Northwestern to expand its relationship with Wrigley Field
I came across an interesting article today about Northwestern athletics. Apparently they are planning on expanding their relationship with Wrigley Field, and want to have more games take place at the stadium. The article talks about NU having other sports play at Wrigley in 2013 (baseball, softball, lacrosse, and soccer), but that they also want to bring football back to the stadium in the future as well, once the field is renovated to avoid having both teams use the same end zone like they had to in the Illinois vs NU game a couple years back. Michigan is cited in 2015 as a potential opponent, with the current schedule.
So, what do you guys think of this idea? Would you rather go to a Michigan game at Wrigley or at Ryan Field out in Northwestern? The attendance levels are about the same so tickets should be comparably easy to get. I think Wrigley would be more fun, plus there'd be a lot of pre and post game bars to choose from, although tailgating would be more challenging.
Story link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-northwestern-wrigley-f…
February 4th, 2013 at 7:26 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 7:59 PM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 9:09 AM ^
Do you actually know that? I went to the NIT Tip Off Tournament at Madison Square Garden a few months ago to see the basketball team, and they weren't selling beer because of NCAA rules.
February 5th, 2013 at 9:27 AM ^
There are different NCAA rules for alcohol at tournament games vs. non-tournament games. For instance, there is never alcohol at University of Dayton Arena during the first four NCAA play in games, even though there is always beer at Flyer basketball games (during which there is a very strict two-beer limit per transaction policy!).
February 5th, 2013 at 12:07 PM ^
This is a NIT rule. MSG sells alcohol almost every other college bball game (Cuse, St. Johns, & Big East tournament). If you had gone to the UM game at Barclays in Brooklyn you could have had as much beer as you wanted.
February 4th, 2013 at 7:35 PM ^
DO WANT. Just have to make sure they don't screw up the endzones like last time.
February 4th, 2013 at 7:38 PM ^
they can't not
there isn't the space
February 4th, 2013 at 7:47 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^
Don't fool yourself...tix will be much hard at 3600 N than at Ryan Field. Much more demand...of course the bars right outside may be best.
I wonder if th ebars charge a steep cover if they ever had OSU or UM playing NWU in that setting.
February 4th, 2013 at 10:43 PM ^
Correction: 1060 W
February 4th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^
Sign me up. fix the endzones.
February 4th, 2013 at 7:48 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 7:49 PM ^
OT! But I dont have the points to create a thread about this:
http://deadspin.com/5981580/jalen-rose-partied-in-bloomington-and-share…
February 4th, 2013 at 8:15 PM ^
Faded in that picture.
February 4th, 2013 at 7:52 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 7:55 PM ^
Expanding the relationship means wedding bells in their future. When is Wrigley going to pop the question? Or does the stadium just want to remain friends?
February 4th, 2013 at 7:55 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 8:09 PM ^
I would definitely like to see at least one UMich-NW game there.
- - -
One obvious drawback (and the only one that comes to mind, other than the obvious likelihood of higher ticket prices) is the Wrigleyville meathead measure (which is high ... apologies to residents of that area, Lakeview, North Center, etc.).
When I'm at Ryan Field, I can look all around and see mostly civilized, refined people. Sometimes snooty, too, admittedly. At Clark 'n Addison there'd be a lot more meatheads.
February 4th, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 10:00 PM ^
Would meatheads buy tickets to watch NW football? Not sure about that. I think you'd see the same basic crowd that you'd get at Ryan Field.
February 4th, 2013 at 8:10 PM ^
Here's a story on the $300 million in renovations proposed to Wrigley - (LINK)
In addition to an improved porch in the outfield, the Cubs are looking for increased signage, a video scoreboard and some easing of the restrictions imposed by the city regarding advertising and the number of night games it is allowed to host.
Aside from that, this is a pretty cool idea - Wrigley would be a pretty cool venue for football if they did manage to make the renovations happen to the scale that they want, and I would definitely go to a Michigan game at Wrigley.
February 4th, 2013 at 8:45 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 10:43 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 8:52 PM ^
I live a couple blocks away, which is a plus.
February 4th, 2013 at 9:14 PM ^
Almost home games. Imagine Wrigley.
February 4th, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^
without reading the article --NW athletic facilities are all lacking. are we to assume it is not economically viable to bring their facilities up to a rasonable standard?
i thought they were going to renevote ryan field.
proximity to bars seems like a sad way to pick a stadium. maybe people should just go to the best available bar and not let the game location compromise their opportunity to drink.
February 4th, 2013 at 10:44 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 11:53 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 11:20 PM ^
February 4th, 2013 at 11:48 PM ^
February 5th, 2013 at 8:02 AM ^
I like the idea of Wrigley assuming every Michigan/N'western game isn't there. If they keep it to less than half the time, then I think it becomes rare enough to serve as a nice treat.
But if they play at Wrigley every time Michigan is at N'western then it won't be long before the novelty wears off and people start wondering they never play on campus.
February 5th, 2013 at 8:59 AM ^
that NU would only do one game at Wrigley a year, in the article. The UM game in 2015 was cited as one possibility for that season, because they wouldn't be able to pick any home game before November (not that the Cubs ever play in October, but Wrigley wouldn't commit to it until after baseball season is over). Of course, when the Big Ten changes the future schedules around to accomodate MD and Rutgers, who knows when the next road game to NU will be anyways.
I'd love to see a game at Wrigley, I already make the trip to Evanston every time UM comes to town, I'd actually enjoy a game in the city quite a bit because I'd make a day trip out of it and spend the night downtown.
February 5th, 2013 at 9:21 AM ^
Football would be awesome. It's an amazing stadium and in a much better area than out in the suburbs. Any other sport though, I'm not sure enough people would go. It would look really dumb to put on an event like that and have 1500 people in Wrigley.
February 5th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
On April 20 this season, Northwestern baseball will host Big Ten opponent Michigan at Wrigley Field
http://www.nusports.com/genrel/020513aab.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=420167&hq_l=…
February 5th, 2013 at 2:43 PM ^
...here.
BREAKING NEWS: Michigan to play Northwestern at Wrigley Field Saturday, April 20 at a time to be determined.
— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) February 5, 2013