SDSU vs. Illinois

[SturgisJeff]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

Wife said I could go. (yea right) so I may need two tickest. one for me and one for the wifes spy, I mean body guard ( one of my kids). I'll be looking on my own but you never know. Any one know what the Illinois policy is on bringing an RV or trailer and parking it in a lot? It's got a generator so power is no problem.

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

This is the only reservation I have...being with one guy down near the field. I think the Nebraska game would have not been as fun if I had sat down near the field(except for the better view of Kyle's 3 TD's and Derek's TD that never was). I know I never would have forgiven myself had SDSU won and I would have been surrounded by Husker fans(they might not have been so forgiving either!)
To that end does anyone have a clue where they put the visitor's tix?

In Sections 208 and 209, which is in the upperlevel at one end of the field about even with the endzone. You can go to the University of Illinois athletic page and click on Memorial Stadium, and then on Seating and see the Section chart.

[Redbird Ray]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

http://www.athletics.illinois.edu/fa...Guide_2010.pdf

Hey bunnies. Sounds like plenty of you will be making the trip to Chambana. For those of you on the fence, I would encourage you to make the trip. Champaign is a great college town with tons of nightlife and a one of the best tailgating set-ups in the country (The Central Illinois townies are pretty hardcore about their tailgating, even if the team usually sucks). Student support is somewhat fair-weather, but with close to 43,000 students, even for SDSU, there should be about 6-7K in attendance.

I'm sure many of you have already seen the link above about parking/ticket info etc. For a traditionally crappy football program, Illinois has a ton of tailgaters. This means game-day purchases for parking can be a bit of challenge, as these lots are all reeaallly far from the stadium, and the tailgating atmosphere usually isn't quite as good as closer to the stadium. I would recommend checking out some of the Illini fansites (Hail to the Orange, Illini Loyalty, or Illini HQ) or Stub Hub for parking permits that will get you closer to the action along First Street or Florida Ave.

There is one visitors section in the lower level of Memorial Stadium (109), but these tickets may have already been sold out to your donors (if so, well done, if not, this is a pretty decent section). The Upper Deck visitors sections are ok, a little better than the Horseshoe IMO, but I understand getting whatever is most affordable.

Chambana has a decent amount of hotels, though the ones right near the stadium will be more expensive and are usually sold out already this time of year. Hawthorne, Hilton Garden Inn, and I are all solid, but likely booked right now. Hotels on the north side of town near the Marketplace Mall may still have openings but these hotels are on the northern edge of town away from much of the action near campus and downtown. For a last resort, Bloomington/Normal is only 35 minutes west of Chambana and also has plenty of hotels that typically do not sell out for Illini gamedays (though ISU's game that night against Morehead State will likely bring in 50 or 60K visitors from around the state.........sigh......)

As for nightlife, Green Street, near campus, will be rocking before, during, and after the game. Illini students are a nerdy bunch, but they do a decent amount of drinking. Murphy's, Brothers, Joe's, Kam's, Firehouse, and of course, the Illini Inn (join the Mug Club, just do it) are my favorites near campus. Downtown Champaign, located a couple blocks north of campustown, has a decent array of bars that aren't totally polluted by the college crowd. Mike N Molly's, Memphis on Main, Highdive (clubish), Guido's, Bentley's, Cowboy Monkey (great for live music), Esquire Lounge, Jupiters Downtown, and Tumble Inn are all pretty solid places to get your downtown drink on. Downtown Urbana has a couple of bars that are decent, Rose Bowl Tavern is a cool Country-Music kind of place, the Iron Post is fun also. FYI, Illinois Coach Ron Zook almost always goes out for a drink with his coaching staff at Jupiter's at the Crossing (different from downtown) or Billy Barooz on the SW side of town. These bars are in the wealthier section of town, near the big donors, away from the chaos of campustown and downtown.

Hope those making the trip enjoy Chambana and Illinois in general. It's not Nebraska or Ohio State, but I think you'll be surprised by how geeked up Chambana gets for Illini football. It's mostly about the drinking, because the football is usually lousy come Big Ten season. Hope this was somewhat helpful. Cheers.

[JackJD]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

Thanks, Redbird Ray. Good info! We're making our plans.

