Camp Randall is set to host AC/DC today, but fans heading to the stadium will be dealing with a rough backdrop: air quality that has dropped into the “very unhealthy” range.
The stadium is spreading out arrivals across the day to ease congestion. Parking lots on campus are scheduled to open at 12 pm, Gate 1 ticket offices at 12:30 pm, the Bucky shuttle at 2:30 pm, gates at Camp Randall at 5:30 pm, and the concert itself at 7 pm.
Weather-wise, the afternoon should sit in the lower 80s, with the temperature at concert time expected to be 80 degrees at 7 pm. The bigger issue is the air, which is listed at 228 and expected to hover around 230 through the day.
That number falls into the “very unhealthy” category on the Air Quality Index. The US General Warning says, “The air is very unhealthy for everyone. Everyone should consider moving their activities inside.”
That obviously isn’t an option for an outdoor concert at Camp Randall, so the practical advice is to limit time outside, reduce exertion by walking less or using the shuttle, and consider arriving closer to the start time or leaving a little early. Experts also suggest an N95 or KN95 mask if you need to be outside for any length of time, noting that cloth masks will not protect you from PM2.5.
The smoke is coming from wildfires burning in Canada and drifting south. It’s a familiar problem in many years, but it’s not one to shrug off. Breathing wildfire smoke over a long stretch can damage the lungs and respiratory system, and the air quality is actually worse today than it was yesterday.
For fans looking for a more comfortable way to start the night, Union South is also offering a pre-party. The Wisconsin Badgers website says, “Why wait in lines when you can come to Union South and enjoy ample indoor and outdoor spaces to immerse yourself in music before your concert experience! Enjoy late lunch or dinner options at Union South while our DJ keeps the energy high.”
In Other News...
Shawn Eichorst Just Put Wisconsins Next Era On The Line
Shawn Eichorst is back at Wisconsin in a role that asks for more than familiarity with the place. Introduced as the Badgers new athletic director, the Wisconsin native and former deputy AD returns after stops at Texas and Nebraska, stepping into a department that is trying to keep pace with a college sports landscape reshaped by NIL and constant change. For Wisconsin, the hire is about more than administration. It is about finding someone who understands the schools identity and can steer the program through a period when tradition alone is no longer enough.
The football side only sharpens the pressure. Luke Fickells program has yet to deliver the turnaround Wisconsin expected, and the next phase will test whether Eichorst can help align the resources, expectations and patience needed to get it moving again. He arrives with the kind of institutional knowledge the Badgers value, but also with the challenge of proving that a return home can be the start of something different, not just a familiar face in a familiar chair. [Read more 🡒]
Where Colton Joseph Lands In Big Ten Transfer QB Debate
A new quarterback debate around the Big Ten has Colton Joseph right in the middle of it, and Wisconsins transfer addition is drawing attention for the same reason he did on the field last season. Among the leagues incoming Group of Six quarterbacks, Joseph stands out for his mobility and dual-threat profile, the kind of skill set that can change how an offense looks from one snap to the next.
What makes the conversation interesting is how Joseph stacks up against two other familiar names in Katin Houser and Anthony Colandrea. Houser brings more polish as a passer and better pocket presence, while Colandrea has already piled up production, but Josephs blend of arm talent and athleticism gives him the highest upside in the group even before he has taken a Power Four snap. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Boyd Suddenly Faces A Brutal NBA Crossroads After Warriors Run
Nick Boyds run with the Warriors gave him a chance to show he could belong in an NBA setting, and the former Wisconsin guard did enough at Summer League to keep his name in the conversation. He was there on an Exhibit 10 contract, trying to turn a strong showing into something more permanent, with Golden State using the summer stage to sort through back-end roster pieces and potential developmental options.
Now Boyd is left waiting on what comes next, and the path is not especially clear. If the Warriors do not keep him in the mix, he could be pushed to look beyond the usual G League route and weigh overseas opportunities, where a league like the NBL could offer a more direct next step. For a player trying to convert a brief summer audition into a real professional foothold, the margin between staying in the NBA orbit and moving on is suddenly pretty thin. [Read more 🡒]