Hotels sold out for next weekend??

[Birdswin]

My wife was getting several inquiries from a number of people wondering why they cannot find any hotel rooms for next weekend?? This was last night - Friday, Sept 27. May was reply was - Ok honey, What in the world is going on next Saturday??? The Bison are playing the Birds and it is Family Weekend!!!!

Tailgate lots will be rocking!!!

 

[fourthandshort]

I saw same thing mentioned on the Bisonville game thread .. they've got people staying in Peoria, etc. Though I'm guessing there's a lot of campers coming too.

Hope for decent weather ... the campus is going to be rocking that day with Family Day and Bison in town.

Forecast as of today is 67 and just partly cloudy. Just a bit different than 2 years ago when driving rain turned to sleet to turned to snow with 20+ mph winds .. I was there and stuck it outtil the bitter end. Oddly, the snow was a relief compared to the rain and sleet.

 

[StLRedbird]

Wesleyan's homecoming is next weekend too.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Family day weekend is the issue. I have had trouble other years getting a room on that weekend.

 

[Birdswin]

Still a good thing to happen - helps to demonstrate the impact of ISU and Redbird Football. What we need for the Athletic Dept to host potential BIG donors - Corporate or otherwise - to get a lead sponsor for the Indoor Practice Facility. I would start with CEFCU.

 

[fourthandshort]

Just checked .., so all sections are completely sold out including the lawn, except section 121 with "low availability" in general seating. Now just need weather to cooperate to make sure everyone shows up and stays past half time show.

Place should be rocking .. looking forward to tailgate and game.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Still a good thing to happen - helps to demonstrate the impact of ISU and Redbird Football. What we need for the Athletic Dept to host potential BIG donors - Corporate or otherwise - to get a lead sponsor for the Indoor Practice Facility. I would start with CEFCU.

Great for the local economy when people are in using hotels, eating out, buying gas, etc. Hopefully they all take their families to get outfitted with local apparel. I would even love a 'beer tasting' event for all the 21+ family members for the local breweries.

In response to Birdswin, there are plenty of businesses with ISU ties, but what has to happen:

1.) Someone or some entity has to have enough to fund naming rights. Either an outright cash donation or enough resources over time to fund the bond payments. Ex. $100,000 or $250,000 per year for 20 years. Having alums/supporters in key positions (CEO, COO, CFO, Board Chair) definitely helps grease the wheels for these donations.

2.) If this is going to be a marketing expense, there has to be a need for expanding in a particular market or a company getting its name out there. It does not make sense for Big Red to buy the naming rights, unless it was a charitable gift. At that point, Big Red has been focused on millions each year to on programs like business, cybersecurity, education, and nursing. One potential for this is Rivian. It gets its name out there in the community even more and builds goodwill in the community. However, it might not be worth 6 figures to them.

I would hope if we have say $2-3 million in a fund and can get a $2 million+ naming rights deal, that we could generate enough momentum to get $2+ million more if the goal is to and break ground on something, put up 4 walls and a roof, and expand on later.

Here is a good article on indoor facilities as a whole:

https://www.athleticbusiness.com/gym-fieldhouse/designing-the-modern-college-football-practice-facility.html

Rice just announced a $3 million dome:

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/college/article/New-indoor-practice-facility-a-game-changer-at-13833909.php

 

[MadBird]

Every time someone posts about alums with deep pockets and the need for a big lead donor, etc. I'm going to post this alum's name:

CEO of Progressive Insurance Tricia Griffith.

https://www.progressive.com/about/leadership/

If you've got money for Flo, you should be able to get up off a few mill for good old alma mater!! :lol:

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Every time someone posts about alums with deep pockets and the need for a big lead donor, etc. I'm going to post this alum's name:

CEO of Progressive Insurance Tricia Griffith.

https://www.progressive.com/about/leadership/

If you've got money for Flo, you should be able to get up off a few mill for good old alma mater!! :lol:

CEO Griffith and Progressive check the box in many ways...significant alum leadership, size, consumer oriented product as they are predominately a consumer lines ins co, type of business that is a routine advertiser in the sports world...etc.

However one sensitive issue that I see about pursuing Progressive as a namer / donor is the fact that they are a huge competitor of State Farm and State Farm has been and is an investor in ISU. So pick up Progressive and lose/alienate State Farm? This is no small consideration IMO especially since ISU is in State Farm’s backyard.