Bob Asmussen | Open for business ... well, sort of

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CHAMPAIGN — Those longing for the good old days of an open-to-the-public Illinois football training camp (my hand is in the air), can forget about it.

How do I know? I asked.

During Illinois coach Bret Bielema’s initial training camp press conference Monday at the Smith Center, my question was: “Would you ever consider opening more of training camp for fans?”

His answer: “Probably not.”

A little history here.

Bielema’s training camps as Illinois coach have included limited access for the media (bummer) and even less so for the public.

Oh, sure, reporters were allowed in for 30 minutes on Monday night.

There figures to be similar open looks in the coming weeks.

And members of the team’s booster group, the Illini Quarterback Club, can attend a practice on Aug. 17. (I assume there will be some sort of non-disclosure agreement involved. Wouldn’t want Eastern Illinois to get any inside information.)

Maybe none of the Illinois fans care about access. Maybe I’m shouting into the wind for no reason (check with my family, I do that often).

But there is a practical side to allowing fans and the media to see the team regularly: It creates buzz, which leads to ticket purchases.

Illinois has done better in recent years putting folks in the seats at the beautiful building on First and Kirby. Season-ticket sales are up.

But the place hasn’t been full for a game in eight years, when Lovie Smith’s first team hosted North Carolina and 60,670 showed up in 2016.

Illinois plays in a league with rabid fan bases. Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State were first, second and third, respectively, in the nation in attendance in 2023, all averaging better than 100,000 per game. Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Iowa all ranked in the Top 20.

Illinois finished No. 43 overall, just ahead of Rutgers. The average attendance was 49,698 in a building that holds 10,000 more than that. It could be better. Let the fans know what they are going to see and my guess is the numbers climb. It gives the fans a better sense of ownership.

Plus, college sports are about connections. For Illinois basketball, which will be sold out or close before the start of the season, there are more games for the fans to get to know the players. They can see their faces on the court. That’s helpful.

Harder to do in football, which has fewer games (seven) and players wearing helmets.

Imagine if you allow the fans to mingle with the players after football practice. Take pictures and get autographs with the kids.

Those 8-year-olds will someday be ticket buyers. How much more likely are they to make the investment if they got to know the players earlier in life? Definitely worth the effort.

Back in the day

When I started at The News-Gazette in 1989, not only could I attend Illinois training camp, but all the practices, too. For someone new in the community, it provided a great opportunity to learn about the team and the program.

When I took over the Illinois football beat full-time in 1996, I went to everything. Didn’t miss a workout or media session. The access allowed for better-informed stories. It made the players more comfortable when talking to me. A trust developed, with the coaches, too.

If the team ran a trick play, I didn’t need to be told “leave that out of your story.” Understood.

The Internet was in its infancy. Smart phones were a dream. No tweets or texts. The pace was less rushed.

Sure, reporters wanted the information first, but accuracy was the highest priority. Being right was so much more important than being right away.

I don’t think reporters are that much different now than in the mid-1990s. The tools have changed and the deadlines are constant. But the goal remains the same: Tell stories about the teams, athletes and coaches we cover. That is always enhanced by watching what we are writing about.

Follow the leaders

The highest level of football is not the Big Ten or SEC. It is the NFL.

Weird, but the pay-for-play folks allow fans to watch part of their training camps. The nearby Chicago Bears have nine open practices this summer. They require a free ticket. Parking is free, too.

The Green Bay Packers hold open practices at the field named for former Illini Ray Nitschke.

Again, if a team as popular as the Packers holds open practices, why not Illinois?

The NFL seems to be doing just fine with its training camp model. The most popular sport in the country usually get its right. The NFL realizes that keeping the fans happy is critical, a lesson college football needs to be mindful of as it enters the upcoming period of financial uncertainty.

Wise to use every trick available, even one that feels a bit risky. Like allowing the customers to see the product before purchase.