Northwestern University and the Ryan Family have officially unveiled the first public look at the new Ryan Field, a state-of-the-art $850 million sports and entertainment venue set to become a landmark for college football and Chicago.
The project, with the majority of the funding provided by the Ryan Family without public investment, will set a new standard in college athletics, transforming the traditional stadium model into a year-round community asset. Scheduled to open in 2026, the new Ryan Field promises to bring a world class student athlete, fan and community experience to college sports.
“With the new Ryan Field, we are introducing a bold new vision for the future of college sports,” said Pat Ryan Jr. “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.” In addition to the Ryan Foundation providing the majority of the funding for the new Ryan Field, the Ryan Family’s sports development team is leading the design and development of the new stadium on a pro bono basis in partnership with Northwestern Athletics.”
According to the university, the stadium will host Northwestern football games and serve as an “asset” for the Evanston, Illinois, and Northwestern community for youth sports, holiday festivals, and student activities.
The new 35,000-seat stadium ― the Big Ten’s smallest capacity ― is expected to have a $1.3 billion impact on the Chicago area, with a $659 million impact in Evanston alone. In addition to that, the project is expected to provide $208 million in contracts for minority and women-owned businesses and the Ryan Foundation is providing $10 million to fund workforce development programs for Evanston residents.
