Jan. 27, 2010
FAQ for ESPN College GameDay Visit to Champaign-Urbana 
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 scorer'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 and 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.
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 fourth 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.
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!
