My Take: IHSA Heading to Illinois State starting in 2023
- Thread starter EdgyTim
- Start date
Why do you even go to the games if all you're going to do is bitch? You're even complaining about the price of things. Save your money and stay home and watch the game on TV. Oh wait. Scratch that. Then you'd be bitching about the broadcasters or something else.
So, if it's convenient for you screw everyone else? Typical of you. Who cares if you get home at two in the morning? I have seen posts on this board from you from all hours of the night anyway. You're retired aren't you? Why do you need to get up early in the morning? There are masses at noon on Sundays.
It is only one day out of the year and you can't be inconvenienced a little bit for that? If you can't drive a little further and pay a little more just do yourself a favor and stay home. I will bet you bitched the whole time driving home too. 😂 😂 Geez, it's not worth losing your mind over.
You couldn't be more right. Take out the first group you mentioned and there are very few people left and it wouldn't even be enough to fill the visitor's side at BR. Sorry, I had to say that. 😂 😂
If the vast majority of the fans were coming from the Chicago area, what you are saying makes sense… but that’s not the case
When I look at this years teams.. on Friday, of the 8 teams, most were closer to ISU than anywhere in the Chicago area..
5A and 6A, ISU is somewhere in the middle of the two teams playing..
So in 1A-6A the games being in ISU makes perfect sense..
How about 7A and 8A ??? Well if I lived in LWE area, I’d rather make the drive to ISU than to NIU… Mt Carmel?? I bet the difference from driving to ISU to NIU is maybe 30 minutes on a Sat afternoon… and id rather spend 2 hours driving tk Bloomington - Normal than 90 minutes to Dekalb..
An extra 30 minute of driving to be able to have some pregame beers and dinner In Bloomington, maybe a hotel room, instead of Dekalb makes it worth it.. in 2022, ISU is so far superior to NIU its quite shocking from someone that went to ISU around 1990
I've made a couple suggestions. First, play all the games at NIU. Secondly, to maximize TV ratings (and revenues) schedule 1, 3, 5, and 7A for Fridays, and the others for Saturday. But, again, this is all academic.
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No one can disagree with you? Is that it. Are you so fragile you can't consider an opposing viewpoint without over-reacting?
I never expressed money concerns for myself. I can afford what the McCaskeys would charge for concessions and parking at an IIHSA game. But, can the average fan, parent, whomever - especially with a carload of kids?
I knew you'd make something up and throw it at the wall. That's what bullies do.
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Because 17 and 18 year old kids can rent hotel rooms?
The real solution (aside from reducing number of classes) is to have the 1A-4A, more central and the 5A-8A up north. Helps execution on a number of levels and provides a better experience for all.
For instance,
Friday
11AM -- 1A TItle game at ISU
1:30 PM 5A Title game at NIU
3:30 PM -- 2A Title game at ISU
6PM -- 6A title game at NIU
Saturday
11AM -- 3A TItle game at ISU
1:30PM 7A Title game at NIU
3:30 PM -- 4A Title game at ISU
6PM -- 5A title game at NIU
Actually that’s all dumb and makes no sense… NIU is a dump and nobody wants to go to Dekalb unless they have to. can you name any other state that has their championship games in such a small town at a dying university??
And do You have any proof that the 7A game has better ratings than the 4A games??
They are not going to split up where the games are hosted each year lol
This is like anything else where the Chicago people feel they should be treated special .. having those games at NIU makes no sense
They have had the games at NIU. Attendance has not been substantially different than at U of I. ISU will probably be similar to both.
Chicagoland may get a few extra butts in seats, but nothing noticeably different. The bears new venue would be the best bet for location and draw. Indoors would be nice to get a few people to stay for multiple games. But you don’t like that because you hate the McCaskeys.
I think nobody understands what you are advocating for because you’re all over the place. If you’re seeking better attendance as you have suggested, NIU clearly wasn’t the answer to turbo charge turnout. So I was surprised to see you turn that direction.
Going to Chicago itself or burbs may be a little helpful, but there just aren’t any facilities with turf currently. The bears will provide the only one within a decade but that’s not a credible option because of some beef with the organization or because you’ll pay a ton more? All they can get you for is parking and even then public transit should be an option for half of fan bases. Eat at a nearby restaurant and drink your coke in the train or car before. Texas survives at jerry world.
ISU will be a good change of pace for a few years. Better than NIU and I didn’t hate the NIU experience, it just wasn’t great.
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How are you getting to that creating better ratings? Also, having it at NIU instead of a centrally located university alienates most of the state geographically. Having it at ISU is the most equitable solution.
Haven’t you learned by now that Illinois high school football revolves around Mt Carmel LOL? I’m bracing myself for that comment.
If you want better ratings get a better broadcast package. Watching the state title games from other states it’s embarrassing how much better their production quality is then what we have here.
The higher level teams will be more attractive to potential viewers. Mt Carm,el and Batavia were on at 4 on Saturday. I' don't recall who played in the 4A Friday night, but the Caravan and Bulldogs could have been an explosive broadcast (given some publicity support.) As far as alienating anyone downstate, I don't believe that anyone downstate ever cared about my convenience.. Regardless though, if the games are being played in the Chicago metro area, the potential is there for larger crowds. As I noted, it would help if the IHSA had some sort of effective publicity program. Maybe they could talk the Trib into some coverage. Maybe the TV stations could do a news segment on one of the local teams.
