BRAVES NEED US

[Guest]

Just got back from the Sears Center (I refuse to call it by its Francophile name).

First off, let me say we had a great crowd there. Filled up about two full sections...reminded me of what we had in Auburn Hills last spring....maybe a bit more.

Obviously it will be a pro-Illini crowd tomorrow. There's just so many of them...can't be helped. But about one-fourth of the place was empty tonight. I've been told tickets will be made available for the final....I heard they will start selling them at midnight (I don't know why but that's what I heard).

If anyone is on the fence about coming up...think about making the trip...I can't speak for them but I'm sure the team would appreciate as much support they can get in an otherwise hostile setting.

I assure you the parking is plentiful....traffic won't be bad because its the weekend...they serve alcohol if you are into that...pretzels and pizza if you're not. Its a pretty nice gym.

Make it out if you can. That's all I have to say. Go Braves.

Sincerely,
VromanFan

P.S.- If I'm wrong and there are no tickets...sorry for wasting your time. Call or internet ahead...obviously.

[andypt7]

I'm on the Sears Centre website right now and there are tix available for tomorrow's games. Looks like there's both $30 upper seats and $40 lowers. the Lowers are behind the basket. I'm gonna try to get the pass from the prego wife and try to make it down from Wisconsin to support the Braves. Sounds like it was a great time tonight.

Any pre-game eating/drinking establishments in the area? I know Bradley is sponsoring a pregame party, but that was prepurchase only.....

[VromanFan]

I'm on the Sears Centre website right now and there are tix available for tomorrow's games. Looks like there's both $30 upper seats and $40 lowers. the Lowers are behind the basket. I'm gonna try to get the pass from the prego wife and try to make it down from Wisconsin to support the Braves. Sounds like it was a great time tonight.

Any pre-game eating/drinking establishments in the area? I know Bradley is sponsoring a pregame party, but that was prepurchase only.....

I'm not very familiar with the area...there's a Buffalo Wild Wings on Route 59 just off I-90...the same exit you'd use to get to the Sears Center...might be pretty crowded right before gametime though.

I was a great time tonight. I can honestly say I can't remember a more flawlessly played half of basketball than our first 20 minutes. Our shooting continues to be scary good.

Saw an exciting game after ours...thought Miami got hosed on some calls late but who knows...it was a grind it out style game which reminded me of many BU contests from the mid to late '90's.

Hope you can make it.

[andypt7]

I'm on the Sears Centre website right now and there are tix available for tomorrow's games. Looks like there's both $30 upper seats and $40 lowers. the Lowers are behind the basket. I'm gonna try to get the pass from the prego wife and try to make it down from Wisconsin to support the Braves. Sounds like it was a great time tonight.

Any pre-game eating/drinking establishments in the area? I know Bradley is sponsoring a pregame party, but that was prepurchase only.....

I'm not very familiar with the area...there's a Buffalo Wild Wings on Route 59 just off I-90...the same exit you'd use to get to the Sears Center...might be pretty crowded right before gametime though.

I was a great time tonight. I can honestly say I can't remember a more flawlessly played half of basketball than our first 20 minutes. Our shooting continues to be scary good.

Saw an exciting game after ours...thought Miami got hosed on some calls late but who knows...it was a grind it out style game which reminded me of many BU contests from the mid to late '90's.

Hope you can make it.

I plan on it. It's less than an hour drive from where I am (north of rockford, over the boarder). Probably going to meet up with an Illinois alum to take in the game.

How is the arena? I've heard it a great place for a concert, but haven't heard much about watching a game there.

[Da Coach]

There are many good restaurants in the area. Just a couple miles east at Barrington road is a TGIF, Texas Roadhouse, and several more. Right next to the Sears Center is a shopping mall with a number of restaurants. Amd there is a Buffalo Wild Wings somewhere close, but I haven't seen where.

TICKETS--
There are plenty of tickets available. There were about 3000 empty seats in the arena, so I am sure there will be tickets available.
Also, the Bradley Athletic Department bought up a bunch of extra tickets and plans to sell them to Bradley fans who come Saturday and need tickets. Look for Ken Kavanagh, or anyone with BU red on outside the arena (the entrance is on the South-West corner of the building). They have done this kind of thing before, such as at St. Louis, to try to get the best tickets and keep Bradley fans together in a block.
You could try to contact someone in the BU office Saturday AM and see if they can connect you with someone up here in Chicago to secure tickets.

There is also Ticketmaster.com, and Stubhub.com.

There will also likely be people selling tickets outside the arena.

One other possibility-- The few fans who are here from UIC, FAMU, Jackson State, and Savannah State, will probably be leaving before the evening games begin. Their tickets are good for the night session, too. So if you can get any of them to give (or sell) you their tickets, they should get you back into the arena for the 2 night games.

Don't let the lack of tickets keep you from coming. There will be tickets! It should be a great game. Come and see this fantastic team! They were awesome tonight!

[andypt7]

Coach-what sections were/are the bradley sections? The seats available on the Sears Centre website are either behind the basket or in section 213 (looks like upper corner). I'd much rather sit in the Braves' section than around a bunch of orange clad Illini fans.

I'm torn between securing my tix online tonight or getting them at the arena tomorrow. I guess I'm worried that a few thousand Illini fans are going to wake up tomorrow and realize that their team is playing a game within 30 minutes of them and snap up all the tix.

