Any Chicagoland Folks Going to Hoops @ Northwestern (Allstate Arena)?
Michigan plays at Northwestern on Tuesday 2/6 at 6pm CT. Northwestern home games are at Allstate Arena this season as Welsh-Ryan gets renovated. All tickets appear to be $35 anywhere in the arena. I have a few buddies that I'm trying to convince to go, but I thought I'd check to see if anyone knows if there's a concentration of M fans in a certain area, or just see where other folks are sitting.
Go Blue!
January 17th, 2018 at 11:01 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 11:02 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^
that kind of guts their homecourt advantage this year. Welsh-Ryan was becomming a very formidable place to play. In the game last year against Michigan, it was loud in there, Cameron-esque. This could be playing into their struggles this year. I think teams come to rely on a familiar atmosphere for home games and this changed that dynamic.
January 17th, 2018 at 11:41 AM ^
My daughter is a sophomore in journalism at Northwestern. The Allstate Arena solution has been awful for them. There are student busses available, but the process is a pain. For students trying to cover the games, the logistics have been a particular challenge. And so far, it seems to be a sterilized environment.
I guess the renovations needed to be done and needed a certain amount of time, but the solution, especially after coming off the most successful season in school history, hasn't been great.
January 17th, 2018 at 11:55 AM ^
I wandered over to InsideNU (formerly Sippin' On Purple) and folks over there are very unhappy about the temporary accommodations this season.
January 17th, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^
We went to multiple NU games last year and the atmospher was outstanding. Haven't been to any this year as it is a haul out to Rosemont. I go back and forth about whether or not I want it to be a a momentum killer for the program. On one hand, my son really likes the 'Cats so when they do well, he is happy. On the other hand, my in-laws really like the 'Cats so nice to have this year somewhat humble them. They were starting to get a bit cocky about the direction of the program. Plus Chris Collins is a Duke grad which is always a huge negaive for me.
Looking forward to this fall when UM fanes takes over Ryan Field!
January 17th, 2018 at 11:19 PM ^
I hadn't seen students go that insane outside of a Cameron type venue, when that shot went in you couldn't hear a thing, just a roar.
January 17th, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^
The UM Club of Greater Chicago (UMCGC) bought a block of discounted tickets in Section 113 (sold out) and 213. You can still buy $20 tickets in section 213 with this link (http://cts.umclubs.com/t/4730734/99131360/33832/9/) and promo code UMCHI.
If you're in Chicagoland and not on the UMCGC email list, I would recommend signing up.
January 17th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^
Thanks!
January 17th, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^
I'm thinking about it, but Allstate Arena is a haul if you use public transportation.
January 17th, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^
Damn, it's an hour and 20 mins from the loop via mass transit. The drivetime now is 30 minutes, considerably worse at rush hour.
January 17th, 2018 at 12:23 PM ^
From the far north side, takes a good hour and forty minutes--and it's pretty much just due west. And that's with over 50 minutes on a bus in non-rush hour.
Nope.
January 17th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 12:19 PM ^
Pretty much everything that has been mentioned is true. The distance from NU's campus is an issue as is the fact that there's no real direct route from Evanston to Rosemont. Yes, there are student shuttle buses but, for the most part, no students are really interested in taking the trip. Crowds have been sparse, the All State Arena is pretty large (even when DePaul played there it was never full), and the fact that there's ice under the floor (for the Wolves) adds up to a completely different feel for them. NU hasn't been playing well and it seems as if it's a combination of lost Seniors, different venue and others just not playing as well (as last year). I would expect that there might easily be a UM crowd there given the number of alums in the Chicago-land area and the fact that tickets are readily available. You can take the Blue Line from downtown and get off at Rosemont. Then, you should be able to take a bus (Route 221 - Wolf Road or Route 222 - Event Express) to the All State Arena (the Blue Line stop, at Rosemont, is a PACE bus stop, too). Even if you had to walk, it's about 2.5 miles.
A co-worker is the significant other of a team member. So, I do have some "insider dope" (cool story bro...).
January 17th, 2018 at 12:46 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 12:50 PM ^
Speaking of Northwestern, what's happened to them this season? They were a preseason top 25 squad and now look like an NIT longshot.
January 17th, 2018 at 3:02 PM ^
Getting moved out of cozy Welsh-Ryan to cavernous Allstate Arena way out in the west suburbs, the hidden losses of glue guy seniors Sanjay Lumpkin and Nathan Taphorn (see: CJ Lee and David Merritt), dealing with expectations and the perception of being Goliath and not David, and maybe a little too much offseason press reading.
January 17th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
My youngest son's birthday was last week and I gave him two tickets to the game (hoping he would take me with ;) ).
Easier drive coming from the west burbs to Allstate than Welsh Ryan, but have done that trip many times over the years. I remember my oldest son standing in the tunnel to the locker rooms and high-fiving with Jalen, Juwan, Ray and others from the Fab Five team. Obviously it was a great thrill for him...and to me, watching him.
BTW....I just checked on Seat Geek and they have tickets available in Section 113 (sold out via the UM Club link) starting at $22.
Plenty of other sections avaiable at similar prices....$20 to $30.
January 17th, 2018 at 3:29 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 3:34 PM ^
Got my ticket a couple weeks ago. Section 111, Row CC, just a couple rows directly behind the Visitors bench. Maybe I can insert myself into the huddles.
Not looking forward to that drive from the city, though. Wish it was at 7 or 8.
January 17th, 2018 at 3:43 PM ^
Do you know of a place nearby that has really good Sprites?
January 17th, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
All of these places are within a mile or two of the arena.
Shoeless Joe's Ale House & Grille
It's just down Mannhiem Road near the intersection with Higgins.
https://goo.gl/maps/BMsxeJruQGm
Hugo's Frog Bar & Chop House
https://goo.gl/maps/pB8H1GXaAs42
Ram Restaurant and Brewery
January 17th, 2018 at 3:47 PM ^
January 17th, 2018 at 11:04 PM ^
Chicagoland MGoBlogger here.
Really wish I could take up on this opportunity, but I cannot. So close, but busy.
I'm hoping to see the UM/ND hockey home and home, and catch the UM/OSU basketball game at home before the second hockey game. That's my plans for getting my Michigan hoops on this year.
Super excited to do that considering the amazing trajectory of our season!