Pics: New look at $850 million worth Northwestern football's privately funded massive Ryan Field
Northwestern has unveiled new images of its $850 million Ryan Field, set to open in 2026. The privately funded project, the largest in college football history, will redefine stadium design with a focus on enhancing fan experience and incorporating elements inspired by modern NFL venues.
Northwestern brought the excitement to Chicago on Saturday when they hosted the No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at the legendary Wrigley Field. Just two days later, the Wildcats revealed stunning renderings of their future home.
The stadium will seat 35,000 fans and feature "better-than-TV" sightlines, ensuring that even the furthest seat is closer to the action than the priciest spot at Michigan Stadium, according to Ryan Sports Development CEO Pat Ryan Jr.
"You're building things up and cantilevering them over instead of going out," Ryan Jr. said, via ESPN. “It's structurally much more challenging from an engineering perspective, but you've got to create better-than-TV sightlines."
Senior ESPN college football writer Adam Rittenberg shared a video offering more details about the stadium.
Ryan Field’s innovative design includes a canopy that amplifies crowd noise while keeping the field open to the elements. Surrounding the stadium will be 200,000 square feet of park space, creating a vibrant community hub.
Northwestern's student section is also being reimagined, taking cues from the passionate supporters’ zones seen in top soccer stadiums.
The project is poised to set a new benchmark for college football stadiums.
Northwestern's plans for a stunning new Ryan Field
The project comes with an $850 million price tag and the design aims to modernize the fan experience while following a growing trend of reducing seating capacity in stadiums.
According to ESPN, Pat Ryan Jr. noted that NFL teams are doing this to eliminate the often undesirable upper deck seats. The new Ryan Field will cut seating capacity by 30%, but it will be larger overall — 78% bigger. It will also expand by 125,000 square feet, making room for upscale club areas, plazas and spaces for dining and entertainment.
Beyond football, the venue will host concerts, holiday festivals, other sports and even championship events. Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson expressed a desire to bring the women’s lacrosse Final Four to the upgraded facility.
This project significantly exceeds the costs of other college football stadium builds or renovations, like San Diego State's Snapdragon Stadium ($310 million) or Texas A&M's Kyle Field overhaul ($450 million).
Northwestern will reportedly contribute to the funding, but most of the cost will be covered by the Ryan family, who are also minority owners of the Chicago Bears and stakeholders of the English soccer club AFC Bournemouth.
Construction was approved by the city of Evanston, Illinois, in Nov. 2023, setting the stage for a new chapter in Northwestern athletics.