|
Special events this weekend will bring many people to
Evanston for Northwestern University's and Evanston Township High School's
homecoming events and football games, and including broadcast of ESPN's College
GameDay television show from the water's edge on the University's campus.
 And it's not all about football. On Friday, the City
of Evanston will announce and celebrate the Central Street Neighborhood as
recipient of a national award. Join the Central Street Neighbors
Association, the Central Street Business Association, business patrons,
students, and neighbors at Independence Park on Friday at 3:00 pm for the press
conference. Come find out why we're fussing.
|
Back to football. Saturday's game at Ryan Field is sold-out. With 24,000 season ticket holders, 5,000 students seats, 7,000 additional seats allotted to Northwestern-affiliated ticket-holders, 75% of the seats are presumed purple. Northwestern last played Ohio State in Evanston in 2008. Both teams are undefeated and ranked in the top 20.
A partial chronology for the week might be helpful.
University football game event planning meeting, including representatives from Evanston Police and Fire Departments, Wilmette Police Department, Northwestern University police, facilities, football operations, marketing, communications, ticket office, band, ambulance service, risk management, and concessions.
 Seven
semi-trucks arrive at Lakeside Field on the University's campus via
Tech Drive to begin the set up for ESPN's College GameDay broadcast on
Saturday. Cranes for the Musco stadium lights arrive at Ryan Field;
ESPN crews begin setting up the four smaller cranes for the "sky cam".
6:00 pm: Northwestern mens' home soccer game vs. Bradley University at Lakeside Field
|
ESPN sets up the stage, tents, canopy and a "fly cam" at Lakeside Field for College GameDay.
 5:00
to 9:00 am: Mike & Mike ESPN sports talk-radio show broadcasts from
campus at Deering Meadow (1900 block of Sheridan Road).
10:00 am: Local ESPN 1000 radio show begins broadcast from Deering Meadow.
3:00
pm: PRESS CONFERENCE AT INDEPENDENCE PARK ON CENTRAL STREET TO
ANNOUNCE NATIONAL AWARD FOR THE CENTRAL STREET NEIGHBORHOOD.
3:45 pm: Ribbon-cutting to celebrate the new entrance of Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Avenue.
5:30 pm: Sheridan Road (Lincoln to Clark) is closed for the University's Homecoming parade.
6:00 to 7:00 pm: Northwestern University's Homecoming parade.
7:30 pm: Kickoff for ETHS vs. Glenbrook South home football game.
7:45 pm: Band concert on Deering Meadow.
|
2:30 pm: Unified police command post opens (EPD, NUPD, WPD).
3:00 pm: Stadium parking lots open, campus/stadium shuttles begin running, student tailgate area east of the stadium opens.
3:15 to 4:15 pm: Northwestern mens' basketball team holds open practice in Welsh-Ryan Arena (free).
3:30 pm: Game officials arrive.
5:30 pm: Stadium gates open.
5:32 pm: Mandatory "100-minute meeting" with game officials, police, and University facilities to confirm severe weather contingency plans.
6:30 pm: Student tailgate closes.
7:00 to 10:00 pm: ETHS Homecoming dance in ETHS Fieldhouse.
 7:12 pm: Kickoff, Wildcats vs. Buckeyes. GO CATS!
Postgame: Stadium lights pivot towards the parking lots, clean-up crews collect trash, police traffic patrols facilitate egress from the parking lots and neighborhoods.
|
6:30 am: University clean-up crews resume trash collection and clean-up in the stadium neighborhood, from Lighthouse Beach westward.
1:00 pm: Northwestern Men's soccer vs. Michigan State
| 
