Bob Asmussen | Picking their spots | Sports

CHAMPAIGN — Dave Allen never saw a live football game … until he attended Illinois in the 1980s.

Allen is from Windsor, which didn’t have a high school team. When Allen came to campus, he zipped over to Memorial Stadium. Almost 40 years later, the longtime Arthur resident remains an Illinois season-ticket holder in football and men’s basketball.

At 11:20 a.m. on April 1, it was Allen’s turn to pick his seats for the upcoming season, part of the Illini Era reseating program at Memorial Stadium.

Available seats were in green, seats already spoken for were in red.

How did it go?

“Very smoothly,” said Allen, owner of AGRI-SEARCH in Arthur. “We actually improved our seats.”

Allen increased his order from two to four seats. They are in section 205, row 3 of the East balcony. His seats are a section closer to midfield than what he had in 2024 and several rows lower.

“I have only ever sat in the East balcony and I love sitting up there,” Allen said.

For Allen’s seats, there was no I Fund donation required. Just pay for the tickets and parking.

Allen worked with Bobby Kapolnek, who has been his contact with the athletic department for multiple years.

“He’s been very, very helpful,” Allen said.

Allen and his wife Cathy don’t go to every football game.

“We use some,” he said. “We give them to family friends. We gave four tickets to be sold at a benefit.”

Risky business

My experience, most fans are creatures of habit. If they accustomed to certain seats for years and there is a possibility they might be moved, they won’t like it. Might even threaten to stop buying.

The reseating at Illinois has likely cost the program customers. Some that have been attending for…

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Publish date : 2025-05-01 14:49:00

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