Absolutely. The broadcasts were below professional in quality. The young woman sidellne reporter must be related to someone important. Kenny McReynolds must have photos in a safe deposit box.
I don't hate the McCaskeys ... I just don't respect them as owners. George McCaskey called me several times regarding my tickets. He was a nice guy with a self-deprecating sense of humor.
I don't know all the details of the proposed stadium but I beleive that most teams keep all or most of the rent from other attractions. If so, the IHSA will have to pay big bucks and that will be reflected in the ticket pric e.
But, as I've said several times over the weekend, it's all academic.
That's not evidence...Also, I will have to inform the power 5 schools that nobody is watching football before 7pm on a Saturday.
Do you have any proof that the larger schools actually draw more viewers than the 3A/4A schools??? Or just your beliefs that the world is ran by Chicago catholic schools??? Do you really think there are people across illinois that actually care more about MC football than Rochester or Morris football????
Evidence? Proof? Common sense dictates that larger metropolitan schools will draw more viewers than smaller downstate schools. TV revenues run on ratings. With all due respect, "people across Illinois" are fine ladies and gentlemen, but they don't reflect large ratings.
Again, for the umpteenth time, it's all academic.
You act as though the IHSA championship games are like the Super Bowl. There are no million dollar a minute commercial spots driving revenue. You can count the sponsors on one hand. What revenue are you talking about?
If it wasn't so poorly produced (for TV), their chances of generating better revenues would increase.
No one said anything about huge amounts of money.
Going back to the original point of this whole thread, what does revenue have to do with the location of the finals? Is the IHSA a for profit organization? Seems to me it’s about expenses. I have to imagine it’s a lot cheaper to rent out ISU than Illinois. Is the IHSA profiting on attendance draw? Does the television broadcast matter whether it’s Champaign, DeKalb or Normal? What am I misunderstanding? I’m not a business major nor am I Forrest Gump.
Just stop. You haven't made a coherent argument about anything I said. Just the same old garbage. You never mentioned concern for money and how it affects other people. You don't care about other people. You just complained about pricing in general and your issues. Re-read your posts if you doubt me.
You complained about getting home at 2:00 AM. I simply said if that's problem, don't go. I also said you'd probably complain about the broadcasters if you stayed home. And lo and behold, here you are less than 24 hours complaining about just that.
BTW, a lot of people are disagreeing with you here. Not just me. Stop being so fragile as to call someone who disagrees with you a bully. You are just wrong in your thinking here. But it goes way beyond that.
I would think you would be celebrating about MC. I mean, they went undefeated, won class 7A, were ranked number 1 all season in Chicagoland and ended up that way. But you are really complaining about a 2 hour each way drive? Come on man. That is petty and meaningless.
No the tournament isn't perfect for everyone. Everyone has to drive to it. Some people may have shorter drives than you. But, some also have longer drives. You talk about TV ratings as though this is big time college football or the NFL. No one is going to advertise during these games if they think the audience is too small for the price they pay. And any of your ideas isn't going to increase viewership enough to change that. That's reality.
I'd like to hear your ideas on how to improve the TV production. I don't doubt were are talking about a broadcast that has a budget. What would you do differently with the same budget?
If you start with the on air talent, who would you get instead of the people currently in place? Keep in mind guys like Jason Benetti, Kevin Harlan, Tony Romo, Troy Aikman and Al Michaels probably won't be available. LOL!! 😂 😂
Not if you stop at the Black Pearl in Newport for the best clam chowder you'll ever experience.
I wouldn't throw the word, "coherent" around if I were you.
Put it this way: I think the tournament is poorly run, but there is nothing that can be done about it anymore. Again, it's academic.
There’s an Oswego kid at St Francis that would be great. He was doing NFHS games solo in 8th grade and continued with broadcasts throughout HS and now. Always prepared and knows his stuff.
This hilarious. I am laughing. I don't know what happens to you around this time of year. For the past few years right around this time i.e., a couple weeks after the State Championships and about 2 weeks before Christmas you go off the rails.
You come here and go on a posting craze with multiple posts saying the tournament is run in a lousy way. Then when people start out trying to talk to you you snap and all hell breaks loose.
No one here thinks the tournament is perfect. Least of all me. But this is what we have. Screaming about broadcasters, game schedules, TV production and travel times isn't going to change anything. But if you want change why not see if you can get on the board that runs the tournament and use your input? Coming here isn't doing anything but will end up starting an argument.
Really, you don't make any coherent sense here. You complain and complain and end up saying nothing can be done? Holy sh*t. Then why complain and burst a blood vessel? You're complaining just to hear yourself complain. Good luck with that and Merry Christmas.
Actually I don't. I just have a good memory. And the key here is the fact you aren't denying your behavior. Now, THAT says a lot.
Gate revenue is better than household subscriptions. Champaign was much better than NIU so we will see how ISU does the second go round.
Considering the CCL routinely don't travel well, why should IHSA consider making a decision around the thoughts of MC or any other CCL team?
You said you didn't keep old posts, but I think you do. How creepy
You're obsessive. Get a life.
How many times have I said that this whole discussion was academic?
So in other words, you have no proof..
I have to a ton of those games, it’s amazing how Rochester, a town of a few thousand people, has more fans than Mt Carmel, a school from a city of 2.7 million…
Yet you want men to just automatically believe their games get more people watching on TV????
