MU’s schedule

[Pakuni]

Completely disagree. I think everyone who went to MU from the Chicago land area has friends and/or family that went to U if I. That game at the UC would be well attended, I’m sure of it.

I'm not sure of it.
Chicago fans are pretty bandwagon when it comes to the Illini, and won't pay to see them at the UC when they're bad. This year's game there drew less than 5,700. The year before was 9,000. Year before that, 5,100.
How many MU fans would go? Probably about the same that go to the DePaul game ... so maybe 5-6,000 or so.
So, at best, you may be looking at 11-12,000 seats filled in a 21,000-seat arena.

[GB Warrior]

I'm not from Illinois, so maybe I just don't understand,  but I don't see a lot of (or any) passion amongst Illini fans. I certainly don't see passion about the Illini playing Marquette.

Wishful thinking, but I would much rather try to revive a rivalry with a legacy BE team not named Pitt, Rutgers or South Florida.

[🏀]

I'm not sure of it.
Chicago fans are pretty bandwagon when it comes to the Illini, and won't pay to see them at the UC when they're bad. This year's game there drew less than 5,700. The year before was 9,000. Year before that, 5,100.
How many MU fans would go? Probably about the same that go to the DePaul game ... so maybe 5-6,000 or so.
So, at best, you may be looking at 11-12,000 seats filled in a 21,000-seat arena.

Bingo. UoI fanbase is south, and dey sure as heck wint be drivin up to der city of murders when dey can see the boys right here in Champaign, I reckon.

[warriorchick]

Completely disagree. I think everyone who went to MU from the Chicago land area has friends and/or family that went to U of I. That game at the UC would be well attended, I’m sure of it.

U of I alum aren't even interested in U ot I basketball.

[Windyplayer]

I'm not sure of it.
Chicago fans are pretty bandwagon when it comes to the Illini, and won't pay to see them at the UC when they're bad. This year's game there drew less than 5,700. The year before was 9,000. Year before that, 5,100.
How many MU fans would go? Probably about the same that go to the DePaul game ... so maybe 5-6,000 or so.
So, at best, you may be looking at 11-12,000 seats filled in a 21,000-seat arena.

To be fair, over the last 7 years or so at the UC, Illinois has played UIC 3x, Auburn, UNLV, Oregon and last Dec New Mexico State. That’s just horrendous scheduling for the annual Chicago game. I get the Illini are not what they used to be, but they are only 12 years removed from a NC appearance while still the flagship university of the state with a huge alumni population in the city/suburbs. Energize the fans with a game they can relate to, I.e. I have buddies/family that went to MU and vice versa for MU—DePaul is not a big draw because they have been downright terrible for nearly two decades. There’s a reason why the braggin’ rights game still draws well despite down years for both teams. Fans relate. Personally, I would mobilize all the troops I know from both schools and make a day out of it.

[Eldon]

Wow this is really interesting.  Sounds like we tried to do exactly what is being argued here (MU v IL at the UC) about 10 years ago but DePaul excercised their veto.

If true, then the answer is MU wants to indeed play a neutral site game in Chicago but DePaul will not allow it.


This board is great, the breath of people here can dig up an eight year old post on the Illini site that addresses this issue.

Thank you!

+1 Very interesting, great find.

Supposing it's true that BEast teams can block other BEast teams from playing neutral games in their city (within reason I suppose), I wonder how they define "city."  Allstate Arena, for example, is technically not in Chicago city proper.

[cheebs09]

Interesting. Especially since DePaul let us play a neutral site game at AllState and now WinTrust every year.

[Billy Hoyle]

More to “money” than the P&L of that game?  How about getting more time in your largest market to recruit top students and please donors?  How much is that worth?

you all do know a coach can't just call up another school and say  "Hey Notre Dame, want to play us?" "Great, see you then."

Having been party to scheduling there is a science to it and it involves many factors.  A school may say "yes, we're available December 13" and Marquette may come back and say "that's in the middle of finals week and we can't play then." Or there may be a signed contract for another team already. Or the other team needs a home game and MU needs a home game.