New Illinois AD Josh Whitman Looking To Make Football Games Entertainment Destination

New Univ. of Illinois AD Josh Whitman is "starting to make good on his promise to make Memorial Stadium a more popular entertainment destination," according to Mark Tupper of the Bloomington PANTAGRAPH. UI will first offer a "variety of specials" to boost ticket sales. One announced last week includes Deloitte Tax helping "sponsor a promotion that will give two free tickets to any student" for the opening game against Murray State. In the first day of the promotion, 3,000 ticket requests "poured in." Whitman said, "We want people in the stands and we want them to get a taste of Illinois football and see what that experience is like." Tupper noted ticket deals are not the only thing UI is doing to "get people in on the ground floor" of the era of new football coach Lovie Smith. For example, more "musical events are coming to the Grange Grove tailgating area." A new marketing emphasis also is "being placed on the overall fan experience with a keen eye on student involvement" (Bloomington PANTAGRAPH, 8/17).