Oswego Crosstown Football Game: Everything You Need To Know

OSWEGO, IL — The 15th annual Allied Bank Crosstown Challenge Football Game will take place Friday, and though the event is an annual tradition, there will be some changes this year. Here's everything you need to know about the crosstown challenge.

The game: Oswego East High School will travel to Ken Pickerill Stadium at Oswego High School Friday, with the sophomores playing at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity teams squaring off at 7 p.m.

Tickets: There is a new process and timeline for ticket purchases this year. All tickets cost $5, but not everyone can buy tickets at the same time. Here is the new timeline.

• Students: Oswego and Oswego East students can buy a maximum of two tickets each at their school on Wednesday and Thursday. Students must have a current school ID on them to buy tickets.
• Staff: Personnel at both schools can buy two tickets each at their school from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Other District 308 staff can buy tickets online or in person on Thursday, with the public.
• Family: The family of students participating in the game (including players, cheerleaders, dance, band and trainers) were offered the opportunity to purchase tickets in advance.
• Public: Members of the public can buy tickets either online or in person. In-person purchases can be made at either school from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday. There will be a limited quantity of tickets. An allotted number of tickets will be available to buy online at 8 a.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday at gofan.com.

If tickets do not sell out through these channels, the remaining available tickets will go on sale at the gate at Oswego High School beginning at 3:45 p.m. The game has sold out in recent years, according to the district.

Parking/traffic: On-site parking will be available in the north and south lots of Oswego High School, as well as the East View Academy grass lot, weather permitting. Signage on Rte 71 will inform the public when the north lot is full.

Remote parking lots will be available at Plank Junior High, Churchill Elementary and Oswego East High School. Bus transportation will be available to and from the games, with the service beginning at 4 p.m. Friday and running through 30 minutes after the conclusion of the varsity game.

After the game, travel routes will be limited out of the parking lots in the following manner:

• Fans exiting the North lot of OHS and the East View lot will only be allowed to travel North on Route 71.
• Fans exiting the South lot of OHS will only be allowed to travel South on Route 71.
• Fans exiting Stonehill Road onto Wolf Road will only be allowed to travel East on Wolf Road.

Oswego Police will be directing traffic in the areas near the game, and drivers are asked to remain patient as the lots are expected to take longer than normal to clear.