Northwestern football hosted No. 2 Ohio State at Wrigley Field on Saturday, highlighting one of Chicago’s most famous venues.
On Monday, the Wildcats revealed designs for their new stadium, Ryan Field, set to open in 2026. According to a news release, the new stadium will be “a state-of-the-art $850 million sports and entertainment venue set to become a landmark for college football and Chicago.”
This new Ryan Field project will be the “largest stadium project in college football history,” according to ESPN.
The new stadium will be fully funded by the Ryan family with no public investment. The Ryan family is a minority owner of the Chicago Bears and has a stake in the English Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.
“With the new Ryan Field, we are introducing a bold new vision for the future of college sports,” said Pat Ryan Jr. “This stadium is not just a world-class football stadium; it’s for our students, student-athletes, fans, alumni, and the Northwestern and Evanston communities.
We’re committed to creating spaces that embody the best of the modern fan experience, while building a legacy of economic empowerment and cultural benefits for our community.”
“The Ryan Family is proud to be partnered with Northwestern in creating this transformational project.” The majority of the funding for the new Ryan Field will come from the Ryan Foundation, and the Ryan Family’s sports development team is working on the design and development of the stadium on a pro bono basis, in collaboration with Northwestern Athletics.
The new Ryan Field is expected to serve as a venue for not only Northwestern football games but also youth sports, holiday festivals, and other student activities in Evanston, Illinois, and the surrounding Northwestern community.
The 35,000-seat stadium, which will have the smallest capacity in the Big Ten, is projected to have a $1.3 billion impact on the Chicago area, with $659 million of that impact in Evanston.
The project is also expected to provide $208 million in contracts for minority- and women-owned businesses, and the Ryan Foundation is contributing $10 million to fund workforce development programs for Evanston residents.
Key features of the new Ryan Field include:
- Every one of the 35,000 seats will have better-than-TV sightlines, optimized to be as close to the field as possible. All seats will have comfortable seat backs and be protected from the weather by a canopy.
- The seating canopy will also be designed to amplify homefield sound, giving Northwestern a strong home advantage during games.
- With 194% of the required ADA seating, the stadium will be the most accessible stadium ever built, ensuring that every fan, regardless of physical ability, can experience the games equally.
- More than 200,000 square feet of parks and plazas will surround the stadium, offering spaces for pregame activities like pop-up restaurants, live music, and community tailgating zones.
- The stadium’s main concourses will be open to the stadium bowl, allowing fans to enjoy the game without missing any moments.
- Four premium clubs will cater to all types of fans, from the most dedicated Wildcat supporters to those looking for corporate entertainment opportunities at Chicago’s Big Ten Stadium. These clubs will be available year-round for events, meetings, and private gatherings.
The project involves partners like Turner Walsh, who is leading the construction, and architecture firms Perkins & Will and HNTB.
