Nov. 19, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Wildcats are 8-3 and good seats are still available for you to catch the best Big Ten Football in Chicago. It's the final home game of the season this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Illinois and the 'Cats have won the four of the last five games against the Illini in this instate battle for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk. Make your plans for Saturday right now!
Having fun at a Wildcat Football Game is as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Purchase Tickets to the Game -- The 'Cats offer affordable options with special discounts for a majority of their home games every season and Saturday is no exception.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Wildcat Ticket Office at 847.491.CATS or stopping by their office in Ryan Field at1501 Central Street (Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9 am - 5 pm; plus the Ticket Office is open until 7 pm on Thursdays before every home game to purchase or pick up tickets in Will Call.) You can also order tickets by clicking here
• End Zone Tickets -- $35 each in advance and on the day of the game, while supplies last.
• Sideline Tickets -- $50 each in advance and on the day of the game.
• Group Tickets -- $25 each for groups of 50 or more. Plus, you will receive five game programs and a message on the scoreboard throughout the game. Tickets must be purchased before Noon on November 21.
• Youth Football Day -- $18 each for youth football players and their families. Plus, all participants can take part in youth football activities with former players in Wildcat Alley before the game. The largest youth football group will also go on the field during the game for a picture. If you qualify for this discount please e-mail wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu to receive the special promo code. Tickets must be purchased on NUsports.com before noon on November 21.
• NU Young Alum Day -- Northwestern Alums who graduated in the last five years can receive a special discounted ticket near the student section for the final home football game. That's $10 off the regular ticket price, so if you qualify for these $40 tickets, please e-mail wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu to receive the special promo code. Tickets must be purchased on NUsports.com before noon on Friday, November 21.
Wildcat fans of all ages have fun in Wildcat Alley before all home football games!  |
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2. Tailgate No Matter How You Get Here -- Whether you are driving, walking, biking or taking public transportation, we have a tailgate spot for you.
• East and West Parking Lots -- These parking spots right next to the stadium are reserved for season ticket holders who qualify to purchase these passes through our Priority Points System. Tailgating is allowed in these lots and has proven to be a hot spot for our most loyal fans. These lots open four hours before kickoff.
• Covered Parking Lot -- This lot is located on Central near Ridge Avenue and is available to purchase as a season-long pass only. Tailgating is not allowed in this lot, but it is just a few blocks from the stadium and provides quick access in and out of the lot on gamedays. This lot is open 24 hours a day. Fans who purchase this pass are invited to tailgate at the pregame fan fest, Wildcat Alley (see below).
• Campus Parking Lots -- FREE parking is available in the campus lots located along Sheridan Road on gamedays. There are free shuttles that take fans to and from the games, but the walk to Ryan Field is less than a mile if you park in one of the north campus lots so on a nice Fall day it is an enjoyable walk to the stadium. These lots are open 24 hours a day and tailgating is allowed.
• Special feature at the SPAC Lot for the NU-Illinois Game -- The SPAC lot is located on Lincoln just east of Sheridan Road and as mentioned above, parking is FREE in this lot. For tailgaters this Saturday, the Bon Jovi cover band, Bad Medicine, will be performing for fans beginning at 12:30 pm.
• Private Group Bus -- If you're bringing a large group of fans, you can have the bus driver drop you off on Ashland Avenue on the West side of the stadium. The bus driver then parks in the lot at Dempster and Dodge. Private Group Buses are then only allowed back on Ashland Avenue 30 minutes following the game. Stop by our pregame fan fest area, Wildcat Alley, to have some fun (see below).
• Public Transportation -- The Metra, El and CTA bus all conveniently drop fans off just blocks from the stadium. Fans who take public transportation are invited to Wildcat Alley (see below).
• Wildcat Team Bus -- While fans can't ride the buses that bring the team to Ryan Field for the game, they are invited to line Walker Way for the gameday tradition, Walk With Us. Join the band, cheerleaders and Willie as the team makes the walk from the bus to the locker room to get ready for the game. This is your chance to greet the team, as well as try to catch Walk With Us t-shirts thrown out by the cheerleaders.
• Wildcat Alley is located on the Baseball Field just steps north of the Stadium. The Alley opens two hours before all home games and is FREE for all fans. Wildcat Alley features a live performance by the Marching Band, interactive games, contests, giveaways, Lou Malnati's Pizza, Hecky's BBQ, face painting, FREE beer in the Goose Island Beer Garden and much more!
• Special feature at Wildcat Alley for the NU-Illinois Game -- Youth football players who purchased tickets using the youth football day promo code are invited to play with former Wildcat players, including former NFL player Tim McGarigle, in an exclusive area inside Wildcat Alley. To register for Youth Football Day, please see the information in Step 1 above.
Wildcat gamedays have fun activities for fans of all ages, including pictures with the Wildcats' most recent Big Ten Championships. |
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3. Cheer on the `Cats -- Enter the stadium early to enjoy all of the activities throughout the day and be sure to wear purple!
• Gameday Giveaways -- Arrive early so you can get free stuff from the Wildcats. This Saturday the first 12,500 fans into the game will receive a Wildcat knit hat compliments of U.S. Cellular.
• Pregame Warm-ups -- The Wildcats take the field more than an hour before kickoff and warm-up until 25 minutes before the game so come inside to get a glimpse of the `Cats before the game.
• Band Performance -- The band creates a tremendous college football atmosphere, especially the Wildcat Marching Band. They perform 20 minutes before every home game, at halftime and after the game.
• Senior Day Ceremony -- The Wildcats say goodbye to one of the most successful senior classes in history. Show your support for these incredible student-athletes by coming inside Ryan Field 15 minutes before kickoff to be part of this ceremony.
• Walker Terrace -- Fan-friendly activities are open to all fans throughout the entire game, including having your phone engraved compliments of U.S. Cellular, entering the Lou Malnati's Coloring Contest, pictures with the Big Ten Championship trophies, interactive games, getting your face painted, purchasing a limited edition Create-A-Cat stuffed animal and much more!
• Halftime on Walker Terrace -- Meet wide receiver from the 1995 & 1996 Big Ten Championship Teams, D'Wayne Bates, during halftime! Plus, challenge head baseball coach, Paul Stevens, and head women's tennis coach, Claire Pollard in a game of bean bags for a chance to win a burrito coupon compliments of Chipotle in Evanston.
• Singing the Fight Song -- Every time you hear the NU Fight Song stand up and sing along. Plus, after every Wildcat win, the team joins the fans in singing the Fight Song with the band. Be part of this Wildcat tradition by heading over to the student section to sing after every home win.
Also after every home game, please fill out our Fan Feedback Survey at NUsports.com under the "Fan Zone" or click here to fill it out right now. Your feedback is important to us, so be sure to tell us what you think.
For more information about Wildcat Promotions, please e-mail wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu. To order tickets click here or call 847.491.CATS.