Northwestern will be playing most of its home football games during the 2024 and 2025 seasons at a temporary on-campus stadium near Lake Michigan, as construction is underway to rebuild Ryan Field.

By the Numbers
  • The original Ryan Field had a capacity of 47,130, while the new stadium will accommodate 35,000.
  • The temporary stadium's capacity has not been specified yet, but it will be considerably less than both Ryan Field iterations.
  • Construction on the Ryan Field project, costing around $800 million, began in February.
Yes, But

There were discussions with different venues like Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, and SeatGeek Stadium about hosting games in 2024 and 2025, showing some uncertainty in the final schedule.

State of Play
  • The temporary stadium will be built on the site currently used by the school's lacrosse and soccer teams and will continue hosting events for those sports.
  • Season-ticket holders will have the first priority to secure tickets for the temporary stadium, with construction set to start this summer.
  • Northwestern is collaborating with InProduction for the construction and design of the seating structure, leveraging their experience from past events like NASCAR and college teams' games.
What's Next

Building the temporary stadium will provide a home-field advantage for Northwestern, enhancing the campus community involvement in athletics and setting the stage for the new Ryan Field in 2026.

Bottom Line

Northwestern's decision to create a temporary home stadium near Lake Michigan reflects a strategic move to maintain its football program's prominence during the construction phase, emphasizing the importance of campus engagement and fan experience.