Northwestern University marks 1 year of construction for new Ryan Field facility, Wildcats football team playing at temporary site

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.

According to Pat Ryan, Jr. from Ryan Sports Development, while there may not be football games and large crowds every day at the new Ryan Field, it is still designed to be a valuable asset used by a wide range of people.

Northwestern athletics will be the initial tenant of Ryan Field, but university officials have revealed that the second main occupant will be a collaboration of various community partners. These partners include 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

Dave Davis, representing Northwestern University, expressed that the revamped Ryan Field will serve as a hub for young individuals with vast potential and opportunities, providing them with a space to nurture and expand their talents.

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.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

You May Also Like
Blake Lively beams with pride as Ryan Reynolds is given Canadian honor amid their Justin Baldoni legal woes

Blake Lively proud as Ryan Reynolds receives Canadian honor while dealing with Justin Baldoni legal issues

Blake Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds showcased a striking new look on Tuesday as he was…
‘The Running Man’ Trailer 2025 Explained: Is This Based On The Stephen King ‘Running Man’ Book Or The 1987 Movie?

Explanation of ‘The Running Man’ 2025 Trailer: Is it adapted from Stephen King’s book or the 1987 movie?

Run, run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch him,…
Breaking: Tall Ship Crashes Into Brooklyn Bridge, Multiple People Injured

Why was the Mexican Navy ship reversing during the Brooklyn Bridge crash, making the situation even stranger?

Disney Dream cruise ship passengers recall the horror sounds they heard when little girl fell overboard

Passengers on Disney Dream cruise ship remember the frightening noises they heard when a young girl fell off the ship.

Passengers on the Disney Dream cruise ship witnessed a terrifying moment when…
Walmart staff panic as bosses roll out mass sackings overnight leaving stores understaffed

Walmart employees become anxious as managers suddenly fire many workers overnight, resulting in stores being short-staffed.

Walmart employees are saying they’re losing coworkers overnight.  As the largest private…
Pamela Anderson delivers ultimate insult to singer Lorde over 'creepy' fascination with her sex tape

Pamela Anderson insults singer Lorde for showing interest in her sex tape, calling it ‘creepy’

Lorde faced strong criticism when she mentioned in a Rolling Stone interview…
World leader suspended from office over leaked phone call after deadly border dispute

Leader of a country removed from power due to leaked phone conversation following a serious border conflict

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn…
Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, whose multimillion-dollar ministry was toppled by prostitution scandals, has died at 90

Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, known for a scandal involving prostitution, passes away at 90

BATON ROUGE, La. — Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, whose multimillion-dollar ministry and huge…
JK Rowling Gets Final Word After Trans-Activist Attacker Ends Up Behind Bars For Child Rape

JK Rowling has the last say as Trans-Activist Attacker is imprisoned for Child Rape

Recently, the author of the beloved “Harry Potter” series expressed her thoughts…
‘Dancing With The Stars’ Adds ‘Mormon Wives’ Stars Whitney Leavitt And Jen Affleck To Season 34

Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck from ‘Mormon Wives’ Join Season 34 of ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Two Mormon women who were featured in the show “Secret Lives of…
‘The Old Guard’ Recap: What To Remember From ‘The Old Guard’ Before You Watch ‘The Old Guard 2’

Recap of ‘The Old Guard’: Key Points to Recall Before Watching ‘The Old Guard 2’

It’s been a long five years, but The Old Guard 2 release…
See the winners of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year Competition: Photos

View the champions of the Global Aerial Photographer of the Year Contest: Images

The winners of the first International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition…