Northwestern University and the Ryan Family officially unveiled the first public look at the new Ryan Field, a state-of-the-art $850 million sports and entertainment venue. The project, with the majority of the funding provided by the Ryan Family without public investment, will transform the traditional stadium model into a year-round community asset. Scheduled to open in 2026, the new Ryan Field promises to bring a world class experience to college sports.
The new Ryan Field is designed to reflect both the history of Northwestern football and Chicago’s connection to the Big Ten Conference. Once completed, it will not only host Northwestern football but also serve as a premier destination for national events, youth sports championships and additional opportunities, creating an community hub.
“With the new Ryan Field, we are introducing a bold new vision for the future of college sports,” said Pat Ryan Jr. “We’re committed to creating spaces that embody the best of what the modern fan experience can be, 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.”
In addition to the Ryan Foundation providing the majority of the funding for the new Ryan Field, the Ryan Family’s sports development team is leading the design and development of the new stadium on a pro bono basis in partnership with Northwestern Athletics.
Said Mark Jackson, Northwestern’s Combe family vice president for athletics and recreation. “With the new Ryan Field, we’re embracing a visionary opportunity for Northwestern that will support our student-athletes with the best stadium in college sports. Our new stadium will provide a dynamic, fan-focused environment that reflects Chicago’s prominence in the Big Ten Conference and elevates the standards for college football stadiums nationwide.”
The new Ryan Field is also expected to have a $1.3 billion impact on the Chicago area with $659 million of impact in Evanston alone. The project will provide $208 million in contracts for minority and women-owned businesses. The Ryan Foundation is also providing $10 million to fund workforce development programs for Evanston residents.
Exciting elements of the new Ryan Field include:
- All 35,000 seats will offer better-than-TV sightlines. By leveraging modern engineering, each level is optimized for putting it as close to the field as possible, and every seat will feature a comfortable seat back protected from the weather by a canopy.
- The seating canopy is also specifically engineered to create a powerful homefield sound advantage at games.
- With 194% of the required ADA seating, universal accessibility and the opportunity for every fan, regardless of physical ability to experience the stadium the same way, it will be the most accessible stadium ever built.
- More than 200,000 square feet of parks and plazas surrounding the stadium, with the ability to host pregame activities for every type of fan, including pop up restaurants, live music and a community tailgating zone.
- All main concourses at the new Ryan Field will be open to the stadium bowl, allowing fans to never miss a moment of game.
- Four premium clubs for every type of fan, from the most hardcore Wildcat supporter to opportunities for corporate entertainment at Chicago’s Big Ten Stadium. Designed by world-renowned architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, the clubs will be available year round for all types of events, meetings and private gatherings.
For more renderings of the new Ryan Field, visit https://www.ryansports.com/gallery
