After several years of deliberation and construction, the long-awaited New Ryan Field opened to the public as of October 2026. A few days ago they held a community open house where residents had the opportunity to visit the grounds for free. Seating for the New Ryan Field is scaled down from its predecessor however the modern venue is absolutely stunning. The noise cancelling, weather protected canopy ensures that events can be held year round and they even have a dedicated cheering section for students called the Wildcat Wall. The food and beverage offerings are impressive for a college football stadium. There are at least 15 food options available with a mix of Chicago and locally known Evanston restaurants like Double Clutch Brewing, La Cocinita, Frio Gelato, The Fat Shallot and Soul & Smoke. They even sell Garrett's popcorn! The event also included samples from a number of restaurants found at the Pavillion with familiar favorites like Publican Quality Meats, Gibsons, Frontera Tacos y Tortas in addition to Evanston native, Stephanie Izard's restaurant Goatdown. The Club and Hospitality sections are unrivaled. Parking is the only disadvantage, being limited to 1,400 parking spaces. If you're planning to come in, public transport is the best option. With the building of the New Ryan Field, Northwestern has committed to a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) approved by the Evanston City Council to provide $3 million annually towards a Good Neighbor Fund. This fund will support local programs which include affordable housing, climate resilience/action and long-term financial stability. Part of that agreement allows for 6 concerts to be offered in a year. I am excited to see the 2027 lineup and look forward to what unfolds. read more

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I'd been to the old stadium many times over the years to see NU football games and lastnight was my high school, ETHS, against New Trier, in the newly remodeled version. This is the oldest rivalry on the north shore, and more than 20,000 tickets were sold!! The new venue is beautiful! A lot of people admitted that they didn't care so much about the high school game, they came to experience the stadium because NU tickets have skyrocketed since the renovation. You can enter from any gate (although our tickets gave us the closest number) and they were well staffed to guide people. My only complaints would be: **limited parking (We took a Lyft from my friend's apartment nearby) **Expensive concessions (not unusual, but still!) **For the price they paid you would think the WiFi would be stable! I was kicked off several times during the game. Very annoying. I will say that the upscale restaurants with famous chefs matches the vibe and should help to recoup some of the millions spent in the renovation! And...I later learned that they have "Willie's Favorites" which are reasonably priced. The hot chocolate we had to warm up was reasonable and delicious and they do have some top tier venues for food. Not your average stadium food by any means! Our seats were great and we saw many friends/fellow alums. I look forward to returning for Northwestern games...if we can score reasonable tickets!! read more

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What am incredible stadium. From the outside looking in, you can tell you're in for an experience. They have gates all throughout the field, so you can enter at any point and they can help guide you to where you we'd to go. They also have folks wearing banners to help answer any questions and to guide you in the right direction. Once you enter, the food scene is incredible. I had a wide variety of bites that I can't even list off off the top of my head but for a stadium establishment, the food is top tier. They're also doing the great food festival that features so many different chefs and restaurants. Overall it's an incredible remodel, no detail spared, the quality of the screens, sound and accessibility is incredible. The only thing to keep in mind is the parking. It's more restricted now so be sure to purchase your parking early as the busses will be a LONG wait afterwards. read more

Well, almost exactly 10 years after my one and only review of Ryan Field, this update is quite an understatement for what has occurred here. Ryan Field has been totally replaced by a brand spanking new and impressive $875 million dollar stadium with a seating capacity of 35,000. It must be the country's newest major sports stadium. Its opening night was just 3 days ago, Oct 02, when NU hosted Penn State for a big Friday nite football game. I coincidentally saw this stadium just the next day as we were here to see NU women's volleyball at Welsh-Ryan Arena which is just a few steps to the north of Ryan Field. It looks like an awesome place to see a football game as the seats are quite close to the field, and it's a lot more intimate in-person viewing than one might imagine from seeing it on TV. The capacity was actually reduced from the previous 47,130 down to 35,000 for a more intimate venue. In fact, when I looked in, it felt like like looking into an indoor arena football field. It's now on my to-do list to attend a game here but prices are pretty high right now (for NU football anyway) for this exciting new facility. read more

