A New Era in Evanston: Inside Northwestern’s Visionary Ryan Field

Photos Courtesy of Northwestern University

A new era of Northwestern Wildcats football will begin this year, as construction of the state-of-the-art Ryan Field is underway on campus. The $850 million project is funded through private donations, most notably from the Ryan family, and is designed to enhance the fan experience, including modern amenities, improved sightlines, and sustainability.

The capacity at the state-of-the-art college facility will be reduced from 47,500 to 35,000, making it the Big Ten’s smallest institution and one of the crown jewels of college football. However, it will provide better viewing from all areas of the seating bowl for fans and students.

Ryan Field will have the best sightlines in college football. The new stadium will feature 12,500 fewer seats and a more vertical design, with padded seating and purple coloring. Fans in the highest seat in the upper deck will be 136 feet from the field, much closer than similar seating areas at Michigan, Notre Dame, and the nearby United Center.

Photos Courtesy of Northwestern University

Canopies will cover all 35,000 seats, including the student section in the end zone, which will have a capacity of 2,000. There will be club suites, living room boxes, and club seating at the 50-yard line to enhance the experience for the most die-hard Wildcat fan. There will be 13 to 16 sideline suites with a mix of 22-inch padded theater-style seats and bar stools.

There will be much more green space, including new plazas. The hope is that these areas will host summer and holiday festivals featuring street carts and food from area restaurants and businesses. The venue is designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification and exceed ADA requirements by 194%.

Photos Courtesy of Northwestern University

Northwestern plans to market the stadium for corporate events and conventions and hopes Ryan Field could attract NCAA championships in soccer and lacrosse. Evanston Township High School will also play football games there.

The original Ryan Field debuted as Dyche Stadium in 1926 for $2.6 million and was well-maintained for the next century. The football plant had a capacity of 45,000 and increased to 55,000 by 1961. Further renovations in 1996 and 1997 reduced capacity while providing extensive renovations.  Further renovations in 1996 and 1997 reduced capacity while providing extensive renovations.

The Wildcats have been playing home games at the nearby lakefront Martin Stadium and Wrigley Field the past two seasons. They will play their first two home games at the lakefront stadium before moving into their new palace on October 2, on the 100th anniversary of its predecessor's first game.

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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com