A New Season of Community Engagement
DePaul Athletics announced that its Field Trip Day program will return for the 2026‑27 academic year, offering free admission to select volleyball and women’s basketball contests for school groups across the Chicago metropolitan area. The initiative, presented by the Wintrust Jr. Savers Club, builds on a tradition that began in 2008 and has already engaged more than 76,000 students.
The program’s growth follows a landmark 2025 women’s basketball event that attracted 9,526 fans from 60 local schools, marking the largest crowd in program history and underscoring the strong community appetite for DePaul’s athletic offerings.
Three Signature Matchups
Fans can look forward to three high‑profile contests: a home volleyball showdown against Loyola Chicago on September 18, a women’s basketball clash with Purdue Fort Wayne on November 6, and a second basketball meeting versus Eastern Illinois on December 17. Each game will be open to registered school groups, with registration now available through the athletics department’s website.
Beyond the excitement of live competition, the expanded schedule reflects DePaul’s broader commitment to student development, community outreach, and national visibility within the BIG EAST Conference, where its 15 intercollegiate teams compete at the Division I level.
A Legacy of Excellence and Future Ambitions
Since the university first fielded intercollegiate teams in the early 1900s, DePaul has pursued a mission that blends academic rigor with athletic achievement. Legendary coach Ray Meyer once propelled the men’s basketball program to national prominence, and today the athletics department seeks to become the premier program in the BIG EAST by championing championship aspirations, holistic student growth, and systemic change.