Updated details have been revealed for the new Ryan Field at 1505 Central Street in Evanston. The new stadium for Northwestern University is replacing the now demolished facility of the same name which the Wildcats called home for nearly 100-years. While the team plays at a temporary lakefront stadium, the university is proceeding with construction.
Rendering of New Ryan Field by HNTB
Rendering of New Ryan Field by HNTB
Working with Kansas City-based architects HNTB, the new structure will hold 35,000 attendees, or around 12,000 fewer seats than the old Ryan Field which was already one of the smaller venues within Big Ten. However the new grounds will bring some of the best sitelines in the nation, with refreshed grounds capable of holding year-round public events.
Rendering of New Ryan Field by HNTB
Rendering of New Ryan Field by HNTB
The stadium itself was designed to mimic those found within the NFL rather than normal college fields according to Crain’s. Unlike many of those, it will feature a large canopy to protect fans from the elements that also maximizes the acoustics of cheers inside, while containing them from being as loud outside which was a main neighborhood concern.
Rendering of New Ryan Field by HNTB
Rendering of New Ryan Field by HNTB
Another main feature is that all seats will have backrests, which will allow the stadium to hold up to six concerts a year as allowed by the city. Additionally there will be four clubhouses aimed at corporate events and private parties. Surrounding the building will also be 200,000 square-feet of public space to be used for markets, pop-ups, dining, music, and more.
Rendering of New Ryan Field by HNTB
Rendering of New Ryan Field by HNTB
Overall the project will cost $850 million, the most expensive in the NCAA, which will be funded via multiple large alumni gifts and some tax credits. Construction is quickly progressing on the stadium with The Walsh Group serving as the general contractor. If all stays on schedule, the team will be able to play their first game inside in 2026.
A full video with new details and renderings can be found here.
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Northwestern has 22,000 students. My prediction is that they won’t be able to fill the stadium, even with alumni.
They’ve averaged near 40,000 attendees per game in the past when they’re having a good season. Lowest was ~23,000 when they were 1-11 last year.
I think with the excitement of a new stadium, they’ll have no trouble filling it for a couple years if the team is at least average. After that, attendance will likely fluctuate between 28,000 and extemely high demand sold out depending on how the team is that year.
Have to remember Northwestern hosts 3 or 4 big 10 opponents per year, all of which have massive alumni networks in Chicago.
The stadium was originally called Dyche Stadium. Hilarity unintended.
I wish they had made better use of the parking lots. Had they built even a small parking structure, they could have developed the area around central with a mixture of complementary uses.
Still can. Just not as part of this project.
Where are all these people going to park? This has never been resolved. The stadium is surrounded by thin streets, private homes ( many older than the original stadium )and small businesses . The parking they have now is usually filled with Evanston hospital employees during the day. I see no underground parking planned. This whole thing is disrespectful to the people who live near the stadium.
Im not sure on exact percentages but I would easily bet that 65%+ of the attendees at the field are students which would literally walk there from campus or take the purple line. Im also sure that a good chunk commutes there via red line/purple line connections.
Also the stadium is having a massive reduction in # of seats. Going from 47,000 seats to 35,000 seats. So if parking was fine with 47,000 it will be completely fine with 35,000. Especially when the overwhelming majority of game day goers walk or use transit.