Ryan Field is a below average stadium in just about every way. Glad Northwestern is planning to build a new one! The stadium is older than your average stadium and it has not been well maintained. They have a very odd setup for concessions. It feels like your at monster truck show : ) Everything is cashless. Food is nothing to write home about. You will typically find as many visiting team fans as Nwstrn fans. Band is not up to Big Ten standards. One thing I can say is that it's pretty easy to park in downtown Evanston and catch a free bus to the game. Highly recommended. If you've never been to a game at Ryan Field, expect it to be windy. RF is located very near to Lake Michigan and you can get a lot of lake effect wind. And if you're planning to be in downtown Evanston, don't forget to stop and get a burger at Bat 17 (great pregame meal!) read more

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This might be the last season for Ryan Field, as it's slated to be demolished and replaced. It's an iconic stadium, but it was built in 1926 and it's in pretty poor condition. I'll remember the hundreds of Wildcats games I enjoyed here fondly, but won't miss the stadium one bit. read more

Ryan Field - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I was pretty excited to go to Ryan Field this season! It's always fun to checkout other Big Ten campuses. I was so surprised that the stadium was mostly empty at a night game against a ranked opponent-- on a BEAUTIFUL fall evening! Not only that, but protestors got on the field and were there for about a solid five minutes. No security in sight. (Which honestly, anytime anyone is on the field that isn't apart of gameday-- security should be there? Right?) My rating is mostly because of three things-- 1. The facilities themselves are so dated. (I read somewhere Ryan Field was built in the 1920s, with its last renovation in 90s. I can't say I was surprised!) 2. The parking situation is gross. PRO TIP: Get a parking pass in the Ryan Field lot. That is truly the only place to tailgate and it is semi easy to get out of. 3. The wildcat growl each first down is a bit much. I seriously heard it in my nightmares the week after attending a game. Overall, Ryan Field is just meh but I would totally go to a game here again. It's an average, easy gameday experience. I am excited to see what it is like after this new, upcoming renovation! read more

Peppermint Schnapps. Yeah, most people think football when it comes to Ryan Field, but I think of peppermint schnapps. I attend a few NU football games each year as an alumni and walking in here always brings me back to the beginning of my days at NU when my friends and I would tailgate outside the stadium drinks lots of peppermint schnapps. In fact, many times we just drank our peppermint schnapps until we were drunk enough to go back to the dorm and pass out...not even getting the chance to watch our beloved Wildcats lose. These days our tailgates are a lot less exciting- every once in a while there's a flippy cup game, but no more peppermint schnapps (sigh). And I actually do make it inside Ryan Field, but only because I'm engaged to one of the biggest NU Wildcat fan around- he actually has season tickets! And I have to admit this is a very nice stadium (although I find most facilities at NU to be pretty nice). It's very clean and lots of purple and white (which makes me happy being a big purple fan). It seems spacious to me as well, although anytime I end up at another big ten school I have to admit it seems small in comparison. Today one of my Michigan alum friends said "this feels like a high school stadium". Certainly bigger than the stadium at my high school (and the friend actually went to the same high school as I did), but I admit it's small in comparison...but NU is a lot smaller than the other Big Ten schools, which to be is all part of it's appeal! 4 stars for now...the wildcats will have to earn that 5th star by winning a few games. Go NU! read more

Holy crap they have Frank's hot sauce in pumps!!!! WAAAAAHHHHH #died Ryan Field is the smallest football stadium in the Big Ten (in terms of capacity) at 47,130 seats. This lends a more cozy feel to home games, as opposed to the vast roaring crowds at OSU's Horseshoe or UMichigan's Big House. Concessions are mostly student-run, and prices aren't atrociously high. A hot dog + drink costs roughly as much as you'd expect. And yes, as previously stated, they have hot sauce dispensers next to the standard ketchup/mustard/relish. More places on Earth need Frank's pump-able jugs. I've seen some great evening games here under the lights in September and some very chilly games in late November. My dad's an alum (Rick S, BSEE '76, MBA '78) and has taken me to plenty of Northwestern games over the years for which I'm very appreciative. My only real issue is the placement of the Jumbotron in the far northeast corner, which is practically out-of-view for most fans. A more centrally-located screen would be a vast improvement, since its current spot makes no sense and I find myself squinting to see slow motion replays. Go 'Cats. read more

