For many reasons, March is a very important month for NIU Athletics.  For the Huskie basketball teams, it's the month when all eyes turn to Cleveland and making some noise in the MAC Basketball Tournament.  With one game left in the regular season for both teams, the season starts anew next week.  Stay tuned!

It's also championship time for the NIU wrestling and gymnastics programs, the spring sports seasons are underway and many of our 2016 senior football players are looking to attract the attention of the many NFL scouts that will be in attendance at the NIU Football Pro Day here on March 10. Just 11 days after that, the 2017 Huskies will be on the field as spring football practices start on March 21 with the Huskie Bowl set for April 22 at 2 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Mid-American Conference and league schools released the complete 2017 football schedule. I am excited as NIU will once again play a strong slate of games – both in and out of conference – that will keep Huskie Football in the national conversation. Our brand is strong!

NIU will open the season Sept. 1 versus Boston College, which becomes the first ACC team to play in Huskie Stadium since that famed Maryland game in 2003. After a Sept. 9 home game against Eastern Illinois, the non-conference slate concludes with games at Nebraska (Sept. 16) and San Diego State (Sept. 30). The 111^th Homecoming game kicks off the league schedule as the Huskies face Kent State on October 7. 

See the entire 2017 NIU Football Schedule here.

The final three home games are all part of #MACtion – meaning yes, they are on weeknights for television purposes. This provides great exposure for our football program, and our university, while allowing NIU fans from across the country to see the games live. We will continue to work hard with our conference to increase Saturday games and understand that weeknight games can be challenging for our loyal, local fans; we still NEED you in the stadium!  Plans are currently underway to make adjustments to our pregame activities for the weeknight #MACtion games, including moving The Yard and Huskie Athletic Fund tent indoors. We will do everything we can to ensure fans have a great experience when they come to Huskie Stadium! You will be hearing more about those efforts in the coming months.

In order to better serve our loyal fans and donors, we've made changes to some of our single game AND season ticket pricing for 2017, and have also adjusted some of our premium options.

These changes are spelled out in the 2017 Huskie Athletic Fund Donor Guide, which I encourage you to view online (see link).  This year's theme for the annual fund drive is UN1TE and you will see that graphic, as well as the words "One Vision. One Mission. One Goal."  All 2016 donors and season ticket members will receive the Donor Guide in the mail with their renewal documents. Those packets are scheduled to be in your hands next week. You can also renew your season tickets online now. If you have already renewed, thank you!  

In the packet (and online), you will see that you can now purchase a season ticket (general admission) on the East Side of Huskie Stadium for just $60. You read that right – you can see EVERY game – including Boston College, Ball State, Western Michigan and Homecoming - for just $10 per game. You will not find a better value in Division I FBS college football! 

How about going one step better?  For $115 you can still get that season ticket on the East Side, PLUS enjoy a field level view with limited general admission seating, popcorn, snacks and a cash bar in the "new" End Zone Club.  For our premium area guests, this year every Coaches Club pass – priced at $700 - also includes access to the Endzone Club with the ability to move freely between the two areas.

If you're not the "club" type, bringing the "family" to the game is also more affordable than ever. For 2017, we have two options on the Family Pack, both located on the West Side (reserved seats) of Huskie Stadium.  For $299, the same price as last year, get four season tickets in section B or F.  Or, buy the new $199 Family Pack – a cost of just $49.75 per ticket – and sit in sections A or G. 

Finally, we have adjusted the reserved season ticket prices in sections A, B, F and G on the West Side of Huskie Stadium to $115 across the board.         

I've said it before but I will say it again. Season tickets and annual fund donations are the lifeblood of our athletics program. Without these dollars, we CANNOT provide the highest level support for Huskie student-athletes. That support in turn attracts the very best possible talent to NIU.  YOU – with your presence at games, your purchase of season tickets, and your annual donation – play a huge role in recruiting and sustaining the Huskies' tradition of excellence.

I hope you will UN1TE and join us in that effort in 2017. 

Thank you for your support of Huskie Athletics and NIU student-athletes!

Go Huskies!






Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics
 
P.S. – If you have any questions at all about the season ticket renewal process or options, the Huskie Athletic Fund Donor Guide, parking and more, please reach out to our staff in the Huskie Athletic Fund Office or the Ticket Office by calling 815-753-PACK (7225) or e-mailing huskiestickets@niu.edu. They will be more than happy to help or answer any questions. 

P.P.S. – I look forward to seeing you at the Huskie Bowl on April 22nd and the Victor E. Ball on April 29^th, as well as at Rich Harvest Farms for the NCAA Golf Championships May 19-31!  Click on the links for more information!