The new look for the turf at Huskie Stadium at Northern Illinois University was unveiled lst week. (NIU image)

With installation of the new turf at Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Stadium nearly complete, NIU last week unveiled the final design that fans will see during the stadium’s 50th Anniversary season in 2015.

The new design is the first significant change to the look of the field since FieldTurf was originally installed on the surface in 2001.

A reflection of both Huskie Athletics and Northern Illinois University, with a nod to NIU’s home state and city, the new design also retains the popular Huskie head logo, the word “Huskies” in the end zones, and the Brigham Field moniker.

The sharp new, black end zones will remind many of those used on the field at the 2013 Orange Bowl, one of the greatest feats in the Huskies’ long football history.

Each element that NIU chose to integrate in the new field design was carefully chosen to best reflect the university’s most visible brand and one of its landmark buildings. NIU Football games have been nationally televised from Huskie Stadium 10 times since 2008. Over the last two years, nearly every NIU home game has been made available through an ESPN platform and is seen by fans across the nation.

NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier said that he has seen the passion that Huskie fans have for NIU Football during the social media campaign that has built up to Thursday’s final unveiling and wants to see that same dedication to attending games this fall.

“This topic has garnered great discussion among our fans and we’ve seen tremendous engagement on our social media channels. Frankly, I’m encouraged by what I have seen and heard,” Frazier said. “Obviously, we have many fans, alumni and students who have very strong feelings about NIU, which is outstanding. Now, we need our fans to show that their passion for our football program is as strong as their connection to the playing field. We need to see and hear it every time our team takes the field on that new turf this fall. I look forward to seeing all of them at the games.”

NIU will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Huskie Stadium in 2015, which opened in 1965, this season beginning at the season opener versus UNLV on Sept. 5.