Ryan Field - Frank's hot sauce. IN PUMPS. #bestdayever - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Iconic old school stadium and great when fans from other universities visit Northwestern. Love Coach Fitz and his mentality he brings each and every day to the program! He's a winner and Northwestern is blessed to have him read more

Easy parking and traffic isn't bad mostly because this venue seats under 50K. I know Northwestern is having a down year (2019), but their crowd was pretty much non-existent. The best thing about the stadium is the staff was excellent. Extremely friendly and accomodating. The worst thing is the lack of restrooms. I counted 7 port-a-johns in the concourse under my shrin section and they were dark inside! Ugh! The basketball arena just underwent a renovation last year with the Big 10 Network money all the schools receive. Hopefully the football stadium is next, because it needs to be modernized. read more

Ryan Field - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Sure this stadium is on the smaller end compared to other Big 10 universities and the shell is old but, it's historic and I find that rare and beautiful. I had a spectacular NU football experience. A highlight was the concessions. For 2017 season they have put in a lot of effort toward revamping the concession department and it shows! When entering there is a trail of large cookie decals on the floor leading to the dessert stand. An adorable idea! They have brownie & cookie ice cream sundaes served in a helmet and Wildcat Float. You can either order the float with grape soda thats symbolic to their colors or traditional root beer. I had traditional and it was delicious. They also give you the left over can of soda. $5 a float. We also tried the smore. It comes pre packaged and they offer to open it, then top it with whipped cream. A confusing $7 for the smore it was very costly and I would skip this. Next, they have a very inciting and impressive candy cart stocked with everything!! What jumped out to me were the gourmet candies such as: white chocolate covered rice crispy pops with the logo printed on the front, chocolate covered pretzels, waffle cones filled with chocolate candy mix, the list goes on and all wrapped in cellophane & tied with a purple bow. This cart is literal Eye Candy! Now for the burger lovers. In the 100 level section there are several opened faced grills where flames are flying high and the smell is tantalizing! I really wish I saved my appetite bc everything looked ridiculously good. For every home game they will be serving one specialty item. To name a few: BLT Avocado Angus Burger, Chili Cheese Dog, Chicken Nachos and a Bacon DONUT Burger! They didn't only achieve at concessions, they OVERachieved! Another amenity I enjoyed was the seat back rental. You can rent plush cushions for $10 and they really come in handy! I should also mention to check out Wildcat Alley that opens at 3:30pm for night games. This is NU's free tailgate party where you can meet the team & cheerleaders, play games, see the marching band perform as well as other performances, and try food trucks! Having been a post bach student at Northwestern, my blood is ILLINI. I didn't think I could be this enthusiastic for NU but, credit is defiantly due! Cats threw down! read more

Ryan Field - Good 'Ol Root Beer Float! - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Ryan Field is a nice older stadium where you can watch your team give its all on an autumn Saturday. Like I mentioned up above, the stadium is nice, but it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles. Seating is bench style so while most of the seats aren't bad seats and give a good view, you will definitely get to know your neighbor. The concessions carry your basics... nachos, popcorn, soda, water and some others, but don't look for anything overwhelming. If you have a large appetite then you might want to grab a meal in Evanston before making the trek over to the venue. There isn't a lot of parking, or much else do near the stadium, so instead of driving over I would recommend taking the Purple Line, which is about five or six blocks to the east. read more

Ryan Field - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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As an alumna, I have great memories of the field here. Even so, it's not always the most convenient or intuitive experience. I loved my time going to games here (and graduation with Stephen Colbert!!!). I certainly can't blame Ryan Field itself for the fact that the opposing team seems to bring more people to our turf than we can manage :[ Still, the experience is not always easy. The labeling could be a bit clearer. It is hard to know exactly where to go, and what's worse is that the people who work here truly have no idea. It's very much possible to have a wild goose chase for no reason. Sometimes, you have to ask multiple people to get a straight answer about where to go. It's ridiculous TBH The field also seems a bit...outdated (?) in terms of decor. It could use an update. I walked up a huge ramp, multiple stories tall and (I later realized) in vain, and it was disgusting - peeling paint everywhere, poor lighting... The seats are very basic and not super comfortable - they are plain metal bleachers, and the seat numbers' spacing ensures everyone gets PACKED in right on top of each other. I also find their bag policy absurd - women have almost zero options when it comes to bags. I had to stuff a lot of my belongings into a tiny clutch, making my boyfriend carry my keys around in his pocket, haha. I am glad I noticed the restrictions ahead of time. I know safety is a valid concern, but plenty of stadiums around the country and indeed around the world can somehow handle slightly larger purses. Why can't NU (PSA: It is always NU, never NW...take heed, ESPN...). read more

