The Penn State Alumni Association’s first away game football tour will feature both the fun and excitement of a weekend in Chicago and the football traditions of one of the great football rivalries—Penn State versus Notre Dame. Guests will enjoy sumptuous accommodations, cultural activities, great food, breathtaking architecture, and chartered luxury train transportation to and from the Nittany Lions game and pep rally.

A partnership between the Penn State Alumni Association and Dodds Athletic Tours, the three-night tour package Sept. 7-10 includes tickets to the Notre Dame game, accommodations at the four-star Westin Chicago River North, an Alumni Association reception at the House of Blues, full breakfast daily, special admittance to the Penn State Alumni Association Pep Rally, and the piece de resistance: a round-trip charter “Nittany Lion Express” train excursion to and from South Bend, Ind., on game day.

A special optional tour of Chicago's architectural highlights by Arthur K. Anderson Jr. ’56, emeritus professor of architecture at Penn State, will include the acclaimed Rookery (Burnham & Root 1886 with lobby by Frank Lloyd Wright 1905), the Chicago Cultural Center (Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge 1897), Millennium Park (Gehry 2003), and much more.

The first of what may become a growing tradition, the inaugural away game weekend excursion in Chicago will mark the first away game of the 2006 season—a long-awaited match against former football foe Notre Dame (a team the Lions haven’t played since their entry into the Big Ten in 1993).

Penn State’s last game against Notre Dame on Nov. 14, 1992 was a snow-laden spar that went down in history among Fighting Irish Fans for a one-point win in the final seconds of the game. On that day, Penn State and Notre Dame froze a rivalry dating back to 1913 with 8 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie. For many Nittany Lions fans, this September’s game is a long-awaited rematch and is sure to produce a strong alumni turnout.

Accommodations can be made for alumni with game tickets. Also, a limited number of two-day packages are available. Travel to and from Chicago is not included; however Dodds Athletic Tours is available to assist in making travel arrangements.
For more details about the Away Game Weekend Excursion to Chicago or to register, visit www.doddsathletictours.com/pennstate/weekend or call toll-free 866-373-7370.