For the sophomores, juniors and seniors lucky enough over the past years to be in Block I and experience the football, albeit mediocre, at Memorial Stadium, Saturday will mark the debut of the north end zone seating that most of Block I, and myself, has come to detest.

I have had the good fortune to be in Block I for my two years on campus. I watched some ugly games, but seeing the action from the front row of the scenic 40-yard line stands almost made up for it.

I realized early on that the University could make a lot more money if it was to sell these seats to wealthy alumni, rather than the thrifty $13 that Block I pays per game. I had always been proud that the University chose to give students such a luxury.

Needless to say I was somewhat distraught and confused when I heard the news last year that the 97-year-old student section was being moved to its new lackluster locale as part of the “Illinois Renaissance.”

Even though I was decidedly against the move, I tried to keep up with the pictures that were occasionally posted on the school’s athletics Web site. I even had the good fortune of seeing the progress during the summer in person. In the empty stadium it was easy to see that the north end zone seating is at least 20 yards or so from the end zone itself.

The view from the seats is still very good – but not as good as the east stands. Seriously, how could it be?

And even though the addition fits in well with the rest of the stadium, it still leaves something to be desired.

But, seeing as it was my journalistic duty to give the seats a fair chance, I decided to see what the people who matter the most thought of them first.

I contacted Block I officers Cody Bornsheuer, Ryan Mroz and Matt LeBlanc in hopes that they could enlighten me on all things north end zone. Maybe their positive attitude regarding the seats would be enough to sell me on them. I also expected at least one of them to dislike the relocation.

But, to my surprise, none of them did.

All three had reservations about the northward move, but they, too, had their fears eased after trying it out.

Bornsheuer originally thought the relocation would “cheapen the experience of the stadium.” But he’s giving it a chance, believing the move can create a wall of orange that will “feed energy to the stadium.”

LeBlanc added that he understood how people might be skeptical about the move. But he, like Bornsheuer, feels that if the members of Block I give it a fair chance, everyone will soon forget that the student section once rested on the east side.

I must admit, some of the changes are a welcome improvement over the east seats. For starters, there will be a greater capacity in the student section. While numbers are varying, the Fighting Illini Web site reported on Wednesday that student sales are up 2,500 tickets from last year.

In addition to a student entrance, Bornsheuer said there will also be a student concession area with a greater variety of items and things exclusive to the north end zone. This seems like a logical benefit in a process that hasn’t been very logical.

Whether Block I members like it or not, the north side of the stadium is theirs. Students may not like the decision and want to stay in their previous seating, but the increase in ticket sales seems to be telling a different story.

All things considered, the north end zone is a very good location. It isn’t the 40-yard line, that is clear, but it could be a lot worse. The University has caught a major break with all of the added interest in the team this year. It will definitely ease the move if the north side is filled every weekend.

So I will give the move a chance. Who knows, I may even end up liking it.

But for the time being, at least, I’ll miss my beloved 40-yard line.

Daniel Johnson is a junior in Communications. He can be reached at [email protected].