Is this a high school? I've experienced better. Wait...what? Gophers won? Ryan Filed was the stop this year on my fourth annual Gophers Football road trip. First year, Madison, Second year, USC. Third year, UNLV. I have mixed football loyalty as I am both a Badger and a Gopher alum. It is a short walk to Ryan Field from the purple line of the L, so it was cheap and convenient to get to the stadium from downtown. However, this stadium does not even compete with its Big Ten competitors. Camp Randall and Memorial Stadium in Lincoln are two that I have been to that put it to shame. I imagine there are high school stadiums out there which would have a similar vibe to Ryan Field. Lots of empty seats and anemic local fans. Now that I have insulted the Northwestern fan base, I have to say that their fans were friendly and welcoming. Not as friendly as USC fans, but night and day difference from the treatment I have seen and experienced for Gophers fans at UW and UNLV. Sorry to say my fellow Badgers, but some of you bad apples get way too belligerent when you are drunk. It is just a game, lighten up. UNLV fans are even worse than the worst Badger fans I have seen, though. Kicking the backs of Gopher fans seats and yelling some truly vile things which I will not repeat. Back to Ryan Field...another downside is there were no eating or drinking establishments anywhere nearby that we could find. I guess I have been spoiled by Sally's at TCF and the Stadium Bar in Madison which were within crawling distance to their respective arenas. Big House in 2014! read more

You know, I was all set to rant about how much I hate our stadium (I can call it "our stadium" because it's my school) but in an honest moment, I realized that it isn't really THAT bad. In four years of attending five homes games per season, I never really noticed what crap it was. I just enjoyed the hell out of cheering on the 'Cats to various thrilling victories and humiliating defeats. There are really only three things that make this experience offensive to a thirty-something with high standards and less enthusiasm than his 19-year-old self: 1. It's tiny compared to other Big Ten stadia. (We always knew that.) 2. It's half empty, or worse--unless the other team travels enough fans to fill in the gaps, which happens often. (We always knew that too.) 3. Metal bleacher benches. (This never bothered us before because students stand for the whole game.) Come freaking on, Northwestern. How bush league is this? First off, I'm not a sophomore anymore, and I would really like something against which to set my back (because heaven knows I'm not going to be standing that often to cheer a big Wildcat play). Plus, in the cold weather they are a nice extra little kick in the teeth. It doesn't matter how fat my ass is: sitting on one of those things in 40-degree weather, that cold will penetrate right to my core. The concessions under the stands are a joke. The punchline is "limited selection and substandard quality." For food, go to the Wildcat Grill on ground level around Gate N: chicken breasts, steak sandwiches, foot-long polish sausages, and long lines. But worth it. I hadn't been to a game in several years, and was pleasantly surprised to see plenty of quality down-time entertainment such as trivia questions, contests, other NCAA scores, and several bouts of "throw/catapult some shit into the stands." read more

Very much in line w Northwestern in that it is small, intimate, and makes you feel like you're watching a High School game rather than a University. Concessions not terrible but really weird placement ...again it was as if you're back in high school (it bears repeating!) One thing they must get rid of straight away...the annoying, cheesy "wildcat growl" after every 1st down. Terrible.lol You're a respected University, act like it. read more

