The new Ryan Field will create a world-class home for Northwestern University Athletics and a best in the nation football experience for fans, players, and a year-round asset for the community.
The project will be privately funded - with no taxpayer financing and significant public benefits.
The new Ryan Field stadium campus is possible due to a generous gift from the Ryan Family.
The Ryan Family’s gift was the largest in Northwestern history, and included funding not just for the new stadium, but to accelerate breakthroughs in biomedical, economics and business research.
The new architecturally compelling Ryan Field stadium campus will address the deficiencies of the current stadium and community concerns, interests and goals. It will feature a lower and more appealing profile than the current stadium and will serve as a year-round hub for community activities.
12,000 fewer seats means fewer cars – plus bike valets, ride share plans, and public transit opportunities
A landscaping buffer and a state-of-the-art canopy will reduce the impact of noise and light on the neighborhood
Beautiful plazas with public green space and LEED Gold-Certified design for a more sustainable Ryan Field
The new Ryan Field aspires to be the most accessible stadium in college football
With world-class amenities and the best sightlines in college sports
New plazas creating a premium fan experience - without intrusion into the surrounding neighborhood
The new stadium project will create significant economic benefits for Evanston. During the construction phase the project will generate:
Direct Fees to Evanston
In Economic Impact to Evanston
Supported During the Rebuild
The University is committed to creating economic opportunities for minority-owned, woman-owned and local Evanston businesses.
The target for total subcontracted spending with local, minority-owned and women-owned businesses for the Ryan Field project is 35%, with priority given to businesses and individuals located in Evanston.
The University plans to share additional concepts with the community through a series of listening and learning sessions over the coming months before formally beginning the entitlement process with the City of Evanston.
Meet with representatives of Northwestern University to discuss the new Ryan Field project!
Anderson Hall
East Parking Lot
Free visitor parking at the back of the East Parking lot at the fence of the Sharon J. Drysdale Field
Download FlyerUniversity leadership has been actively listening to athletes, coaches, fans, stadium neighbors and Evanston residents to better understand the shortcomings of the current stadium and the “wish-list” for a new Ryan Field. The current stadium:
We have a once-in-a-century opportunity to build a new world-class stadium for all of Evanston that is completely privately funded and developed in collaboration with the community. The new Ryan Field will be an improvement in every way and deliver a sports experience befitting one of the world’s great universities. It will be the preeminent site to take in a college football game as well as a gathering space for all ages. The new Ryan Field and plazas will:
And, with USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten, the new stadium will help showcase Northwestern University to an even broader and more global audience.
Yes, the new Ryan Field and plazas will be built to exceed all ADA requirements for accessibility by all. The new stadium will apply Universal Design standards and will set a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity, making it among the most accessible stadiums in the country.
Yes, the new Ryan Field and plazas will be built to LEED gold certification.
No. Zero taxpayer dollars are needed to build and maintain the new Ryan Field and plazas.
As a vast improvement over the current stadium, the new, modern design will feature a state-of-the-art canopy that will better contain crowd noise and curtail lighting impacts.
The University is in the process of receiving bids from contractors to fix the chillers. We anticipate that noise mitigation construction will be completed prior to the end of this year.
The way Ryan Field is laid out now, fans are forced to tailgate well beyond the footprint of the stadium. The new plazas in the new Ryan Field will create an organized and well-defined space for pre-game activities.
The University is committed to creating economic opportunities for minority-owned, woman-owned and local Evanston businesses and residents. The target for total subcontracted spending with local, minority-owned and woman-owned businesses is 35%, with priority given to businesses and individuals located in Evanston.