Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier Provides Specifics and Highlights Changes Below:

Huskie Fans,

We look forward to welcoming you back to Huskie Stadium this Saturday, September 25 when the NIU Huskies return home to take on Maine at 1:30 p.m. (CT).

During the season opener versus Wyoming on Sept. 11, it became apparent that our gameday operations encountered many of the same issues that are affecting venues across the country in terms of staffing and supply shortages. We know that long lines and the lack of availability of items negatively affected the experience of our fans in attendance.

Immediately following that game, we met internally as a staff, and subsequently with our partners to address and find solutions to these issues. Going forward, we have enacted the following changes which will be in place for Saturday’s game and throughout the 2021 season.

• Staffing numbers will be increased throughout the stadium, and especially in concession and premium areas, as well as at entry points requiring check-in, including recruit and player guest will calls.
• Each fan will be permitted to bring one (1) sealed plastic water bottle (smaller than 17 oz.) into Huskie Stadium.  The clear bag policy remains in effect.
• All water fountains in the stadium will be operational.
• The main concession stands on the ground level of the East and West sides will have the ability to accept cash or credit card payments. All smaller stands will be cash only.
• A beverage only stand will be added to the north end of the East Side.
• A small concession stand will be added to the south end of the East Side.
• An additional check-out pay station will be in place at the East Side main stand.
• Concession stands located at the 300 level on the West Side will be stocked with cold beverages and staffed to provide efficient service.
• All food and beverage stations will be open and appropriately staffed 15 minutes prior to gates opening on game day.
• Additional customer service training and orientations will be provided to all new gameday operation employees prior to their first working shift.
• Each entry point location supervisor will have the ability to make immediate decisions to help facilitate solutions to problems at their gates.
• Senior Athletic Administrators will be assigned to monitor locations around the stadium to continually evaluate and make real time adjustments to improve gameday operations.

In addition, fans who visit The Yard on the West Lawn prior to the game will see improvements in the stage and sound capabilities for this game, with a live band in The Yard prior to the Homecoming game on October 2.

Like many venues across the country which have experienced staffing shortages, NIU Athletics and its partners continues to search for solutions to the challenge of meeting staff levels needed for effective gameday operations. Groups and organizations interested in exploring fundraising opportunities by working games and events at NIU Athletics venues can contact John Cheney, NIU Executive Associate Athletic Director via email at jcheney2@niu.edu.

Individuals interested in joining the concessions or game day staff as hourly event employees should contact Ryan Willis (concessions) at ryan.willis@sodexo.com or Julie Ream (event operations) at jream@niu.edu.

Please continue to wear a mask in all inside areas of the stadium, including concessions and restrooms, as required by state guidelines.

We appreciate the feedback we received from fans after the season opener and are always striving to improve the gameday experience. As we learned last year, college athletics is not the same without fans in the stands.

As always, thank you for your support.  See you Saturday and Go Huskies!