Featured image credit: Northwestern University
Northwestern University has broken ground on its new Ryan Field stadium which is due to have 35,000 seats and open in 2026.
The stadium was made possible by a $480m (£380m/€450m) donation from the family of Patrick and Shirley Ryan. The former is the founder of the Aon Corporation which had a turnover of more than £13bn last year.
It will have around 12,000 fewer seats than the previous Ryan Field which closed in November last year.
“The Ryan Family is proud to enable this generational, transformational project that will catapult Northwestern to the forefront of athletics facilities while creating a powerful year-round asset for the Northwestern and Evanston communities,” said Patrick Ryan.
“So many of the Ryans have called Evanston home for important chapters of our lives, and we look forward to delivering on the promises we have made through this investment, including new jobs for residents, investments in community programs and services, increased tourism opportunities and unprecedented economic impact for the community at large.”
The new stadium is aimed at impacting more than just sport.
It is projected to bring 2,900 jobs and nearly $660m in economic impact to the City of Evanston in Illinois.
A total of $208m in contracts is set to go towards local, female, and minority-owned businesses with a 35% of overall subcontracted spending aimed at these companies.
“The new Ryan Field is important to our Wildcats, yes, but it is much more than a football stadium,” said Northwestern president Michael Schill.
“This state-of-the-art facility also will serve as a vibrant venue for the Evanston community, hosting community-oriented events such as winter festivals, family movie nights and youth sports events.
“None of this would be possible without some very generous individuals. From athletics to research, the Ryan Family has supported Northwestern in ways that will resonate with our community for generations to come.”
The stadium is claimed to be one of the most accessible stadiums in college football and will also achieve LEED Gold-Certified standards for sustainability.
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