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It's amazing how many NU fans/alumni are so amazingly supportive - the stands are almost always filled with purple and white. This is one of the nicer stadiums that I've been to - concession stands at almost every corner with different college organizations manning them. Food is decent - we kinda fell in love with their stuffed pretzals (jalapeno and cheese or pizza stuffed). The Terrace is really nice and is open to all - they had some kiddie games going on up there, free graffiti drawings that could be downloaded to your cell phone as a screensaver, a buffet meal which was only $12 compared to eating concession food (probably a better deal), and US Cellular was there putting free engraving on people's cell phones. Overall, a really nice stadium - love that there is free parking and free shuttles all over the place and my only wish is that Northwestern had a better football team! read more

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As a Chicago Sports fan, the Wildcats are not exempt. Every year they fiercely play their way through the big ten championship and we enjoy every single game. We have moved away from our beloved city, but usually make it back just in time to the Wildcats' homecoming game in October and we are never disappointed. Ryan field is a shrine to the Northwestern Football program, and I consider myself fortunate to have been somehow involved in part of this history, albeit from the stands. Ryan Field is a place where some great memories have been made, and it holds a very special place in my heart. See you in October !!! read more

Pat, first off I've been to your high school stadium and it's nothing like Ryan Field. Second, I agree with you on the food issue, it's terrible! Third, clearly you haven't watched Northwestern Football since 1995 (which is most of your lifetime), because they have had a winning record vs. everyone in the Big 10, with the exception of Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Purdue. We've also won more conference championships than anyone not wearing a Buckeye or Wolverine uniform. With that said I'll argue that this is one of the best stadiums in college football. As John C. points out this is "one of the most classic stadiums in the big ten". The stadium is beautiful and gets piercingly loud. Attendance could be better, but the stadium as a whole is outstanding! Note to Northwestern Athletic Department: Please stop serving stale nachos and if you insist on charging $4.50 for them please give me a full tray of nacho chips. read more

GO CATS!! Ryan Field brings great memories of amazing times wearing purple and white, sometimes freezing our arses off and sometimes not. Is it comfy? Nah, not really. Who cares though? Its home of the Cats, its cozy and we are looking forward to coming back in '10 for a few games. read more

Considering how much I've watered the grass on Ryan Field with my blood, sweat, and tears (okay, mostly just sweat) throughout my undergraduate career, I'm not surprised to see it's still lush and verdant, many years after my graduation. I've spent scorching days in the bleachers cheering on the 'Cats and I've spent freezing snowy evenings in the bleachers cheering on the 'Cats. But I've gotta say... Colbert's 2011 commencement speech to the graduating seniors (including my kid sister) was -far- more entertaining and uplifting than any football game I'll likely ever witness in my life. I mean... anyone who can work brothels, Bailey's fiasco, a personal mini-biography, -and- life lessons into a soliloquy in about thirty minutes must clearly be a master of the spoken word. My memories of this stadium will never be the same again. Plus, years after I've left Northwestern, it's amazing to come back and realise 1) -still- no one bothers to learn the Alma Mater (except perhaps NUMB and the cheerleaders) and 2) the water in the men's bathroom is still as scalding as ever. Ahh. Some things will never change. read more

I'm not a die hard fan of the Northwestern Wildcats, but do cheer them on when they play against other teams; teams other than "Illinois Fighting Illini", and plus I love college football. As for the stadium it's great! The seats, and everything seems so up close. I've never had a crappy seat, or any seat that seems so far away. Prices are great also! Buying gear, such as t-shirts, hats, lanyards, etc. at the stadium is so pricey! But it is also at a stadium, so of course the prices are going to be high. To save cash, It's best to buy gear outside of the stadium at a Ross Dress for Less, Target, TJ Maxx, Walmart, or Marshals. You'll thank me later : ) For parking; just save yourself the headache, and park in the backyard of people offering it. You can't miss the signs while driving to the stadium. It's much more cheaper, and convenient. The neighborhoods are also safe, and I've never had any crazy incidents involving my car being vandalized. Other than that, enjoy the game, and Go Cats Go! : ) read more

