Wrigley Field hosts blood drive ahead of Northwestern-Ohio State football game

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Northwestern wants fans to get pumped up for Saturday's homecoming football game by giving back!

Abbott and the Big Ten held a blood drive Friday at Wrigley Field Friday. That's where the game against Ohio State is being played Saturday.

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Those who donated got exclusive access to the field for a photo op. The first 50 donors also got access to a private, behind the scenes tour where they learned all about the historic baseball stadium.

Fans could donate on behalf of any Big Ten school.

Tim Randl was a rookie, donating blood for the first time. The draw of seeing Wrigley field and the chance to help his former school, the University of Illinois, provided the incentive.

"I thought, 'all right, I can help some people out and I might get a tour of Wrigley field,'" Randl said. "So kind of a win-win."

The drive was part of a nationwide competition, with Abbott holding blood drives in Big Ten cities before football games. Organizers say there is a critical need for blood donors right now.

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"It's absolutely critical," Dr. James Borcher said. "We're facing the worst blood shortage we've seen in a generation over the last 20 years."

Also of concern is the population of typical blood donors is aging. That's why Abbott is sponsoring the effort to bring in younger donors, and it's getting a great response.

The room was full of donors Friday, with plenty more waiting. The company is making a $1 million donation to the Big Ten school that gets the most blood donations.

"We've seen younger donors drop in the last several years, and so it's really important to get them out and create a new generation of donors," said Melissa Brotz with Abbott.

You don't have to be an alum from a Big Ten school to donate. You can just pick a school to support, like Greg Farmer and his wife visiting Chicago, donating on behalf of Northwestern.

"We were just walking by and my wife says, 'we should donate blood,'" Farerm said. "I said, 'why?' She said, 'because we should.' So here I am."

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The competition between schools goes right up to the Big Ten championship football game December 7. After that, the winning school will get that $1 million check from Abbott.

The blood drive started at 10 a.m. and ran until 6 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks legend Chris Chelios was on hand to show his support to donors.

Walk-ins were welcome and donors could sign up for the blood drive at https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11600638