Add ESPN personality Darren Rovell to the growing list of high-profile alumni visiting Northwestern for Homecoming festivities this weekend.
The sports business reporter is teaming up with on-demand car service Uber to ride along with its customers Friday afternoon. Rovell (Communication ’00) will also meet with fans and followers at about 4:15 p.m.
“With Darren’s Northwestern ties, the biggest Homecoming weekend ever, and our recent expansion to Evanston, a partnership only seems natural,” Uber said in a blog post.
To #RideWithRovell — the promotion’s hash tag — customers can text “ROVELL” to 827-222 or tap the Rovell icon on their Uber app anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. The offer is free, and riders can expect about a 10-minute ride with Rovell followed by a photo opportunity.
Rovell told The Daily on Tuesday evening that the Uber promotion is “more fun than than anything else for me,” though he was already planning on dropping in on Evanston for NU’s blockbuster matchup with Ohio State on Saturday night.
“It’s a chance to do something disruptive,” he said. “The idea of sitting in a car and people can click on the app and go along and ride with you for a couple of minutes — that’s a cool proposition.”
Rovell will be in famous company for Homecoming weekend. “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” the ESPN radio show co-hosted by Mike Greenberg (Medill ’89) will broadcast Friday morning from Deering Meadow. “College GameDay,” another ESPN creation, will take over the Lakefill on Saturday morning to amp up Wildcat fans for the nationally televised football game.
“This is something that was on my schedule pretty early on, and I just like the excitement,” Rovell said of the NU-Ohio State matchup. “To be in Evanston and to be on campus is a really amazing landmark for the Northwestern program.”
“I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep for the next few days,” he added.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PatrickSvitek
