Illinois took a major step Monday to enhance its football team's exposure in Chicago, announcing it will play three home games against Northwestern at Soldier Field.
The games will be played in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
The Nov. 28, 2015, game originally was scheduled for Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
"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," Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas said in a statement.
"Ending the regular season at a historical site and one of the best stadiums in the world will make for a big-time event for our student-athletes and will be a great springboard for our football program into the postseason."
Illinois hosted Washington at Soldier Field in 2013, drawing a crowd of 47, 312.
NU officials were thrilled with the news, given that it turns three road games into neutral-site games.
In 2012, Thomas seemed reluctant to give up home-field advantage. He was quoted in a Tribune story this way: "Our home game against Northwestern still would be played in Champaign. (NU athletic director) Jimmy (Phillips) is a smart guy, but I don't think he'll get our Champaign game to Chicago."
NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said the primary reason for his joy regarding the announcement relates to when the games will be played.
"I'm really happy for our players," he said. "This means they'll be in Chicagoland over the Thanksgiving weekend for the next six years. I'm also ecstatic for our fans."
Fitzgerald played in the 1994 Notre Dame-Northwestern game at Soldier Field and joked that he had his first tailgating experience there in 1997, when the Wildcats beat Oklahoma.
"I've been to more concerts over the summer than Bears games," he said. "We're usually working on Sundays."
Illinois coach Tim Beckman described this as an exciting opportunity for players.
"We're extremely excited to be taking these games to Soldier Field," he said through a team spokesman. "The current team is fired up for the opportunity to play there this year, and several players will have the chance to play there twice or even three times. Not every college football team has an opportunity to play in such a storied venue like Soldier Field."
Ticket information for the 2015 game will be available soon, according to Illinois' news release. The tickets will be sold separately from season-ticket packages.
