Montini facilities

[89morrisgrad]

Good morning to everyone!

I am SURE this has been covered somewhere in the past but I was hoping I could get a quicker answer this way.

I have heard that the Montini visitors stands are very, very limited so seating will be at a premium. I was planning on going this Saturday but I do not really feel like getting there 60-90 minutes early. I thought I had heard that you can bring your own chairs into the facility to use for seating. Is this true? Would this be a better or safer option? Normally, I would just stand along the fence BUT with my age (mid 50's) and history of back issues, standing for 2 hours or more without sitting will cause the pain/uncomfortableness to outweigh the enjoyment of watching the game. Any advice or answers are greatly appreciated!!!

 

[refreff01]

Limited visitor bleacher seating but plenty of space. I'd bring a chair, worse thing they can say is you can't bring it in and take it back to your car.

As a whole it is a nice facility.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Beware of horse poop

 

[ACleverName]

Careful, the flyover can be loud.

 

[RPG24]

I was the the Byron game at montini last year, there seemed to be many home side seats available in the stands for that big game

 

[Wassup13]

I was the the Byron game at montini last year, there seemed to be many home side seats available in the stands for that big game

I think a large percentage of the student body is active in multiple activities at school and have a hard time making it to the games this time of the year. Fall sports ending and Winter sports begin all at the same time.

 

[ACleverName]

It doesn't help that some of the families live just SO far away.

 

[Anon1753850091]

I think a large percentage of the student body is active in multiple activities at school and have a hard time making it to the games this time of the year. Fall sports ending and Winter sports begin all at the same time.

And let's be honest. Attendance at HS sporting events, and football in particular, is just way down for everyone over the last decade. I have seen pictures of just about every quarterfinal game from the beautiful weather this past weekend and attendance was either patchy or just "fine."

We live in a world now where MC plays in a facility that holds a couple thousand and JC is looking to build their own facility that holds half of what their current stadium holds. These are two programs that, in the past, could pack in 12,000 for a big game. That hasn't happened in well over a decade and I don't see it ever coming back.

I agree that kids in multiple commitments keeps student section attendance down. Private schools have the double hammer of multiple commitments and vastly smaller enrollments compared to 20 years ago. But streaming is also a culprit in this. For as convenient and connected as it can make people who aren't in the immediate area, it can also crush the atmosphere and environment. As a casual observer to certain games, there have been dozens of games I have considered going to that I decided to watch from home due to weather, other commitments, etc. Great for me. Not so great for a HS kid looking up in the stands and knowing that hundreds or thousands of people who "should" be there just aren't and they are never coming back.

I worry that a large part of my passion for HS football comes from how big a deal it was, how much it mattered to communities, and how excellent turnout was for big games in a bygone era. Without that draw, I have concerns about the future of the game and how it might not "hook" this generation.

 

[Oldsole]

Good morning to everyone!

I am SURE this has been covered somewhere in the past but I was hoping I could get a quicker answer this way.

I have heard that the Montini visitors stands are very, very limited so seating will be at a premium. I was planning on going this Saturday but I do not really feel like getting there 60-90 minutes early. I thought I had heard that you can bring your own chairs into the facility to use for seating. Is this true? Would this be a better or safer option? Normally, I would just stand along the fence BUT with my age (mid 50's) and history of back issues, standing for 2 hours or more without sitting will cause the pain/uncomfortableness to outweigh the enjoyment of watching the game. Any advice or answers are greatly appreciated!!!

The visitor bleachers extend from 20yd line to 20 yd line. There typically are additional bleachers,seating in east end zone for visitors. Pretty sure no chairs allowed. Several years ago Genesseo came to Montini for a semi. I believe they brought the entire town. Everyone appeared to get a seat.

 

[Bubbajoesam]

Morris just understand. Warm up on the turf. They ask you to warm up on the grass. But the grass has massive Goose droppings all over the field. No clue why they would do that. For such an elite program you would think they would treat visiting teams with more respect.

 

[89morrisgrad]

The visitor bleachers extend from 20yd line to 20 yd line. There typically are additional bleachers,seating in east end zone for visitors. Pretty sure no chairs allowed. Several years ago Genesseo came to Montini for a semi. I believe they brought the entire town. Everyone appeared to get a seat.

