2008 Independence Bowl Q and A for Huskie Fans THE LOCATION OF THE PEP RALLY ON SATURDAY THE 27th HAS CHANGED!! Due to the threat of inclimate weather, the pep rally scheduled for Saturday the 27th will no longer be held outdoors at the Louisiana Boardwalk. The new location for the battle of the bands and pep rally will be indoors at the Shreveport Convention Center located at 400 Caddo Street, in Shreveport. A battle of the bands will take place at 4:30 p.m., with the pep rally beginning at 6 p.m.
Huskie Bash will continue as scheduled, at 7:30 p.m.
NIU STUDENT INFORMATION - CLICK HERE
How much are tickets and where can I purchase them?
Great tickets are available through the NIU ticket office at (815) 752-6800. Tickets are $40, $35 and $30. All Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund (HASF) donors and NIU football season ticket holders will receive a $5 discount, per ticket purchased, for their loyal support.
Are there any packages for this trip?
YES! The Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund has put together two great package options for huskie fans. They are:
Huskie "Road Warrior" Package - From Dec. 26 to Dec. 29 $690 per person (based on double occupancy of the hotel room), Includes:
- Round trip transportation on a chartered bus, departing 6:30 a.m. on 12/26 returning approximately midnight the evening of 12/29.
- Three nights stay at one of the Huskie fan hotels
- Ticket to pre-game HASF/Alumni Association Tailgate Party
- Ticket to the Independence Bowl
- Independence Bowl Gift
Game Day Package
$75 Per person includes:
- Round trip bus transportation to & from the bowl game from the Holiday Inn in Bossier City
- Ticket to the pre-game HASF/Alumni Association Tailgate Party
- Ticket to the Independence Bowl
The bus will leave from the lobby of the Holiday Inn located at 2015 Old Minden Road in Bossier City at 4:30 PM and return immediately following the game. ANY HUSKIE FAN IS ELIGIBLE TO RIDE THE BUS. You do not have to be staying at the Holiday Inn to purchase this package. There are numerous other hotels in close proximity (even within walking distance) of the Holiday Inn. The Hampton Inn is 0.07 miles from the Holiday Inn, and the LaQuinta is only 0.03 miles away.
For more information on either option or to reserve your spot, please contact the Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund office at (815)753-1923. Huskie fans are encouraged to call soon as buses will be filled on a first come first serve basis and spots are filling quickly!
Where should I stay?
Huskie fans and supporters will be staying in the popular Gould St. area of Bossier City. There are three primary hotels NIU friends will be occupying. The area is close to casinos, the boardwalk area and to heart of downtown. The hotels are:
Hampton Inn
1005 Gould Drive
Bossier City, LA 71111 | Holiday Inn
2015 Old Minden Road
Bossier City, LA 71111 | La Quinta
309 Preston Blvd
Bossier City, LA 71111 |
Please contact Caraway Travel directly at (318)227-0500 if you are interested in these attractive options. Additionally, you may log on to www.carawayindbowl.com. Be sure to act quickly to ensure your place amongst the Huskie faithful! Caraway Travel is prepared to offer Huskie fans the best available accommodations and important information about the Shreveport area.
Why is it important to purchase Independence Bowl tickets through NIU?
It is extremely important for NIU fans to purchase tickets through the NIU ticket office:
- It helps NIU fulfill its required bowl allotment
- NIU fans can purchase premium seating in the NIU fan section
- A large support base will enhance our program's attractiveness to future bowls
How will actual ticket locations for NIU fans be determined/allocated?
Ticket placements will be made in the following rank order:
- Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund (HASF) donors and corporate partners
- Season ticket holders
- General Public
Of the tickets given to NIU, the HASF loyalty point system will be used to determine how the tickets are allocated to Huskie fans. For more information about the loyalty point system, please visit http://niuhuskies.cstv.com/support-groups/hasf-loyalty-points.html.
Additionally, by purchasing your tickets through NIU, you will be supporting the university in our effort to demonstrate our commitment to selling the maximum tickets possible. We are responsible for purchasing a significant allotment of tickets and by purchasing tickets through us, you help NIU sell its share.
I cannot attend, but how can I best support the team?
By purchasing tickets through NIU even if you can't attend the game, you will be helping the Huskies fulfill their bowl requirement and help NIU students attend the game. Your donation of tickets to NIU students is of especially great importance when considering Louisiana Tech's proximity to the Independence Bowl. They have already sold over 5,000 tickets!
Donated tickets may also be used to support other important civic initiatives in the Shreveport community and will have a maximum tax deduction.
How may I pick-up tickets I purchase?
