Ryan Field (stadium)
Former view from northeast corner in 2006 | |
Location in the United States Location in Illinois | |
| Former names | Dyche Stadium (1926–1996) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1501 Central Street Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 42°3′56″N 87°41′33″W / 42.06556°N 87.69250°W |
| Owner | Northwestern University |
| Operator | Northwestern University |
| Capacity | Final capacity
47,130 (1997–2023) List
|
| Surface | Grass: 2026–future Grass: 1997–2023 Astroturf: 1973–1996 Grass: 1926–1972 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 8, 1926 (original) January 29, 2024 (new) |
| Opened | October 2, 1926 Fall 2026 |
| Renovated | 1996 |
| Expanded | 1949, 1952 |
| Closed | November 25, 2023 (original) |
| Demolished | January 29–June 3, 2024 |
| Construction cost | $2.6 million (original) ($46.2 million in 2024) 1996 renovation: $20 million |
| Architect | James Gamble Rogers |
| General contractor | J. B. French Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| Northwestern Wildcats (NCAA) (1926–2023) | |
| Website | |
| nusports.com/ryan-field | |
Ryan Field is the name of a stadium in the central United States, located in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago near the campus of Northwestern University. Both the current and former stadiums's primary use is American football, and, aside from a brief construction period in 2024 and 2025, serve as the home field of the Northwestern Wildcats of the Big Ten Conference.
The original stadium opened in 1926 as Dyche Stadium, named for William Dyche, class of 1882, Evanston mayor from 1895 to 1899 and overseer of the building project. The stadium was renamed Ryan Field in 1997 in honor of the family of Aon Corporation founder Patrick G. Ryan, who was then the chairman of Northwestern's board of trustees. The renaming was made by the other members of the board in recognition of the Ryan family's leadership and numerous contributions to Northwestern, including the lead gift to the Campaign for Athletic Excellence, Northwestern's fundraising drive for athletic facilities. The new stadium is slated to open for the 2026 football season.
Before the initial stadium's demolition in 2024, it was the only FBS stadium without permanent lighting, and its final seating capacity was 47,130. The stadium closed at the end of the 2023 season, and preparation for demolition began on January 29, 2024, to make way for a new Ryan Field on the site. On June 3, 2024, demolition was completed, putting a temporary pause on 97 years of Northwestern football at the site.