Northwestern University Celebrates One Year of Ryan Field Construction; Wildcats Football Temporarily Relocated

EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) — The new Ryan Field facility is slated to open September 2026 at Northwestern Univeristy.

When it makes its debut, the expectation is that it will be a space for Northwestern Wildcats and also a resource for the whole community.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

It’s been exactly a year since Northwestern University broke ground on a new Ryan Field, and it continues to take shape.

University officials marked the construction anniversary with an announcement that the arena will be a shared space with several community groups.

“While we might not have football games and large crowds every day, a facility like this is designed to serve as a versatile asset for the community,” expressed Pat Ryan, Jr. from Ryan Sports Development.

Though Northwestern athletics will be the primary occupant of Ryan Field, university representatives have revealed their plan for a second key tenant. This will include a coalition of local organizations such as Evanston Township High School athletics, the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, the Fellowship of Afro-American Men (FAAM), and Kuumba Evanston.

READ MORE | Northwestern University breaks ground on new Ryan Field facility

“The revamped Ryan Field will become a venue where youth, brimming with potential and opportunities, can gather to develop and grow,” stated Dave Davis from Northwestern University.

The new Ryan Field is not just a stadium, but a way to strengthen ties between the university and the community.

“We’re hopeful to partner with northwestern athletics and the office of community relations to find ways to dismantle systemic barriers to youth sports,” said Chris Livatino, Evanston Township High School athletic director.

The goal is to also bring more people together around shared experiences, like movie nights on the plaza and ice skating in the winter.

“What’s happening here is creating opportunities for communal magic in ways that are going to be inspiring in ways that are going to lift up whole community,” Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said.

When completed, Ryan arena will be the first NFL-style stadium at a college.