FIU invites neighbors over for some football

County employees and Sweetwater residents get in free on Saturday courtesy of Regions Bank

On the heels of clinching the Sun Belt Championship, Florida International University invites all employees of Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Collier Counties, as well as employees and residents of the City of Sweetwater, to the Panther’s last football game of the season before the young team heads to its first bowl game.

The Dec. 4 football game against Middle Tennessee is a pivotal game as bowl officials determine whether FIU heads to the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 18, the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit on Dec. 26, or to the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 6, 2011 in Mobile, Alabama.

“We feel fortunate to work with such dedicated public servants in the education of our students through meaningful partnerships,” said FIU President Mark Rosenberg. “This is our last game before we play in a bowl game for the first time in our history and we want to share this momentous occasion with our community partners. The stakes are high and so is the excitement of the FIU family. We need our friends there to show bowl officials that our community supports FIU.”

County employees and up to three family members will be allowed free entry into the game, which begins at 6 p.m. at FIU Stadium, located on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus, 11200 SW 8th Street in southwest Miami-Dade County. The tailgate begins at 4 p.m. The tickets are courtesy of Regions Bank.

County employees can pick up their tickets at the University Credit Union Box Office located in the R. Kirk Landon Fieldhouse at the west end of the stadium.  Tickets will be available starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday.  A valid county employee ID will be required at the time of ticket pickup.

Sweetwater residents and employees can pick up their four free tickets at the City of Sweetwater tent in the Tailgate Village just east of the stadium starting at 2 p.m.

Parking is free for everyone.

The following day, bowl officials will announce whether FIU will head to New Orleans, Mobile or Detroit.  The Football Bowl Bid Press Conference will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5. The FIU community and the press are invited to the FIU Stadium Club to watch the announcement.

For more information call 305-FIU-GAME and visit http://www.fiusports.com to find out about all of FIU’s teams and sporting events.

Media Contact:  Jean-Paul Renaud at 305-348-2716.