Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
This time of year, several schools, usually schools that have been to bowls the year before, hike up their ticket prices in an attempt to profit from the success of the previous year.
Northern Illinois is not one of those teams.
The Huskies announced Friday afternoon that they were lowering season ticket prices for the 2009 season. NIU is inviting its fans to "Experience It Live," the school's new motto for its football program.
Fans can purchase tickets to all six Northern Illinois home games for $90, which the school says is more than 18 percent lower than last year. The school is also offering a mini plan, which gives fans three home games for $50. That's $5 lower than last year.
Senior citizens (age 62+), Northern Illinois faculty and staff, NIU Alumni Association members and Varsity Club members (former letter winners) can purchase season tickets at an even lower rate.
"As coach [Jerry] Kill continues to build our football program, it is extremely important to build our season ticket base and continue the great home field advantage our team has enjoyed at Huskie Stadium," NIU associate vice president and athletic director Jeff Compher said. "We believe the new pricing structure will encourage the purchase of season tickets, while the mini plan provides a great option for those who can only attend a limited number of games."
In Kill's first season with the program, the Huskies finished 6-7, fourth in the Mid-American Conference West, and participated in the Independence Bowl.
Watson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Missouri Tigers and the Big 12 Conference for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She also covered college football recruiting for the Dallas Morning News.
