University of Illinois Director of Athletics Mike Thomas announced that the Fighting Illini will play the Washington Huskies at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 14, 2013. It will mark Illinois’ second game at the historic home of the Chicago Bears.
“This is a great opportunity for our football team to play in one of the most historic football venues in the nation,” Thomas said. “Soldier Field is in an incredible location that will allow our fans in the Chicagoland area and from around the state an opportunity to watch the Fighting Illini take on an outstanding Pac-12 opponent in Washington.”
Illinois’ only other game at Soldier Field was against current Pac-12 member Washington State on Sept. 1, 1994, a 10-9 victory for the Cougars. The 2013 contest against Washington will be Illinois’ first in the city of Chicago since the 48-27 victory over Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Nov. 20, 2010.
The Illinois-Washington game at Soldier Field is being organized by RPPI (Russ Potts Productions, Inc.), which has organized and promoted more than 750 sporting events since 1982. Russ Potts was vice president of the Chicago White Sox in 1981-82.