Explaining why Notre Dame is playing in Chicago at Soldier Field

Notre Dame and Wisconsin are playing in Soldier Field today, so why are they playing in Chicago anyway?

Soldier Field held the first football game in 1924 when Notre Dame defeated Northwestern. It became the home for the Chicago Bears in 1971 after they moved from Wrigley Field. Today, it’ll be the home for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Wisconsin Badgers.

The two Midwestern schools are playing in what’s being dubbed the Shamrock Series as both give up a home game on campus for the neutral-site game.

If you’ve followed college football long enough, you’re familiar with teams playing games at neutral sites. Typically, the neutral-site games take place in the first week of the season, usually in New Orleans, Atlanta and Dallas. Additionally, most conference championship games are held at neutral sites.

There aren’t neutral-site games typically outside of the first and last week of the season, excluding bowl games, which are a different thing altogether.

Why is Notre Dame playing at Soldier Field?

It’s a celebration of one of the oldest stadiums in football and a chance for two programs to play at an NFL stadium in an NFL city — one of the largest cities in the country.

This should be viewed as a fun opportunity for both Notre Dame and Wisconsin players and coaches. It’s a business trip, but it’s a chance to see one of the coolest cities in the country and play in the stadium that Walter Payton once wowed fans.

And for fans of both programs, it’s a close drive from Madison and South Bend to make a weekend out of it.

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