Northwestern University has released the first public renderings of its new Ryan Field stadium, which will have a capacity of 35,000 and is due to open in 2026.
The $850m (£672m/€804m) sports and entertainment venue will seek to become a “landmark” for college football and Chicago. The project is being supported by a $480m donation from the family of Patrick and Shirley Ryan. The former is the founder of the Aon Corporation.
Northwestern broke ground on the stadium in June. It will have around 12,000 fewer seats than the previous Ryan Field, which closed in November last year.
The new Ryan Field will offer “better than TV” views from all 35,000 seats, which will be protected from the weather by a canopy. The stadium will be surrounded by more than 200,000 square feet of parks and plazas, with other amenities to include pop-up restaurants, live music and a community tailgating zone.
Once completed, the new stadium will host Northwestern’s American football team, along with other national events and youth sports championships. In addition to the Ryan Foundation providing the majority of funding, the Ryan family’s sports development team is leading the design and development of the stadium on a pro bono basis in partnership with Northwestern Athletics.
Northwestern said the project will have a $1.3bn impact on the Chicago area and a $659m impact in the city of Evanston alone. The project will provide $208m in contracts for minority- and women-owned businesses.
The university claims that Ryan Field will be the “most accessible stadium ever built” as it will offer 194% of the required ADA seating. All main concourses at the stadium will be open to the stadium bowl, while the venue will also feature four premium clubs.
Pat Ryan Jr said: “With the new Ryan Field, we are introducing a bold new vision for the future of college sports. This stadium is not just a world-class football stadium; it’s for our students, and student-athletes, our fans, our alumni, and the Northwestern and Evanston communities.
“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.”
Mark Jackson, Northwestern’s Combe Family vice-president for athletics and recreation, added: “This project marks a new era for Northwestern and the Big Ten. 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. This venue will be more than a game-day destination; it’s an inclusive, year-round gathering place that enhances our community and our university’s connection to the world of sports.”
Northwestern’s American football, soccer and lacrosse teams are playing at a temporary venue while work on Ryan Field is carried out. In August, Northwestern Medicine acquired naming rights to the temporary facility, which is designed to “bridge the gap” between the old and new Ryan Field.
Elsewhere in college football, the Charlotte 49ers have released new images of the new tower project at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Groundbreaking on the project will begin in 2025, with the new tower to feature premium seating such as suites, loge boxes, ledge seating, an indoor club, and an east and west deck patio space.
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has partnered with Legends to lead sales strategy, execution and marketing to maximise revenue generation for premium and general seating associated with the expansion.
