Northwestern University has announced that it will lower the number of concerts at its proposed new Ryan Field stadium following discussions with locals.
In September last year, the university, which is based in Evanston, Illinois, released renderings of a design for a new stadium that will replace Ryan Field. The current Ryan Field is 97 years old and has a capacity of 47,000, and the new stadium would have a maximum capacity of 35,000.
Northwestern has proposed a “world-class” home for its athletics department, with the stadium to include a state-of-the-art canopy and “set a new standard” for accessibility and inclusivity.
The university has now announced modified plans for the project as it prepares for a meeting of the Land Use Commission. Addressing concerns it has heard from local residents, Northwestern said it is willing to modify its zoning application to significantly reduce the number of events hosted at the stadium annually while still ensuring financial viability for the project to move forward.
Specifically, Northwestern is willing to reduce the fixed number of concerts to six per year to balance the need to realistically operate the venue while addressing the concerns of neighbours. The university is also willing to modify the original text amendment request that allowed for an unlimited number of 10,000-person university events at Ryan Field.
Additionally, Northwestern said it is willing to limit community-based activities at the stadium and plazas to 60 days per year with programmes designed in collaboration with neighbours. This compromise has been made despite Northwestern’s claim that many residents had been hoping to use the stadium throughout the year.
Northwestern first revealed plans to revamp Ryan Field in September 2021. The project will be funded by a $480m (£377m/€443m) donation from the family of Patrick and Shirley Ryan – the largest single gift in the university’s history.
The funds will also be assigned for biomedical, economics and business research but will chiefly go towards the revamp of the stadium, which was named in honour of Pat Ryan in 1997. Ryan is a 1959 Northwestern graduate, who founded and served for 41 years as chief executive of Aon Corporation.
Northwestern has now announced an additional $10m commitment from the Ryan family that will enable it to create an Evanston workforce technology upskilling programme. The university will also guarantee a minimum of $2m in annual tax and fee revenue to the City of Evanston tied to events at the new stadium.
Northwestern is committed to a target of 35% of all subcontracted spending for local, minority- and women-owned business. The construction manager for the project is Turner-Walsh.
