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.
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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.
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