ESPN College GameDay Driven by State Farm To Rally Fighting Illini
and Michigan State Fans for Feb. 6 Hoops Matchup
Live GameDay show with Rece Davis to raise funds for Illini’s Orange Krush Foundation
CHAMPAIGN, IL (Thursday, January 28, 2010) – ESPN College GameDay Driven by State Farm will broadcast live from the University of Illinois on Feb. 6 prior to the prime-time basketball matchup between the Fighting Illini and Michigan State. University of Illinois is one of just eight colleges chosen by ESPN, out of 343 Division 1 basketball programs, for a live GameDay broadcast this season.
The broadcast is more than a boon to local sports fans; it will also benefit the Champaign/Urbana community through a special fundraiser. State Farm® will donate $1 to the Orange Krush Foundation, the Illini student-run charity, for each person attending the GameDay show on Saturday morning.
The show, which is the college basketball version of ESPN’s popular College GameDay football series, will originate from Assembly Hall at 10 am CT. The College GameDay crew of Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis and Digger Phelps will be on hand, breaking down the day’s college basketball action and previewing the Illinois-Michigan State matchup.
Doors to the Assembly Hall will open at 7:30am for members of the Orange Krush student support group and at 8 am to the general public. The event is free with no tickets required. Free parking will be provided in the Assembly Hall parking lots. Fans can enter from the west side of the building and seating will be filled from the west side of the Assembly Hall first. Students will be allowed to fill in on the floor behind the set.
ESPN will give one fan from the audience a chance to sink a half-court shot. If successful, the shooter will receive $17,500, courtesy of State Farm. Even if the shot is missed, the attempt will earn a check for $1,000. State Farm also will distribute t-shirts, rollabannas and net hats to fans in attendance.
Illini fans are urged to support the Orange Krush Foundation by attending the GameDay show, and to share their appreciation for the students who run the Foundation by visiting thanksforbeinghere.com and adding a note of thanks. State Farm created the Web site to inspire more people to express public gratitude to others for “being there”.
FAQ/Fact Sheet
ESPN College GameDay driven by State Farm
I’ve seen it written that Illinois is trying to set the GameDay attendance record. What is the current record and what is Illinois’ goal for attendance?
West Virginia set the record with 4,700 fans. We hope to blast past that number and get as many people in the building as possible.
What are the times of the ESPN shows?
The crew will do some drop-ins during the 9 am CT Sportscenter show, but the actual GameDay shows broadcast from 10-11 am and 7-8 pm. The morning show will be broadcast at center court in front of a live audience.
Where can I park? Is parking free?
Free parking is provided at the normal Illinois basketball parking locations, including the four quadrants surrounding the building.
Will you clear fans out of the Hall after the broadcast?
The game is not until 8 pm and both teams will use the Assembly Hall floor for gameday shoot-arounds. As a result, the Assembly Hall will be cleared at the conclusion of the morning show. The live show ends at 11 am, but ESPN tapes a couple of segments and will ask the crowd to remain in place for about 15 extra minutes.
Will Coach Weber be there? What about the Illini players?
Coach Weber is expected to make an appearance, but plans for the players have not been finalized.
What time will the doors open for the taping?
For the morning show, doors to the Assembly Hall open at 8 am for the general public and 7:30 am for the Orange Krush. For the game that evening, doors will open at 6:30, 30 minutes earlier than normal. A game ticket is required for entrance to the Assembly Hall for the evening show and the game.
Where will the ESPN stage be set up?
The GameDay stage will be set up at midcourt on the west side of the Assembly Hall floor in front of the official’s table.
Can you bring in signs?
Signs are allowed, however, all signs will need to be approved and stamped by State Farm/ESPN personnel before they can be brought into the arena. In keeping with the normal policy, signs will not be permitted inside the Assembly Hall for the game.
How did Illinois get selected to host College GameDay Driven by State Farm?
Each year, ESPN chooses sites based on the recent success of the program, the projected success of the program in the near future, the significance of the game, among other factors.
What are the air times for the show?
The morning show airs from 10-11 am CT, and the evening show airs from 7-8 pm CT. Game time is 8 pm.
Assembly Hall doors normally open 1 hour before tip. But with ESPN broadcasting its evening show beginning at 7 pm, will you open doors earlier than one hour prior to tip?
Yes, doors will open 30 minutes earlier than normal at 6:30 pm.
Do you need a ticket to be allowed into College GameDay Driven by State Farm?
College GameDay Driven by State Farm is a free event for the morning show and no ticket is required. A game ticket is required for entrance to the Assembly Hall for the evening show. State Farm will also donate $1 to the Orange Krush Foundation for every person who attends the morning show <http://bit.ly/7UQujg> .
What is State Farm’s affiliation with ESPN College GameDay?
State Farm is the national sponsor for the ESPN College GameDay series. This is their 4th year as title sponsor.
Which ESPN announcers will be there?
The normal crew of Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis and Digger Phelps are expected to be here for the show. Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale and Erin Andrews will be the ESPN announce crew for the game.
What entrance should I go to?
The West Main Entrance to the Assembly Hall will be the primary entrance for the general public. The Orange Krush will enter through their normal entrance on the Northwest side of the Assembly Hall. If lines back up, other entrances will be opened to accommodate the crowd.
Is seating first come, first served?
Seating is not reserved. However, the Orange Krush will have the opportunity to stand on the floor behind the set.
Where is the best area to sit in to get on TV?
Best area to sit to be seen on TV would be in the lower portion of A Section on the west side of the arena. It is advised to record the show at home because it will be very hard to hear much of the show if you are there in person. ESPN encourages high energy from the crowd with lots of noise.
Will concessions be open?
Yes, but on a limited basis.
Are tickets available for the Illinois-Michigan State game?
Availability for game tickets is extremely limited. Check www.fightingillini.com for updates. We do expect the game to be completely sold out.
What color highlighter should I bring to match Digger?
Orange! What else?