Cortaca Jug game to be played at MetLife Stadium in 2019

SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College faced off in the 59th annual Cortaca Jug game on Sat., Nov. 11, 2017, at Butterfield Stadium (Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)

ITHACA, N.Y. — In what is an unprecedented development in the history of the Division III football rivalry, the 61st Cortaca Jug game between SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The announcement was made during the tail end of a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Ithaca College Athletics & Events Center. MetLife Stadium is home to the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.

Both schools will make efforts to provide transportation to current students who wish to attend the game, Susan Bassett, Athletics Director at Ithaca College.

"The game is part of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of college football. Multiple games are being held at special locations," Bassett said. "We're honored to have this incredible rivalry...among the featured games. This is a really big deal on a really big stage, and we intend to make this a college-wide celebration."

Cortaca Jug games normally draw between 8,000 - 9,000 fans each year, though Bassett hopes the new venue will break the attendance record for a Division III football game of 37,335 fans, which was set in 2017 when St. Thomas and St. John's played at Target Field in Minneapolis.

There are more than 30,000 combined alumni from both schools living in the New York City area, Bassett said.

Tickets will go on sale on Dec. 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. for the 2019 matchup.