What are the biggest high school football crowds in IL in the last 20 years
- Thread starter Fishwater41
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Batavia and GBW bring in nice crowds. Also, MS LA games have always been well attended.
Way more than 20 yrs ago, the Prep Bowl used to draw upwards of 100,000 fans. In the years immediately preceding the CCL joining the IHSA in the mid 70s, Prep Bowl attendance had dropped off but was still substantially larger than anything you see these days.
Within the past 20 years, and discounting the state title games for which it is almost impossible to get a good idea of attendance at a single game, I keep hearing about attendance of around 8,000 for a JCA vs. Riverside Brookfield quarterfinal game around 15 years ago. Don't recall too many bigger than that.
Within the past 20 years, and discounting the state title games for which it is almost impossible to get a good idea of attendance at a single game, I keep hearing about attendance of around 8,000 for a JCA vs. Riverside Brookfield quarterfinal game around 15 years ago. Don't recall too many bigger than that.
That JCA riverside game was a ton of people. However the JCA Morris games at Joliet memorial had huge crowds. The stadium holds about 9k people and I played in those and they where jammed packed.
About 25 years ago, Gately was fully packed for the Caravan and JCA. I don't know Gately's capacity - have heard estimates of upwards of 8k.
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Biggest one I was at was 2006 LWE VS MS state championship game. Ihsa official said it was the biggest corundum in state history at the time, I think it was around 14,000 c
In the late 50's and early 60's, Joliet Township and Joliet Catholic would open the season at Memorial Stadium, which by most accounts seats 10K.
Those games typically had that place over flowing, with people standing all around the track as well. Estimates of the crowd usually was in the 12K range and up. Still remember my dad taking me to those games. We lived maybe 10 to 15 minutes away. After those games it would take an hour to get home. Great memories. Go Hillmen!
The Disciple
Those games typically had that place over flowing, with people standing all around the track as well. Estimates of the crowd usually was in the 12K range and up. Still remember my dad taking me to those games. We lived maybe 10 to 15 minutes away. After those games it would take an hour to get home. Great memories. Go Hillmen!
The Disciple
Understand that while the "City Championship Game," later to be know as "The Prep Bowl" was a major sports attraction at the time, employees of the Chicago park District (and there were thousands of them) were forced to buy ten tickets each for the game -- and they were expected to distribute them to folks who would actually attend the game. Check out, "Soldier Field: A Stadium and It's City" - a fascinating look at the stadium.
I was at the 2012 Neuqua Waubonsie game at North Central in 2012. Yes there were a ton of people there (I would bet on the over line of the 8,000 confirmed ticket holders). Both teams were undefeated going into the game. What a great game it was!! And the rematch in the quarterfinals was also top notch.
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When NN and NC had top teams at the same time, they would draw crowds approaching 10k. The largest was in 1993 (12k) at North Central College. NCC was the temporary home for the Chicago Fire (soccer) that year. Temporary bleachers were installed, more than doubling capacity from 5,500. More recent attendance around 5k.
I'm new to the board. But I would like to add to the post. Going back to the 1989 season finally for the CCL championship at Gatley, St. Rita beat Carmel 14-7 in front of 10,000+. What a sight to see people lined up around the perimeter of the fence about 10-12 deep. The mounted police had a good view. Plus the CFD ladder truck sitting out front. It was an electric atmosphere!!
As far as regular season goes this game no question was huge and one that comes to mind for me right away
Welcome aboard Stangs1991, glad to have you here. Hands down, best HS football message board in Illinois.
When Reavis and St.Laurence finally got together it was a awesome crowd.However Mother Nature spoiled what could have been even bigger.As she did again the next year
But my all time favorite was JCA vs Riverside. You couldn't find a parking spot for blocks. Literally 10 deep around the fence and seats were blocked off before that day even started. It's the way it should be for HS Football. Plus, I will add it was probably the best finish of all time as well. What a game!!!!
Sorry, these great game with big crowds keep coming to my mind. I attend ALOT!!!! But the Driscol game against Aurora Christian in 2008 I believe. What an atmosphere that was as well. It was Driscol's last game in their history and they had just come off 7 state championships in a row and AC knocked them off. Huge crowd that storm the field afterwards as well. Pretty cool. I'm sure I'll have more soon. Haha
DOS, how did that game's crowd size compare to the crowds at the '88 MC SR game on 63rd and the '89 MC SR game at Gately? Those are the two largest crowds I've seen but don't fit into the 20 year window. If that 2001 JCA game had as many people as the '89 game, that's impressive.
One year an incredible shooting the next an incredibly battle of D!!!
