Penn Athletics Homecoming ticket package announced

Penn Athletics knows it has a gargantuan marketing opportunity slated for Saturday, Nov. 9 on its hands, and now its plan to take advantage of that opportunity has been announced.

On Wednesday, the University declared Nov. 9 as Student Appreciation Day in a press release that also announced an all-encompassing ticket package.

Nov. 9 will mark the height of Homecoming Weekend, seeing Penn football square off with Princeton at Franklin Field at noon and Penn basketball tip off its 2013-14 season against Big 5 rival Temple at the Palestra at 5 p.m.

Students who purchase Penn Athletics' $10 Student Appreciation Package will be able to attend a Homecoming barbecue in the East end zone area of Franklin Field at the end of the third quarter against Princeton. The barbecue will feature alcoholic beverages for all entrants 21 and older.

Penn Athletics Director Steve Bilsky told The Daily Pennsylvanian that he originally wanted a live band concert at Penn Park to be held in between the football and basketball games, but the space was unavailable.

The $10 Student Appreciation Package will also feature a Red and Blue Crew section ticket for the men's basketball season opener as well as the chance to stay after the game for a special performance from Philadelphia sports and Temple enthusiast Bill Cosby at the Palestra.

"I called Bill Cosby, I said, 'I've gotta ask you a favor,' Athletic Director Steve Bilsky told the DP. "He said, 'Done.' I said, 'I didn't even tell you what it is yet!' And he said, 'If you calling me to ask me [for] a favor, you know I'm gonna do it.' I said, 'I want you to perform.'"

Admission to the football game against Princeton is still free for all students with a PennCard.

"To be able to go to a basketball game and sit and listen to [Cosby] for an hour, I'd be shocked if people leave after the basketball game," Bilsky said.