The New York Yankees and their rivals the Boston Red Sox have done it. So have the Chicago Cubs. Now, the latter’s cross-town rivals are doing it as well.
The “it” being referenced is hosting a college football game, with the Chicago White Sox announcing Wednesday that U.S. Cellular Field will be the venue for the Nov. 9 Toledo-Northern Illinois MAC matchup. The game, dubbed the “Huskie Chi-Town Showdown,” will be the first-ever played in the 25-year history of U.S. Cellular Field.
“This is a historical moment and an outstanding day,” NIU athletic director Sean Frazier said in a statement. “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.”
“We are really excited to play the first ever football game at US Cellular Field,” NIU head coach Rod 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 and Toledo, along with Central Michigan and Western Michigan, tied for the MAC West title last season. On the basis of tiebreakers, the Huskies represented the division in the MAC championship game, the sixth straight season they’ve played for the conference title.Here’s how the field will look. #MACtion pic.twitter.com/amBAkA2V62
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 17, 2016
