Northwestern, Chicago Cubs announce partnership

Northwestern reportedly will play more football games at Wrigley Field. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Northwestern University and the Chicago Cubs announced a partnership on Tuesday allowing the university to play sports at Wrigley Field, the school announced.

The partnership will begin immediately and the hope is that the football team will play at Wrigley Field in 2014 and play up to five  games there. Northwestern's soccer and women's softball teams will also play at the stadium. Northwestern's football team played Illinois at Wrigley in 2010 but the teams were forced to use one end zone because of safety concerns. It is not known how the stadium will be configured for upcoming football games.

"We are thrilled to partner with a professional sports franchise as iconic as the Chicago Cubs in an agreement that truly is the first of its kind," said Jim Phillips, Northwestern University Vice President For Athletics & Recreation. "As Chicago's Big Ten Team, this is a natural fit that will create tremendous opportunities for our student-athletes, our coaches and our fans in the area. I'd like to personally thank the Ricketts family and the entire Cubs executive team for all of their efforts in bringing this remarkable partnership to fruition."