have to maintain the stands, etc. at the high school. They could run concessions as they do now, but out of our facilities, with some cost to them, say 10-25%, or we could run it as we do for our games.

Thoughts?