Northwestern University is offering students free transportation to attend the team’s Big Ten championship game this December in Indianapolis.
The school is giving students a ticket to the game and transportation, as well as meals provided on each of the buses, the Chicago Tribune reports. While tickets were originally priced at $45, students were able to accept the free tickets until this past Wednesday in order to attend the game.
CBS reports that 3,400 students, nearly 45 percent of the student body, signed up for the trip in less than 36 hours, filling more than 50 buses. NU’s athletic director Jim Phillips had the idea, noting that he wouldn’t want the students to have an excuse to miss the game. A donor agreed to purchase the tickets while the school paid for the free bus transportation and meal.
“We are eternally grateful to the donor who stepped forward to generously support this trip for our students,” Phillips said in a statement. “Athletics provides a gathering place for Wildcats from all over the world, whether on campus, at a bowl game or next month at Lucas Oil Stadium.”
Last weekend, NU defeated Iowa 14-10. Now, they will face Michigan or Ohio State at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1 with kick-off at 7 p.m. This will be the Wildcats’ first visit to the Big Ten game, which has been held since 2011.