All tickets will be available exclusively through will call. Tickets may be picked up at the Convocation Center Ticket Office (open M-F 9-5) starting 12/17 and ending on 12/23 at 5:00 PM or in Shreveport Dec 27th-28th (time TBD). We will stop taking orders on 12/23 via phone/fax and from that point on, take orders in Shreveport on 12/27 or through Ticketmaster on the Internet.
What are the closest airports?
Shreveport has a regional airport (code SHV). Approximately three hours away are two airports serving the Dallas area (Dallas Love Field, code DAL and Dallas-Fort Worth, code DFW). Also, three and a half hours away is the Jackson, MS airport, (Jackson-Evers, code JAN). Tyler, TX has a regional airport that American Airlines flies to. Tyler is roughly 90 minutes from Shreveport.
What flights are available?
There are numerous options to fly to Shreveport, along with Dallas and Jackson, Miss. (both approximately 2.5 - 3 hour drives). Click on THIS LINK (Excel Document) to check out a sample of available fares and flight times (as of Sunday, December 7).
If you are planning on flying with American Airlines to Shreveport for the Independence Bowl, you can receive 5% off your flight by going to www.aa.com. In the reservation box, please enter A17D8Al in the promotion code box to receive the discount. The discount is valid on travel from December 18, 2008 - January 3, 2009.
How long is the drive to Shreveport, Louisiana?
From DeKalb, Illinois, Shreveport is just less than 900 miles away and is estimated to take almost 14 hours.
Is there any other way to get to the game?
Traveling by train is another good option. Amtrak offers great rates departing from Union Station in Chicago arriving in Marshall, TX. Marshall is only 20 minutes from Shreveport. To learn more about this option, please visit http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage.
When and where is the game?
The game is at 7:15 p.m. (CST) on December 28th at historic Independence Stadium, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Will the game be televised?
The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
What events are going on surrounding the bowl?
Below is a list of events being held in conjunction with the Independence Bowl. Please continue to check back often as more events are being scheduled daily.
The Minuteman Luncheon
This is a seated luncheon and exciting program for teams, official parties, and the public. Attended by more than 1,500 people, the event is emceed by CBS Sports studio hosts, Tim Brando, a native and resident of Shreveport, and Spencer Tillman. Events include a video presentation, recognition of the Omar N. Bradley "Spirit of Independence Award" and "Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award" recipients. Each head coach and one player from each team will also be interviewed.
Friday, December 26, 2008
12:00 pm
Shreveport Convention Center
Tickets are $30
Dress is Business Casual
Call 318-573-3077 to order or for any questions
Huskie Athletic Scholarship Fund/Alumni Association Tailgate Party
Get ready for the big game by tailgating near the stadium with the HASF and the NIU Alumni Association! The tailgate costs $20 and features a cash bar and buffet. The tailgate will last from 4-6:30 and will take place at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum located just blocks from Independence Stadium.
To purchase tickets to the tailgate or for more information contact the NIU Alumni Association at (815) 753-1452.
Where do I purchase official NIU Independence Bowl gear?
Official 2008 NIU Independence Bowl gear is now available at the Village Commons Bookstore (VCB), located on NIU's campus. Visit http://www.vcbs.com for your Huskie Independence Bowl gear! They can also be reached at (815) 758-0613.
What is there to do in Shreveport, LA?
Shreveport is a vibrant city with over 600,000 residents in the area with casinos, great dining options and exciting entertainment. To learn more about what Shreveport has to offer, visit the Shreveport Convention and Tourist Bureau at www.shreveport-bossier.org.
What factors allowed us to receive the bid for the Independence Bowl?
There were many quality teams across the country vying for bowl bids and an impressive five Mid-American Conference schools were chosen to compete in bowl games. The Independence Bowl traditionally pairs a Southeastern Conference institution against an opponent from the Big 12. This year with both conferences unable to fulfill their commitments, the Independence bowl chose Louisiana Tech (regional appeal from the Western Athletic Conference) to play our Huskies. Among our credentials, bowl officials cited our loyal fan base, frequent national television exposure, and our strong turnouts in our last two bowl games as primary reasons for our selection.
What should I know about Louisiana Tech?
Louisiana Tech is located in Ruston, Louisiana, (only an hour from Shreveport). Louisiana Tech travels very well and will bring thousands of fans to the Independence Bowl.
They are a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and went 7-5 this season with a signature win over Mississippi State. Their mascot is the Bulldogs and have had such athletics greats as Terry Bradshaw (NFL) and Karl Malone (NBA).
What should I know about the Independence Bowl?
The Independence Bowl is a historic bowl game that has a rich tradition. The Independence Bowl was first played in 1976 and chose its name to celebrate the year of 1976 being the 200th anniversary of the birth of our nation, and to honor the strong local military presence. To learn more about the Independence Bowl please visit http://www.independencebowl.org/History.html.
