Northwestern signs sponsor for temporary facility

Northwestern University has agreed a deal for Northwestern Medicine to take on naming rights to a new temporary venue that will serve as the home of its American football, soccer and lacrosse teams.

The two-year deal will rebrand the lakeside facility as Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The agreement strengthens the relationship between the university and Northwestern Memorial Healthcare, which formed Northwestern Medicine in 2010.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel recently approved the use of commercial sponsor advertisements on American football fields for regular-season games, starting with the 2024 season. This deal marks one of the first field naming partnerships in the US under the new rules.

Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium will host American football, soccer and lacrosse games, as well as other events, while Northwestern University redevelops Ryan Field.

Northwestern Medicine is the healthcare provider for all 19 Northwestern Athletics programmes and nearly 500 student-athletes, as well as university students. As part of the agreement, the company will have a visible presence throughout the temporary venue with prominent signage on the field itself, as well as on LEDs and permanent structures inside and outside the stadium.

University president Michael Schill said: “We are honoured to expand our partnership with Northwestern Medicine, as they continue to invest in our university, including Northwestern Athletics. This partnership will help bring our innovative venue on the lakefront to life and bring our community together. I would also like to thank the Martin family for their continued support of Northwestern Athletics and the university.”

Plans for the temporary venue were first unveiled in April. The move will keep the university’s Wildcats American football team close to home as it looks to build on its bowl-winning 2023 season.

The venue will offer views of Lake Michigan, Northwestern’s North Campus and downtown Chicago. It is hoped the temporary facility will “bridge the gap” between the old Ryan Field and the new state-of-the-art stadium scheduled to open in 2026.

The current Ryan Field is 97 years old and has a capacity of 47,000, with the new stadium to have a maximum capacity of 35,000.