B10 Football at Wrigley!

Submitted by NorthSideBlueFan on

Next fall Wrigley Field will host the epic show down of Illinois vs. Northwestern. Details to be announced tomorrow.

When this game was first rumored I know they had said they were considering bringing in the Maize and Blue for a game in an upcoming season.

TALK ABOUT AWESOME!! Winter Classic was spectacular, but if Michigan were to play at Wrigley I don't know what I would do I would be so pumped!

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/ncf/news/story?id=5125564

M-Wolverine

April 22nd, 2010 at 3:00 PM ^

Get Northwestern to trade $$$ for a game there, and we might get an extra "home" game.

(I mean, if Indiana[?] can be convinced to give a game away to Penn State, why not?).

Jedelman11

April 22nd, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^

I think a B10 Championship game would almost have to be held at Soldier Field, Lucas Oil Stadium (Indy) or Lambeau.

If the conference didn't want to give a distinct advantage to any team it would negate the stadiums in Cleveland (too close to OSU), Cincinnati (Ditto), Detroit (too close to UM/MSU), and Pittsburgh (too close to Penn State and potentially too far East).

Given that Iowa has no pro football, and the Metrodome is a bit far north-west, I think those mentioned above are the only options.

That being said , if the conference expands to include a bunch of the former big east teams Pittsburgh might come back into play and the Ohio Stadiums start to look a little more centrally located.

Alas, I only speculate ...

Jedelman11

April 22nd, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^

True, but you're kinda missing the point.

The SEC has its championship in Atlanta not because it couldn't sell out the stadium in Gainseville or Tuscaloosa, but rather because its centrally located amongst the SEC's territory.

A championship game within the territory of a conference, by definition, would be near one school or another. The idea is to have it a pro-stadium that isn't on the doorstep one of the schools within the conference to maximize both revenue and logistical concerns.

M-Wolverine

April 22nd, 2010 at 3:43 PM ^

What makes those that much closer than Northwestern is to Chicago, Indiana is to Indianapolis, or Wisconsin is to Lambeau (or Northwestern is in the other direction)? Or are we just discounting the first two because they probably won't be there that much?

Detroit isn't THAT close to MSU, at least, and I don't know that Pitt is all that much closer to PSU (can't really say for the Ohios...but who wants to hold it there anyway?).

I think the first two are likely, because of Big Ten and NCAA office locations (though Indy is much more set to host stuff where people come to town than Soldier Field...I mean, Chicago can handle it, but you won't be by the Stadium at all). I doubt anyone is going up to Lambeau, either. But to see a Michigan game there would be cool. Depends on if Ford has any endorsement money by that time...(and yes, I know you weren't considering that...only the fairness).

(Someone with more time will Mapquest all the distances and prove me wrong, I'm sure).

Jedelman11

April 22nd, 2010 at 4:56 PM ^

While I was attempting to edit my comment to explain that Chicago and Indianapolis are negated because Northwestern and IU are of little football relevance my comment got locked.

Basically, you're correct in assuming that I negated those schools because they're frequently not relevant in respects to football

BlueintheLou

April 22nd, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^

Nope. I love Yost.

Wrigley is just a dump, man. I don't know how you can say it isn't. The place is falling apart. Instead of renovating or fixing things, they put up nets to catch falling concrete. There are obstructed views everywhere. I just don't like it.

The atmosphere of the place is a great place to watch a ballgame, but the physical entity that is Wrigley Field is a dump.

JeepinBen

April 22nd, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^

The structural posts if youre in the lower section near the back do suck, and yeah, the nets to catch falling concrete was dumb - the nets was a tribune co thing, they were going through bankruptcy, that's been fixed.

But now the new owners are renovating and fixing things. Just get better seats. Yes the atmosphere is awesome, but so is the building. Brick & Ivy, fans right on top of the game, bullpens down the foul lines, it's how baseball stadiums should be

Drill

April 22nd, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^

As a die-hard Cubs fan, I have to say that Wrigley is my second favorite place to watch a sporting event (first being the Big House, of course). I would love to watch a football game at Wrigley.