Phillips: NU Won't Move Illinois Games From Evanston
By Chris Emma-
EVANSTON (CBS) -- Convening at Big Ten meetings at conference headquarters in Rosemont, Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips learned a bit of news from his counterpart at Illinois, Mike Thomas.
The Wildcats and Fighting Illini will play three of their next five football games -- all designated Illinois home games -- at Soldier Field in Chicago. The games will take place at the home of the Bears in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
"Ultimately, it was 100 percent their decision," Phillips told CBSChicago.com. "We didn't have really any influence on it, other than (Thomas) asked me if we would be immutable and I absolutely would be. I think, from the Northwestern perspective, I think it's tremendous."
Both Northwestern and Illinois have geared their marketing campaigns toward the Windy City, with the Wildcats trademarking "Chicago's Big Ten Team" as their own while the Fighting Illini have gone with the slogan "Our State. Our Team."
Illinois is investing in Chicago, moving three games with its rival -- located just a few miles north of Soldier Field in Evanston -- away from the home base of Champaign. Northwestern has no intentions to move its home games with Illinois away from Ryan Field, Phillips said.
The games at Soldier Field have benefit for Northwestern, too, not just Illinois. It's part of what has Phillips feeling excited.
"Our students can get on the train can go, our fans can get on the train," Phillips said. "And years '17 and '19, we're going to have nine conference games and six of them are going to be (in the Chicagoland)-- five at Ryan Field, one at Soldier Field.
"That's tremendous."
Northwestern is currently under a deal with the Chicago Cubs to host events at Wrigley Field for multiple sports, football among those. However, those endeavors are on hold until the ballpark's renovation is complete.
For now, the Wildcats are looking ahead to their contests at Soldier Field with the same excitement as their rivals at Illinois.
"There's lot of benefit for the rivalry," Phillips said. "Benefit for the Land of Lincoln Trophy."
