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Illinois Announces "Pack The Hall" Promotion
Nov. 30, 2008
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois announced that it will attempt to pack Assembly Hall with orange clad Fighting Illini fans for its Jan. 3 women's basketball game against Minnesota. The Jan. 3 effort to "Pack The Hall" is fueled by the fact that the game between Jolette Law's Fighting Illini and Pam Borton's Golden Gophers will be nationally televised on CBS. "The support that my staff and I have received from this community since we arrived in Champaign-Urbana has been nothing short of amazing," Law said. "Because this game will be seen by a nationwide audience, it's important that we show America what Illinois basketball is all about by packing Assembly Hall with people wearing orange and making noise in support of our team. This game will be a recruiting showcase for us without a doubt." The News-Gazette and WDWS/WHMS have signed on as co-sponsors of the event. Free full-color commemorative tickets for "Pack The Hall" are available for pickup at the News-Gazette, WDWS/WHMS, the Illinois Athletic Ticket Office, and at both Gameday Spirit stores while supplies last. The first 16,000 to bring the tickets to Assembly Hall for the 11 a.m. tip on Jan. 3 will be admitted to the game. "Coach Law took us within seconds of a Big Ten Tournament Championship during her first season and she's already followed that with the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation," Assistant Director of Athletics Chris Hanna said. "Her team features All-American Jenna Smith along with a mix of youth and talent. There is literally no limit to where Coach Law will take Illinois basketball. Any fan that has not had the chance to see the way her team battles for 40 minutes should take advantage of this free opportunity to `Pack The Hall' and showcase Champaign-Urbana to a national viewing audience." This is Illinois' first women's basketball game on CBS since 2002, when Illinois played Mississippi State at the United Center. It is the first time since 1998 that Illinois has hosted a women's basketball game broadcast by CBS at Assembly Hall. "This is exactly the type of excitement we want around our basketball program," Law said. "We want every Illinois fan to be a part of it on Jan. 3."
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