We put Northwestern's new $870 million Ryan Field to the test
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The exterior of the new Ryan Field during Northwestern's game versus Iowa on Saturday night. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
Northwestern spent $870 million building a football stadium with luxury amenities, gourmet food, spectacular views and a design intended to keep the noise inside.
- But does it all live up to the hype?
The big picture: We headed to Evanston Saturday night for the Wildcats' game against Iowa to put the new Ryan Field through a stress test.
The verdict: Pretty tremendous. The stadium is a winner, even without a luxury ticket. But the high-tech concessions and neighborhood noise controls still have some kinks to work out.
What they're saying: Pat Ryan Jr., CEO of Ryan Sports Development, compares opening the stadium to watching a dog learn to swim — lots of splashing before finding its rhythm.
- "We're not at cruising speed yet, but we're not splashing around as much," Ryan says.
🏈 The view
Northwestern has gone to great lengths to ensure fans sitting in the upper deck have an experience comparable to those in the luxurious "Living Room" section at the 50-yard line.
Zoom in: Entering Ryan Field was a fairly standard experience, but once inside, you're immediately greeted with a view of the field. The open concourses make it easy to follow the action while walking around, so you rarely feel disconnected from the game.
What we found: Even from the highest seats in the 200 level, the views are impressive. The stadium's intimate design keeps fans close to the action without the nosebleed experience common at larger stadiums.
- Northwestern credits the stadium's cantilevered design for bringing fans closer to the field, with individual seats, armrests, cupholders and canopy coverage throughout the building.
The atmosphere: The Wildcat Wall is the real deal. Students stand behind the end zone, stomping their feet against aluminum bleachers to create a rhythmic drumbeat intended to rattle the opposing team.
🌮 The food
The university has turned part of its stadium concessions into what it calls the Great Chicago Food Festival, featuring exclusive concepts from Stephanie Izard, Rick Bayless, Gibsons Restaurant Group and other Chicago culinary heavyweights.
- The festival opens two hours before kickoff and is included with every ticket, though food and drinks cost extra.
What we found: After sampling several options, we kept coming back to Stephanie Izard's Goatdown, where the kimchi grilled cheese ($12.99) was tasty, but the real winner was the Wildcat Nachos ($14.99).
- Topped with pickled red onions and peppers, the nachos were reminiscent of the ones Izard made famous at Little Goat Diner.
Yes, but: If fancy nachos aren't your thing, Willie's Fan Favorites offers a $5 menu of traditional stadium fare, including burgers and hot dogs, at multiple locations throughout the stadium.
⏱️ The technology
Northwestern touts AI-powered concession registers designed to get fans back to their seats in under two minutes.
Reality check: Our experience took considerably longer.
- Before kickoff, concession lines stretched down the concourses, making a two-minute turnaround nearly impossible.
- Even after the crowds thinned, checkout was slowed by fans struggling to pay through the Ryan Field app. Spotty Wi-Fi left some waiting for the app to load before giving up and paying with a credit card.
The upside: The actual grab-and-go process was seamless.
The verdict: Sometimes an old-fashioned credit card is still the fastest technology in the building.
🔊 The noise test
Ryan Field was designed with a canopy intended to contain the roar of 35,000 football fans and minimize disruptions to the surrounding neighborhood.
Reality check: The stadium isn't soundproof. It is, after all, a football stadium. The rhythmic stomping from the Wildcat Wall could be heard blocks away during Saturday night's game.
- Neighbors have raised concerns about noise since the stadium opened, including complaints about amplified sound and repeated fire-alarm testing.
- Ryan says Northwestern continues to work with acoustical engineers and argues that the smaller stadium means fewer fans and cars than its predecessor.
The bottom line: The new Ryan Field is a remarkable place to watch football. Whether it's an equally remarkable neighbor remains a work in progress.
What's next: The Wildcats have one more home game this season, against Illinois on Nov. 28. Ryan Field is also slated to host concerts, though none have been announced.