[jacks1]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

Game to be televised on Big 10 Network:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,1770279.story

[MinnJack]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

Game to be televised on Big 10 Network:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,1770279.story

And the game starts at 11 AM, so breakfast tailgating is in order.

[jackmd]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

And the game starts at 11 AM, so breakfast tailgating is in order.

Breakfast tailgating followed by partying into the night after a Jackrabbit victory!

[Redbird Ray]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

11AM kickoff vs FCS team (even a fine one like your bunnies) = 50K in att. If you don't already have tickets in your reserved sections, there should be plenty of cheapies available on Stub Hub.

Beat the hell out of princess Illini ok? Amazingly smug and arrogant fanbase for an at best, mediocre football program. Have fun!

[jackmd]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

11AM kickoff vs FCS team (even a fine one like your bunnies) = 50K in att. If you don't already have tickets in your reserved sections, there should be plenty of cheapies available on Stub Hub.

Beat the hell out of princess Illini ok? Amazingly smug and arrogant fanbase for an at best, mediocre football program. Have fun!

50K would be great. It might be closer to 35K. If I'm an Illini fan I attend all the home games. However, most are more casual fans than I. So, how many of them attend the SDSU game with Arizona State coming in the next week? We will see.

2011 Illinois Football Schedule
Sept. 3 - Arkansas State
Sept. 10 - South Dakota State
Sept. 17 - Arizona State
Sept. 24 - Western Michigan
Oct. 1 - Northwestern
Oct. 8 - at Indiana
Oct. 15 - Ohio State
Oct. 22 - at Purdue
Oct. 29 - at Penn State
Nov. 5 - OPEN
Nov. 12 - Michigan
Nov. 19 - Wisconsin
Nov. 26 - at Minnesota

[JimmyJack]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

Game to be televised on Big 10 Network:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,1770279.story

Good news... except that on the Big 10 Network, you have to listen to Big Ten Network commentators.

[jackmd]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

Ordered my 6 tickets in the SDSU section this morning. Going to be a darn good time.

[KUlawJack]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

4 tickets purchased. Hotel room at Hawthorne for Friday and Saturday. Plane tickets booked. I'm ready to go. I'm excited for this game.

[ringthebells]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

I just got back from a wedding in Champaign-Urbana. If you are going to the game try to avoid staying at the Super 8. What a dump! If you just want a place to party and pass out, it will work just fine. If you want a place to gather and hang out some, look around.

[jackmd]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

Illinois tickets arrived. Sec 109 row 18 seats 1-6 (or close to that). I hope they are more towards the center of the field and not the very end.

We will arrive in Champaign Friday afternoon at 3 pm. Staying at the Hawthorne Suites. Anyone have plans for Friday night? I have family in Champaign and they will have a tailgate site for Saturday morning. If you are interested in stopping by PM me and I'll get you the info when I have it. Sounds like it is in a grassy area where we will have some tailgating games and plenty of beverages. Not sure when we can start but I'll be ready at sunrise.

I know the alumni association is hosting a tailgate at the UI Assembly complex starting at 8:30. Not sure exactly where that will be, perhaps 89 can tell us.

We'll most likely hit some of the bars on and around campus Friday and Saturday night unless other Jackrabbit fans have something else planned. Let me know, looking forward to it.

[KUlawJack]

Re: SDSU vs. Illinois

Illinois tickets arrived. Sec 109 row 18 seats 1-6 (or close to that). I hope they are more towards the center of the field and not the very end.

We will arrive in Champaign Friday afternoon at 3 pm. Staying at the Hawthorne Suites. Anyone have plans for Friday night? I have family in Champaign and they will have a tailgate site for Saturday morning. If you are interested in stopping by PM me and I'll get you the info when I have it. Sounds like it is in a grassy area where we will have some tailgating games and plenty of beverages. Not sure when we can start but I'll be ready at sunrise.

I know the alumni association is hosting a tailgate at the UI Assembly complex starting at 8:30. Not sure exactly where that will be, perhaps 89 can tell us.

We'll most likely hit some of the bars on and around campus Friday and Saturday night unless other Jackrabbit fans have something else planned. Let me know, looking forward to it.

PM Sent.