[Da Coach]

The Bradley fans sat mostly in Sections 116 and 117 in the lower bowl, and 216 and 217 in the upper bowl.

The extra tickets Bradley acquired will be in the end zone (probably sections 109 and 110, and 207, 208, 209), but they are not bad seats. Any available tickets at the box office will also be end zone, either lower bowl or upper bowl. There is only 1 end zone (the south end), since there is a stage at the north end. You might have luck if you try to buy from individual sellers on the site.

My suggestion-- Come early, even as early as the first afternoon game and try to buy from the sellers with extra tickets. There were a bunch of people selling tickets for Saturday's games after the Illinois game tonight. They might be back early tomorrow to unload their tickets.
Note- each ticket is good for all 4 games that day. Be sure if you buy from a private seller that the ticket says it is for all 4 games Saturday, Nov. 25. and does not have the date altered! The face value for the lower level ticket is $40 each. Upper level tickets are less. Some people were selling lower level tickets for Sat for $20-$30 after the games tonight.

http://searscentre.com/seating_arena.shtml

[BradleyBrave]

VROMAN FAN IS RIGHT!

GET LOUD, GET PROUD!

Despite our wins, nary a person wearing orange has ANY respect for us, our program, or our university. SCREW THEM! SHOW THEM! I'm so sick of the arrogance of a school who's only played in 1 title game and won't show their sack against the rest of the DI state. Screw them, screw their fans, screw their orange, and screw the tournament they're supposed to win. It's the Bradley Invitational as far as I am concerned, and if anyone is on the fence, get your ASS up there!!!

[Braves4Life]

Screw their orange

GET LOUD, GET PROUD!

Despite our wins, nary a person wearing orange has ANY respect for us, our program, or our university. SCREW THEM! SHOW THEM! I'm so sick of the arrogance of a school who's only played in 1 title game and won't show their sack against the rest of the DI state. Screw them, screw their fans, screw their orange, and screw the tournament they're supposed to win. It's the Bradley Invitational as far as I am concerned, and if anyone is on the fence, get your *** up there!!!

Maybe the best line I've heard in a while.............."Screw their orange."

I love it!

[Mikovio]

Re: VROMAN FAN IS RIGHT!

GET LOUD, GET PROUD!

Despite our wins, nary a person wearing orange has ANY respect for us, our program, or our university. SCREW THEM! SHOW THEM! I'm so sick of the arrogance of a school who's only played in 1 title game and won't show their sack against the rest of the DI state. Screw them, screw their fans, screw their orange, and screw the tournament they're supposed to win. It's the Bradley Invitational as far as I am concerned, and if anyone is on the fence, get your *** up there!!!

BB, I think you just became my favorite person.

Illini fans were polite to me for the most part, except for some old jerkoff who called me an SIU fan as we were leaving. But it was all in fun and I was able to call him a Florida fan. Oh, and I was also a bit surprised that they yelled at me for standing up....AT THE ILLINI GAME! (Of course, I was only standing because I couldn't see over the people standing in front of me). Soon after tipoff of UIUC/Miami, about 10 or so Illini fans stood up and were screamed at incessently by the orange around us to "TAKE A SEAT!" See, I was under the impression this only happened at Carver....

[Da Coach]

Funny, but when the Illinois band (yes they had a small contingent of their pep band there last night) played the Illinois fight song, not a single Illinois fan stood up. It was strange that they all sat still and relatively motionless while it was playing.

It would be great if Bradley could get some of their band together and get up here for the game!

[dogsrus]

Funny, but when the Illinois band (yes they had a small contingent of their pep band there last night) played the Illinois fight song, not a single Illinois fan stood up. It was strange that they all sat still and relatively motionless while it was playing.

It would be great if Bradley could get some of their band together and get up here for the game!

Hey say no more....as we speak I have my shades on , its dark outand I'm getting the band back together for tonite.

[VromanFan]

By the way...

Too bad the band didn't make the trip...

Heard my namesake and spiritual guru was up for the trip but the powers that be let my man down.

How about Alumni And Friends tonight?

I'm not all that musical you know...but I'll try my best on a triangle or cowbell or something.

[Big Mike]

I gotta tell ya........."I NEED MORE COWBELL!"

[BradleyBrave]

Re: VROMAN FAN IS RIGHT!

GET LOUD, GET PROUD!

Despite our wins, nary a person wearing orange has ANY respect for us, our program, or our university. SCREW THEM! SHOW THEM! I'm so sick of the arrogance of a school who's only played in 1 title game and won't show their sack against the rest of the DI state. Screw them, screw their fans, screw their orange, and screw the tournament they're supposed to win. It's the Bradley Invitational as far as I am concerned, and if anyone is on the fence, get your *** up there!!!

BB, I think you just became my favorite person.

Illini fans were polite to me for the most part, except for some old jerkoff who called me an SIU fan as we were leaving. But it was all in fun and I was able to call him a Florida fan. Oh, and I was also a bit surprised that they yelled at me for standing up....AT THE ILLINI GAME! (Of course, I was only standing because I couldn't see over the people standing in front of me). Soon after tipoff of UIUC/Miami, about 10 or so Illini fans stood up and were screamed at incessently by the orange around us to "TAKE A SEAT!" See, I was under the impression this only happened at Carver....

The most common question I got from my orange and blue brethren last night was 'Who is this Warren kid? Is he a freshman? Where's he from?', and I promptly told them he's the real one from Indianaopolis that got away, not that Gordon kid.