I get what you're saying, but I have three main complaints with this approach, assuming it is what the DIA has in mind.
1. We used to have the students in East Main ... so in the modern era, when we had significantly more season ticket holders than we had now, we seemed to make it work!
2. The NEZ seats are actually great seats ... just not for the students. While this setup removes students from "the thick of it" and reduces the amount of noise they are allowed to contribute...
... it is actually quite a nice, elevated view for a family of four or older fans looking for a more relaxing, low key gameday experience. It is hardly a punishment to move fans there, IMO, and you could make the argument these are significantly better seats than anywhere in the Horseshoe or even the corners of East and West Main. So, it seems like a win-win to get some families in this (still nice and new) space and move the students closer to the field.
3. We don't even have to displace ONLY Illini fans! It is ridiculous that we give visiting fans a relatively close location in the corner of East Main and the Horseshoe ... move the students where the visiting fans currently are, allowing them to be much, much, closer to the action, and allow season ticket holders in that area, the East Balcony and any seats underneath the overhang the option to move to the NEZ. I think many would think it is an upgrade. If it were up to me, I would move the visiting fans to the far upper corner of the East Balcony and make sections 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112 and 113 the student section. Allow them to overflow into 207, 208 and 209 if tickets are selling:
