Reduced Concerts
Reduce the fixed number of concerts in the ordinance to six per year to balance the need to realistically operate the venue while addressing the concerns of neighbors.
Ryan Field: A New Vision
A Project of Northwestern University
The new Ryan Field will create a world-class home for Northwestern University Athletics and a best in the nation football experience for fans, players, and a year-round asset for the community.
The project will be privately funded - with no taxpayer financing and significant public benefits.
Commitments
Rebuilding Ryan Field, one year in
March 13, 2025
If you’ve been on Central Street in the past year, you’ve seen the early stages of Ryan Field as it transforms from a historic 1926 stadium. Progress is building toward a new community asset and an exciting era in Wildcat athletics.
Construction Updates
Trade Talk with Trade Collective
June 5, 2026
This week, Ryan Field construction crews continue to make progress on the following:
- Site concrete work along with compaction at the northeast end of the site for site improvements
- Unit pavers on the northeast side
- Site work at the North Lot
- Precast planter wall installation on the northwest side
- Burnish block panels installation on the east side
- Limestone panels installation on the north side proceeding around to the west
- Limestone panel support install on the west side
- Stadium seat anchor and support system installation
- Student bleacher wall closure and front rail installation
- Scoreboard facade metal panel installation
- Ribbon video board installation at upper bowl
- Interior light gauge metal framing partitions throughout the stadium
- Drywall hanging and finishing on all levels
- Thin brick veneer in the North Endzone Club
- Overhead mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) and fire protection throughout the stadium
- Overhead MEP pipe insulation within the stadium
- MEP in-wall rough-in on all levels of the stadium
- Metal decking operations for the marketplaces and concessions located on the upper concourse
- Spray foam insulation
- Miscellaneous metal and steel stair installation
- Ceramic wall tile installation in main concourse and field level restrooms
- Toilet accessory installation in main concourse restrooms
- Storefront glazing installation at marketplaces on the main and upper concourses
- Storefront wall tile and metal panels at the marketplaces on the main concourse and upper concourses
- Fiber cement wall panels on the main and upper concourses
- Resinous flooring on main and upper concourse corridors
- Field preparation and grading for the athletic playing field
- Field trench perimeter drains for the athletic playing field
- Fiber pull along Jackson Avenue between Lincoln Street and Central Street. This will take place along sidewalks, curb lanes, traffic lanes and alleys
Field trench perimeter drains
May 28, 2026
This week, Ryan Field construction crews continue to make progress on the following:
- Site concrete work along with compaction at the northeast end of the site for site improvements
- Site work at the north lot
- Burnish block panels installation on the east side
- Limestone panels installation on the north side proceeding around to the west
- Limestone panel support install on the west side
- Stadium seat anchor and support system installation
- Student bleacher wall closure and front rail installation
- Canopy underside speaker cluster installation
- Scoreboard facade metal panel installation
- Ribbon video board installation at upper bowl
- Interior light gauge metal framing partitions throughout the stadium
- Drywall hanging and finishing on all levels
- Concrete masonry on field level, main concourse, upper concourse, as well as elevator shafts and mechanical shafts
- Overhead mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) and fire protection throughout the stadium
- Overhead MEP pipe insulation within the stadium
- MEP in-wall rough-in on all levels of the stadium
- Metal decking operations for the marketplaces and concessions located on the upper concourse
- Spray foam insulation
- Miscellaneous metal and steel stair installation
- Ceramic wall tile installation in main concourse and field level restrooms
- Toilet accessory installation in main concourse restrooms
- Storefront glazing installation at marketplaces on the main and upper concourses
- Storefront wall tile and metal panels at the marketplaces on the main concourse
- Fiber cement wall panels on the main and upper concourses
- Resinous flooring on main concourse corridors
- Resinous flooring on upper concourse corridors
- Field preparation and grading for the athletic playing field
- Field trench perimeter drains for the athletic playing field
- Fiber pull along Jackson Avenue between Lincoln Street and Central Street. This will take place along sidewalks, curb lanes, traffic lanes and alleys
Stay Informed
For more information on this project as it evolves, consider the following resources.
Moving Forward Together
We are moving forward in a way that we believe realizes the benefits of the stadium redevelopment, while addressing community concerns. Based on that feedback, Northwestern is willing to modify its zoning application to significantly reduce the number of events hosted at the stadium annually while still ensuring financial viability.
No More Unlimited 10K-person Events
No longer asking to modify the original text amendment request that allowed for an unlimited number of 10,000-person University events.
Limit Community-Based Activities
Limit community-based activities at the stadium and plazas to 60 days per year.
An Opportunity to Increase Equity for All of Evanston
We are excited to announce additional financial benefits tied to the Ryan Field redevelopment:
$10M
additional commitment from the Ryan Family will enable the University to create an Evanston workforce technology upskilling program.
$2M
minimum guarantee in annual tax and fee revenue to the City of Evanston tied to events at the new stadium.
$500K
annually to support Evanston Public Schools via the application of a ticket surcharge to concerts at Ryan Field.
$250K
annually to support a signature Evanston/Northwestern event that will benefit our entire community as directed by city leadership.