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Illinois to play at Soldier Field

Tue, 08/07/2012 - 2:55pm | Bob Asmussen

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Illinois will play Washington at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 14, 2013. The game originally was to be played in Champaign.


Athletic director Mike Thomas has said he wants to play a game in Chicago in the years Illinois doesn't play at Northwestern.


"This is a great opportunity for our football team to play in one of the most historic football venues in the nation," Thomas said. "Soldier Field is in an incredible location that will allow our fans in the Chicagoland area and from around the state an opportunity to watch the Fighting Illini take on an outstanding Pac-12 opponent in Washington."


Illinois is to play at Washington in 2014.


The 2013 schedule is complete and features seven games at Memorial Stadium. The last slot was filled by Miami (Ohio), which visits Sept. 28. Illinois will have open dates on Sept. 21 and Oct. 12.


In 1994, Illinois lost to Washington State 10-9 at a half-filled Soldier Field.


2013 schedule


Aug. 31 vs. Southern Illinois


Sept. 7 vs. Cincinnati


Sept. 14 vs. Washington (at Chicago)


Sept. 28 vs. Miami (Ohio)


Oct. 5 at Nebraska


Oct. 19 vs. Wisconsin


Oct. 26 vs. Michigan State


Nov. 2 at Penn State


Nov. 9 at Indiana


Nov. 16 vs. Ohio State


Nov. 23 at Purdue


Nov. 30 vs. Northwestern


 


 

Categories (3):Illini Sports, Football, Sports

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TheChiefLives wrote on August 07, 2012 at 3:08 pm

Sweet,

Now since it is a HOME GAME, are season ticket holders going to get pricing or "dibs" of any kind?  Didn't figure...

Should be a blast though!  Can't wait.

helping wrote on August 07, 2012 at 4:08 pm

I went to the game when they tried this 15-20 years ago against Washington St. It was a mistake. Soldier Field was 60-70% empty and Illinois lost, which achieved absolutely nothing.  Chicago has has and never will take note of Illinois until we build a consistent winner.  Playing potential home games in a sterile atmosphere doesn't promote winning, attention or support.  You need to build a winner first, then worry about trying to bring Chicago on board.  You'll never do the latter until after you've already done the former.

TheGallopingGhost77 wrote on August 07, 2012 at 7:08 pm

It's not just winning alone though.  We have to become a better brand as a whole.  And thankfully, Mike Thomas seems to grasp all of that.  BTW, wouldn't it be sweet if they had a bullet train from Chicago to Champaign that could make the trip in around 45 min?

reber wrote on August 07, 2012 at 7:08 pm

Who knew that Loren Tate had a login under "helping."  Youd have thought he'd have chose the monicker, "hurting," instead.  

Why cant winning and "bringing Chicago on board" occur concurrently?  There was some pretty awful Coaching, talent (offensive primarily), and leadership within the program back in 1994.  To state that one occurence in nearly 20 years, equates to an impossibility...is just poor mathematics.  

Opportunity has been presented (or created), and with proper leadership...there will be more than just one "home" game in Chicago over the next 20 years.

TheGallopingGhost77 wrote on August 07, 2012 at 7:08 pm

Thanks IlliniHQ for putting, Memory Lane: Illini lost at Soldier Field on the front page just under this story.  I didn't need to be reminded of that.