Northwestern’s brand-new Ryan Field will host both Wildcats and Wildkits this fall.
The Evanston Township High School Wildkits will play their longtime rivals, the New Trier High School Trevians, in the first high school football matchup at the revamped venue on Oct. 16, marking the next chapter in one of Illinois’ most historic high school football rivalries.
The ETHS-New Trier football rivalry dates back to 1913. Liam Race, a rising junior linebacker for the Wildkits, believes the ongoing competition between the schools places the ETHS-New Trier contest above the average game.
“The Evanston-New Trier rivalry is a tale as old as time and is always the game of the year,” Race said. “It’s usually the most fierce, the most competitive, the most energetic and intense game that we have all season.”
Ryan Field’s new 35,000-seat stadium will add greater magnitude to the historic rivalry, according to rising ETHS senior Jacob Maxwell.
In addition to the size of the stadium, the new features of the stadium will include a “Wildcat Wall” student section designed for standing to reflect a European soccer environment as well as a mural designed by a student artist.
“It’s just gonna make it a more intense rivalry and a bigger rivalry in general,” Maxwell said. “I think the turnout for the game will be a lot higher, and people will be even more excited about it.”
While the game is slated to be an exciting event for the Evanston community, New Trier is also looking forward to the bright lights.
Tyler Leonard, a rising junior offensive lineman for New Trier, said his team will be ready to take on the new venue.
“We’re probably gonna try to prepare a lot for this game, especially (because) it’s in a college stadium,” Leonard said. “We’ll probably train actually much harder than any other game we’ve done before. I think it probably is going to be the biggest game of the year.”
The new stadium, which is privately funded, has been controversial among community members. In November 2023, Mayor Daniel Biss cast the tie-breaking vote to permit its construction.
Maxwell said he thought the stadium’s renovation was unnecessary, adding that the construction process was disruptive and lengthy. Still, he thinks it will be “a good thing for the community.”
Rising ETHS senior and linebacker Avery Whortenberry said playing a game at a college stadium will create a lasting memory for the players in the senior class’ final season of football.
“(The game is an) opportunity for us to, one, play in a college stadium, which sadly after high school, many people are usually done with football,” Whortenberry said.
Race echoed Whortenberry’s sentiment, adding that the new Ryan Field’s impacts will extend beyond hosting football games.
The venue will also host community events, including festivals and concerts, according to developer Pat Ryan Jr.
“We now have a beautiful state-of-the-art field that can have so many opportunities and be utilized in many ways,” Race said. “It’s just the right path to make Northwestern and make Evanston the most up-to-date and current city it can be.”
Ultimately, Race said he expects the matchup’s positive impact to extend far beyond Evanston.
“This happening is going to be beneficial for not necessarily just Northwestern or just Evanston but for all of Northern Illinois and for all the Midwest,” Race said. “This not only gives Northwestern a chance to play in a venue that they deserve, but also gives Evanston a venue to hold a countless number of events for all of Illinois to come and see.”
Kaelan Patel is a student in the Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute this summer.
Email: [email protected]
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— ETHS-New Trier football game to be played at Ryan Field
— Developer Pat Ryan Jr. talks vision for new Ryan Field
— Northwestern to play two games at Martin Stadium before Ryan Field opener
