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Northern Illinois - Iowa Game @ Soldier Field Sold Out

Fans Gobble Up Tickets to Sept. 1 Season Opener in Chicago  

DeKALB, Ill. - The "Soldier Field Showdown" is sold out. The football game between Northern Illinois and Iowa to be played at the historic Chicago stadium Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. is officially a sell-out, according to officials from both schools. The game will mark the largest home crowd in NIU football history.

NIU began selling tickets to the game, the first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) game scheduled for the facility since its renovation in 2003, on Feb. 8 and tickets were made available via Ticketmaster on June 21. Soldier Field seats 61,500 people and as of Monday, no tickets remain on either Ticketmaster or through the NIU and Iowa ticket offices.  

"This is a historic occasion for Northern Illinois University and for the Huskie football program," said NIU Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Jim Phillips. "When discussions about the opportunity for Northern Illinois and Iowa to play at Soldier Field began, this is the kind of response both schools envisioned. Chicago is a great sports town and the response of NIU fans, Iowa fans and college football fans in the city has been overwhelming. We're looking forward to a beautiful Labor Day Weekend in Chicago and a tremendous game at Soldier Field on Sept. 1." 

The contest marks the first appearance for both Iowa and Northern Illinois at the Chicago lakefront site. It will be televised by ESPNU.  

Last year, Iowa defeated NIU, 24-14, in Iowa City in a game that was not decided until the fourth quarter. The Huskies are coming off a 7-6 season which culminated in NIU*s second bowl appearance in the last three years, at the 2006 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.    

Tickets were sold for $55.50 for seats on the 100 and 200 levels as well as sideline 300-level seats, and $44.40 for remaining 300-level seats and 400-level sideline locations. In addition, student tickets were made available to Northern Illinois students for $27.75 each.  

Northern Illinois' last official sell out came during the 2004 season at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb when the homecoming contest versus Southern Illinois drew 28,071 fans. In 2003, games versus Maryland, Iowa State and Western Michigan were sold out with the record crowd of 28,221 set versus Western Michigan on Oct. 18.   Season tickets to the Huskies' five home games in DeKalb are on sale through the Huskie Athletics Ticket Office.

Season tickets are just $95 for games versus Southern Illinois (Sept. 8), Eastern Michigan (Sept. 15), Western Michigan (Oct. 20), Kent State (Nov. 10) and Ball State (Nov. 24). Single game tickets for these contests go on sale at the NIU Athletics Ticket Office and through Ticketmaster beginning Saturday, July 14.