Aug. 26, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The football season kicks off in Evanston on September 5 with the Northwestern Wildcats taking on Towson at 11 a.m. Plus, Wilmette Catholic and Evanston's St. A's along with the Wilmette Eagles and Evanston Jr. Wildkits will open their seasons with scrimmages at halftime of this game. Support these teams and your community by attending the annual North Shore Community Day at Ryan Field. All North Shore Residents can purchase tickets at half-price, which is only $13 per ticket!
Tickets must be purchased in advance to take advantage of this discount so please send an e-mail, including your mailing address, to wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu before September 4 to receive the ticket code. You can purchase tickets online or by phone at 847.491.CATS. To avoid convenience fees, stop by the Wildcat Ticket Office, which now has extended hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9 a.m.-7 p.m.). The Ticket Office is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
"The interaction we had with people in the community this summer gets me excited to see new fans join our loyal ones to be part of the team at Ryan Field," said Coach Fitz. "The impact the fans in purple have on the game is amazing."
Since the Northwestern students won't be back on campus for this game, the youth football teams will be an even more integral part of the game as they form the tunnel for the team to run through when they take the field.
"We are excited to provide an opportunity for these young players to be on the field to create a memorable experience for them at a Big Ten Football game," said Associate Athletic Director for Sales & Marketing Tracie Hitz. "The youth coaches are working hard to get their teams ready for this event, which wouldn't have been possible without the incredible efforts of Wilmette's Village President, Chris Canning."
The Wildcats also have received incredible assistance in promoting North Shore Community Day the last two years from the mayor of Highland Park, Mike Belsky, whose daughter, Julia, impressed the crowd with the singing of the National Anthem last season. On Monday, Mayor Belsky presented a proclamation to Hitz at the Highland Park council meeting to show the support from the entire community for this special day.
Mayor Belsky and President Canning will be among several public officials who have accepted an invitation to be an honorary captain for the game, which means they will be joining the Wildcats' team captains on the field for the coin toss to start the game. In addition to these public officials and youth football teams taking the field, the Wildcats are extending an invitation to members of the North Shore community to take the field after the game to take photos with Willie and the cheerleaders. Residents must have a pass to take part in this postgame event, so please e-mail wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu to get your pass today.
 Honorary captains from the 2008 North Shore Community Day at Ryan Field.  |
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North Shore Community Day at Ryan Field is part of the Wildcats' year-long commitment to the communities. The student-athletes put in more than 4,000 voluntary hours of community service each year and the `Cats Caravan during the summer makes stops throughout the community promoting athletics and academics. The programs the Wildcats' implemented to support these initiatives encourage students to stay dedicated to school while also earning complimentary tickets to Wildcat home games.
Now in its second year, the Bound for Success Reading Program sponsored by Lou Malnati's rewards students with pizza and tickets when they reach their reading goals.
Wildcats 3.0 rewards students who earn all As and Bs and Purrfect Attendance rewards students who didn't miss a day of school last year. For more information about these promotions, click here or e-mail wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu.
The `Cats Caravan makes its final two stops of the summer at the Wildcats' annual Meet the Team Night at Ryan Field on Friday at 6 p.m. and the Taste of Highland Park on Sunday. On Friday night, fans can hear from Coach Fitz and go on the field to play games with the entire Wildcat football team. Stop by to see Willie the Wildcat, enter to win tickets to a Wildcats' game and receive free stuff when the `Cats Caravan stops at the Taste of Highland Park on Sunday.
Fans can also meet Willie and members of the varsity teams at Wildcat Alley before every game. This pregame fan fest area opens two hours before every home game and features games, music, food, face painting, the AthletiCo Skill Zone, the Goose Island Beer Garden and much more.
For more information on gameday promotions, including Take A Kid to the Game Day, please e-mail wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu. To purchase tickets, click here or call 847.491.CATS between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and between 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.