Feb. 17, 2016

Huskie Chi-Town Showdown FAQ |

Chi-Town Showdown Quick Facts

CHICAGO - Northern Illinois University and the University of Toledo will play in the "Huskie Chi-Town Showdown," the first football game in the 25-year history of U.S. Cellular Field, on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. Annually one of the Mid-American Conference's premiere contests, the #MACtion game between MAC West Division rivals will air nationally on an ESPN Network at a time to be determined.

Over the last several months, NIU worked with the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA) and the Chicago White Sox to bring the game to U.S. Cellular Field.  NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier, ISFA Chief Executive Officer Lou Bertuca and Chairman of the Board Manny Sanchez, and Brooks Boyer, White Sox Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing were on hand Wednesday to make the official announcement. Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, Toledo Vice-President and Director of Athletics Mike O'Brien, as well as NIU Head Coach Rod Carey and Toledo Head Coach Jason Candle also took part in the news conference held at U.S. Cellular Field.

"This is a historical moment and an outstanding day," Frazier said. "Our fans have said, come back to Chicago, come to the city. Well, we've listened and we're back!  There are 145,000 NIU alumni living and working in Chicagoland. U.S. Cellular Field is a fantastic venue and I can't wait for our fans to see this game in the ballpark. For years, NIU and Toledo have been featured in the November weeknight #MACtion games on ESPN, and in 2016, we are taking it to another level.

"I want to thank Lou Bertuca, Manny Sanchez and Jeff Yordon of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, Jerry Reinsdorf, Howard Pizer, Terry Savarise and Brooks Boyer of the Chicago White Sox, Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and Bob Gennarelli of the Mid-American Conference, and Toledo Athletic Director Mike O'Brien and Head Coach Jason Candle for working with us to make this game happen."

Tickets to the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown game between NIU and Toledo at U.S. Cellular Field are included in the six-game 2016 NIU football season ticket packages now available for purchase online at NIUHuskies.com, at the NIU Convocation Center Ticket Office in DeKalb or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225). Season ticket prices begin at just $99 with NIU Faculty and Staff, NIU Alumni Association members and senior citizens eligible for a discount. Renewal packages will be on their way to NIU season ticket holders and Huskie Athletic Fund donors, who will have access to the best seat locations at both Huskie Stadium and at U.S. Cellular Field. As always, season tickets offer the best seat locations at the best value.

Single game tickets for the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown will be priced at $45, $55 and $65 and will go on sale via Ticketmaster on August 1 along with single game tickets for NIU's five Huskie Stadium home games. NIU students will be admitted free with their OneCard and can purchase student guest tickets for $22. NIU season ticket holders and Huskie Athletic Fund donors will have the first chance to request additional tickets to the game at U.S. Cellular Field beginning April 4. For questions, see the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown FAQ on NIUHuskies.com. Information about a pre-sale for White Sox season ticket holders, Sox Pride Club and Black List members will be announced at a later date.

Bertuca said NIU is the perfect team to host the first NCAA football contest at U.S. Cellular Field.

"The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority is thrilled to announce the first football game in the history of U.S. Cellular Field," Bertuca said. "We look forward to hosting the NIU Huskies, one of the nation's most successful Division I football programs, right here on the south side of Chicago as they take on Toledo in a MAC showdown."

Rod Carey, who owns a 31-12 career record in three seasons as NIU's head coach, said playing Toledo at U.S. Cellular Field will be a great showcase for NIU Football and for #MACtion.

"We are really excited to play the first ever football game at US Cellular Field," Carey said.  "Chicago is extremely important to us and it is going to be a fun atmosphere with a midweek night game on TV against a fine opponent in Toledo.  I want to thank everyone that has had a part in getting this done, beginning with our administration, the Chicago White Sox and all of the people and the board at the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.  Our players will be ready to go to Chicago and play in front of a great Huskie home crowd." 

NIU has played three games in Chicago over the past decade, with games at Soldier Field in 2007 (versus Iowa), 2011 (versus Wisconsin) and 2012 (versus Iowa).  The contest with Toledo will mark the first Mid-American Conference match-up in the city and features the two winningest programs in the league this century. The game has become one of the marquee games on ESPN's weeknight #MACtion line-up each November as ESPN has nationally broadcast each of the last six games of the all-time series, which dates back to 1967. The Rockets hold the edge in the series by a 29-14 mark, with NIU winning the last six meetings between the teams.

NIU is coming off an 8-6 season in 2015 that saw the Huskies win their sixth consecutive MAC West Championship and play in a bowl game for a MAC-record eighth consecutive year. The Huskies lost just 13 seniors off the 2015 team and return six All-MAC players, including first team All-American cornerback Shawun Lurry and Freshman All-American offensive tackle Max Scharping.

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