Illini sign 3-year deal to play at Soldier Field

Citing a strong alumni base and a greater return at the gate, Illinois athletic officials have signed a three-game contract to play more football games at Soldier Field.

The series will begin this fall with Illinois hosting Northwestern at Soldier Field on Nov. 28, in a game originally scheduled for Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illini Director of Athletics Mike Thomas announced Monday.

The Fighting Illini also will play the Wildcats at Soldier Field in 2017 and 2019. Illinois hosted Washington at Soldier Field in 2013.

"It's exciting to seize the opportunity to further engage our incredible number of Illinois alumni and fans in the Chicagoland area with these three football games," Thomas said.

"By taking these Thanksgiving weekend games to Soldier Field, we will provide a great environment for our student-athletes, fans and students who are already in the Chicagoland area for the holiday, and it becomes a destination game for all Fighting Illini fans."

As for giving up a home game in Champaign, school officials said final game of the season against Penn State drew $812,328 in revenue, and the 2013 game at Soldier Field netted $1,969,800.

"We plan to offer our season-ticket holders at Memorial Stadium a special ticket price for this game, while also providing a wide-range of ticket prices for different areas of the stadium," Thomas said.

Ticket information for the 2015 game at Soldier Field will be available soon, officials said. The game at Soldier Field will be sold separately from the season-ticket package.