I really think it is a bad decision. Yeah, weather can be sketchy, but that didn't stop them from having it for years. Construction is a cop out. Just rope off the area and only let fans use the east stands. Or if that's such a problem (or they really are tearing up the turf), have the game in Des Moines or Ames HS.
I feel like the real reason is that Campbell just doesn't want to do the dog and pony show. They definitely do have scrimmages, but he doesn't want the public to see them. Same thing happened with the Gridiron Club...it used to be a scrimmage but this last year it was just a practice with drills. Obviously, the secrecy did not help them play better to start off the season.
Late April is a bad time for me, as I can't ever make the spring game anyway, but I think getting fans involved and excited (plus another tailgate) does have some value. You can bet that if ISU was coming off of two 5-7 seasons rather than 8-4, they'd be having the spring game. Campbell has a ton of leverage now. But, this seems opposite of what Pollard stands for in getting fans invested in the program.