Thank you very much. Very helpful info. I think my buddy and myself plan on getting there between 1-115 to try to find parking and get a seat. It sounds like we shouldn't have much trouble...getting a seat that is. I heard parking might be a little trickier.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Thank you very much. Very helpful info. I think my buddy and myself plan on getting there between 1-115 to try to find parking and get a seat. It sounds like we shouldn't have much trouble...getting a seat that is. I heard parking might be a little trickier.

Parking can fill up but there are neighborhoods right near by that you can park on. I wouldn't worry much about it.

 

[Quags22]

And let's be honest. Attendance at HS sporting events, and football in particular, is just way down for everyone over the last decade. I have seen pictures of just about every quarterfinal game from the beautiful weather this past weekend and attendance was either patchy or just "fine."

We live in a world now where MC plays in a facility that holds a couple thousand and JC is looking to build their own facility that holds half of what their current stadium holds. These are two programs that, in the past, could pack in 12,000 for a big game. That hasn't happened in well over a decade and I don't see it ever coming back.

I agree that kids in multiple commitments keeps student section attendance down. Private schools have the double hammer of multiple commitments and vastly smaller enrollments compared to 20 years ago. But streaming is also a culprit in this. For as convenient and connected as it can make people who aren't in the immediate area, it can also crush the atmosphere and environment. As a casual observer to certain games, there have been dozens of games I have considered going to that I decided to watch from home due to weather, other commitments, etc. Great for me. Not so great for a HS kid looking up in the stands and knowing that hundreds or thousands of people who "should" be there just aren't and they are never coming back.

I worry that a large part of my passion for HS football comes from how big a deal it was, how much it mattered to communities, and how excellent turnout was for big games in a bygone era. Without that draw, I have concerns about the future of the game and how it might not "hook" this generation.

The only game that was l at was the playoff opener on Halloween. All the others have been full, or very close to it.

 

[USD24]

The only game that was l at was the playoff opener on Halloween. All the others have been full, or very close to it.

 

[Catch-22]

I wouldn’t consider the visiting stands limited…. I arrived 45 minutes early Saturday and the lot was still only half full. With Naz, DGN, and Franny still alive, the casual fans will have other options. I don’t think you need to be there 90 minutes early.
If you want to see the horsey run out and get freaked out by the fireworks, 30 minutes early is plenty.

 

[Catch-22]

 

[IHSAfan207]

Parking is limited plan on walking some. Here is a pic from last year's Byron/Montini game for crowd/space reference.

 

[89morrisgrad]

I wouldn’t consider the visiting stands limited…. I arrived 45 minutes early Saturday and the lot was still only half full. With Naz, DGN, and Franny still alive, the casual fans will have other options. I don’t think you need to be there 90 minutes early.
If you want to see the horsey run out and get freaked out by the fireworks, 30 minutes early is plenty.

I am glad I asked. I had heard conflicting stories so I figured here was the best place to ask the question. I think we will likely arrive around 45 minutes early so sounds like that will work out well.

 

[89morrisgrad]

Parking is limited plan on walking some. Here is a pic from last year's Byron/Montini game for crowd/space reference.

Thanks! That pic does help clear some things up.

 

[Anon1760269333]

Parking is limited plan on walking some. Here is a pic from last year's Byron/Montini game for crowd/space reference.

Love that the visitor bleachers are inside the track.

Great set ip

 

[cornerrat#1]

All.... Years ago SHG and Montini would play each other in week one rotating away and home in a non con game. Many Cyclones fans made the trip up. Seating and parking was never an issue. Loved those toll booths and the drivers roaring down 355 faster then nascar drivers on a track. Ratsy

 

[Huskie2015]

Love that the visitor bleachers are inside the track.

Great set ip

Montini visitor stands are best place in Illinois to watch HS football IMO. No track between the stands and field, close up.

 

[Doctor_D]

Montini visitor stands are best place in Illinois to watch HS football IMO. No track between the stands and field, close up.

IDK about best in the state, but the visitor seating is definitely solid. Very close to the action. The bleachers are only about 6 rows, but stretch from about the 25 to 25.

 

[Gestalt45]

Morris just understand. Warm up on the turf. They ask you to warm up on the grass. But the grass has massive Goose droppings all over the field. No clue why they would do that. For such an elite program you would think they would treat visiting teams with more respect.

Both teams warm up on the grass during regular season because JV game is usually being played on the turf. For Playoffs both teams warm up on the turf