Fans excited to witness the new Ryan Field in-person will have to wait a few weeks into the upcoming season.
Northwestern announced it will start the upcoming season at Martin Stadium for its first two non-conference games against South Dakota State and Colorado, according to a Tuesday news release. It will then return to the reconstructed Ryan Field on Oct. 2 to host Penn State in its Big Ten home opener.
“The opening of the new Ryan Field marks a defining moment for Northwestern Football and reflects our continued investment in excellence across every aspect of the program,” Athletic Director Mark Jackson said in the release.
The old Ryan Field hosted its last football game on Nov. 18, 2023, when the Wildcats beat Purdue to clinch bowl eligibility. Its next game will be held on the 100th anniversary of the original opening.
Evanstonians have seen construction galore on the property over the past few years, as NU rebuilt it from the ground up to create a brand new stadium at a cost of $862 million, the most expensive stadium in college football.
One of the most unique features of the new stadium will be the closeness of fans to the playing surface. The Athletic reported that the furthest seat is 136 feet away from the surface, compared to 253 feet away at Michigan Stadium.
The construction of college football’s newest stadium was not without controversy. After a contentious city council vote to approve the stadium, which included a tiebreaking vote by Mayor Daniel Biss, a four-count lawsuit was filed in 2023 by the Most Livable City Association and 13 Evanston and Wilmette residents regarding the approval of Ryan Field as a concert venue. The suit is at the Illinois Appellate Court as of Nov. 6, and there has been no update since.
Beyond football, NU announced Halloween and winter festivals will be held on the new plazas.
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