The Big Ten Conference is partnering with Fox Sports to launch a Fan Fest in conjunction with the conference's first football championship game next month. Dr Pepper will be the presenting sponsor of the Big Ten Fan Fest, which will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Dec. 2-3. The Fan Fest will launch with an invitation-only event, the Big Ten Football Awards Gala, on the evening of Dec. 2. BTN's Dave Revsine will host and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany will give a welcome address. After the gala, Fan Fest will be open to the 700 or so attendees. It will open to the public the following day, from 10:00am ET to game time. "This is the first time that Fox Sports has partnered with a property to put on an event like Big Ten Fan Fest in conjunction with a game we're broadcasting," said Fox VP/Sports Sales Chris Caldwell. Fan Fest will feature a photo op with the Big Ten Football Championship Trophy; an area called Dr Pepper Field that will host football clinics, celebrity appearances and pep rallies; and interactive games, including exhibits from sponsors like Allstate, Nissan, Ford, Comcast and Big Ten Network. Organizers are expecting 30,000-50,000 fans at the event. Fans with game tickets are allowed in free; others can buy tickets ($8 for adults; $4 for kids). People with valid military IDs get free admission.
