NIU Convocation Center — Attraction in DeKalb Township

We were here recently for the staye cheer competition and it was decent at best. First, the parking is a bit confusing and the directions given aren't great. And I don't know if they didn't have all the sections open but when we came back for awards we had to park out in the grass area because there wasn't enough parking. During the routines you cannot stand along the railings and they mention taking points away from your team because it's a fire hazard but then after awards everyone is packed in like sardines trying to get out. People were tripping over each other. I felt bad for the employees that no one was listening to. It was a mess. No direction or guidance. The concessions weren't that great either. We ordered a pretzel with cheese and the cheese they gave us was like expired or moldy. Like ok I get it concession stand cheese but it's a packaged item. How can it even be bad? Lol. It was. Just overall not the best location for a couple thousand people to attend this competition and the details seem poorly put together, or there just wasn't enough space.

One saving grace there were plenty of bathrooms and they were clean and had soap and...

Commencement: people in the audience were shouting like farm animals whenever a name was read. We get it, college isn’t a dignified or respected thing anymore, but do you really have to remind the folks about this as they receive their degrees? The speeches from staff and educators were terrible. How these people were able to enter academia I’ll never know. TV monitors were terrible qualify, almost impossible to hear clearly, and of course the farm animals arriving late provided ample noise to cover the sound of professors “inspiring” us.

Entering and leaving the venue: directional signage was pretty bad. Getting in and out was a joke. Most people leaving the ceremony reverted to driving over the grass/road barrier to exit the line that wasn’t moving for over 30 min. Between this and people acting like animals during the ceremony, I think it’s better that I sit the...

Attended high school graduation here during poor weather. All NIU staff cared about was getting everyone out after ceremony ended - quickly! While raining, graduates were escorted out one set of doors, and all who addended were directed to leave on the same side of the building. No connecting family with a graduate was allowed inside during the rain, and no re-entry was allowed to cross back to the parking lot family/friends had been instructed to park in. NIU staff did not give any consideration to the weather conditions and certainly none to family/friends who needed extra assistance. Lots of soaked shoes, drenched hair and outfits. All and all making for an unfortunate end to a nice ceremony hosted by the...