College sports aren’t just games; they’re a national obsession. Nearly one in three Americans consider themselves fans, fueling an industry expected to exceed $19 billion in 2025 from Division I athletic programs alone. These programs, representing the nation’s biggest universities, operate at a scale that dwarfs high school athletics. Teams crisscross the country for high-stakes matchups, often traveling thousands of miles. And behind every kickoff or opening tip is a meticulously coordinated air travel operation making it all possible.

A Front-Row Seat at Willard Airport

Growing up in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois – steps from the University of Illinois’ flagship campus – meant the school’s presence was impossible to ignore. Our local airport, Willard Airport, is owned and operated by the university itself. Named after Arthur Cutts Willard, the school’s ninth president, the airport exists largely because he championed its creation in the 1940s.

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