Construction progress at Northwestern University’s Ryan Field is becoming more visible from the perimeter, as steel columns and metal decking rise to form the stadium’s shell. The first piece of structural steel was set in place back in November, and now the Wildcats are doing their best Steelers impression, as iron work rises throughout the Evanston construction site.
The original, nearly-100-year-old Ryan Field closed at the end of the 2023 football season. Preparations for bringing the stadium down began in January of last year, with demolition getting started in February 2024. Construction of the new 35,000-seat facility was underway even before the final remnants of the old stadium were still being torn down.
The team for the new Ryan Field includes the general contractors of Turner Construction and Walsh Construction, working together as the Central Street Consortium. Kansas City’s HNTB is the lead architect and architect of record, with Perkins&Will serving as the associate design architect. Alpine Demolition was the demolition contractor.
Ryan Field rendering by HNTB
Ryan Field rendering by HNTB
Three beasts doing the heavy lifting. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
For continuous updates, you can keep track of Ryan Field progress at rebuildryanfield.com as the Central Street Consortium works toward having the new stadium open in time for the 2026 Big 10 football season.
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It is unclear and seemingly pointless that NU Athletics has not released a seating chart.
30,000 seats for the one Big Ten team playing in the conference’s most important market. Clearly, they just wanted to price out opposing fans since they can’t seem to gain any of their own (having a small local alumni base doesn’t help). Such a beta move.
Where is the parking? The rendering shows buildings in the west parking lot and the east lot is lost in the stadium’s footprint.
I am not aware of any changes to the existing west parking lot on Ashland Avenue, but I haven’t seen parking schemes.