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I've been coming here since before I was a graduate student at Northwestern, I saw Melissa Ethridge perform here when it was Dyche Stadium which still appeals to my sometimes immature sense of humor. When I was a graduate student here the 'Cats were still setting the NCAA record for consecutive losing seasons, but in a Japanese language class a large muscular White student (defensive lineman) said, in excellent Japanese, "The Wildcats will go to the Rose Bowl, we've got a new coach." The Japanese language professor couldn't stop laughing and assumed that the student meant to say something else, but he stood his ground and I think the whole class remembered him a couple years later when Pat Fitzgerald captained the former doormats of the Big10 to Pasadena. I've been a season ticket holder since those days, and now younger football fans don't realize how bad Northwestern was for how long, but the vestigial traits still palpable at Ryan Field are that this is the only Big 10 football stadium filled on game day with lots of people who don't know how to behave at a college football game. First off, almost everyone is sober, and lots of people bring children. One of the repeat season ticket holders in my section reads during the game, usually some serious literature or drama. That's all fine and good, but the annoying thing is, there are a lot of people who stand up and block view of the game in the middle of plays. It's common enough that some games I miss half the third downs. I'm not talking about the plays where everyone stands out of excitement. I mean clueless people not paying attention to the game who get up to look at something not on the field, or to go to the restrooms, or whatever, but right in the middle of game play. And the ushers not only don't do anything about it, they may contribute to the problem. The concessions choices are limited, but staffed by students and other volunteers using some of the proceeds for charity or some student organization or both. The logistics aren't professional, they often run out of hot coffee and hot chocolate on cold days, don't have enough hot dogs on busy days (there should be no surprise that Michigan fans fill up the stadium when the Wolverines come to town), and the souvenir stands have only a small fraction of the nice school logo clothing available at the student union or bookstore, they always seem overwhelmed after exciting wins (as if they always plan for losing seasons). Security is very professional, but a lot of them are Northwestern police officers so that makes sense. The games themselves are a sports bargain, since the surprise '94-'95 teams Northwestern has developed from the doormat of the Big10 to perennial spoilers, somehow competitive while hampered by high academic standards, very unpredictable; often losing to worse teams and just as often beating better teams. I'm proud to see how many of our football players not only graduate (highest in the Big10), but graduate with real degrees, and sometimes graduate degrees (5th year seniors using all of their eligibility). The Northwestern University Marching Band is smaller than any other Big10 marching band, but as talented as any of them, as befits an elite music program. The best transportation strategy is the train if you're local, or a bike ride through the Evanston-Skokie sculpture park if weather allows. If you're coming from out of town, for poorly attended games there's adequate private lot parking, very limited parking in residential streets, but for typical games park downtown Evanston and take a bus shuttle in, or walk. Restaurants right by here on Central get overwhelmed game day, consider eating earlier downtown or a little farther out like at Sarkis or New York Bagel and Bialys. read more

Ryan Field - First time Western Illinois plays here. Same school colors and Fitz moved to the other sideline. Confusing. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

-The bathroom situation is among the worst, not ready for your bladder or bowels if you gotta go quick. -The parking is a joke, you think that street parking would be easy. They ticket you for parking on the street nearby. You think they could pull strings but the local police would rather line it's pockets. - it's on the smaller side, not the best Gameday atmosphere or fanbase. - Back to parking, why wouldn't you allow for street parking on a stadium surrounded by streets?????? -The food was good for the value. Nothing here screams Big Ten Football. read more

I've been to three games up here and have always had a fabulous time. Three years ago, my friend had a man crush on Brett Basanez (we won a lot of $$$ betting NU that year), so we went to a game. I've been back every year since. Three words: Free beer garden. North of the stadium. With Goose Island Beer. *ding* *ding* *ding*. We have a winner! You are given two tickets each for complimentary Goose Island beer. On our last trip, my buddy and I had six or seven beers each prior to the game. I must just look thirsty, as complete strangers approached me (and not my friend) with their extra tickets. Nice. We were 20 minutes late to the game, but that's OK. Bullshitted with some very nice people. We grabbed a couple of seats on the 45 yard line, sixth row (obviously not our seats). The old guy in front of us said the ticket holders were out of town. Met some really nice people, joked around w/ campus security (I was wearing Gopher gear in a sea of purple) and had a great time! Parking's easy, it's also an easy walk from a purple line stop (take the red line to the end and it becomes the purple line), and did I mention the free Goose Island beer? Unlike other Big 10 college football venues, I didn't fear for my safety from the home fans - I guess NU draws a more civilized student than other B10 colleges? More civilized than me, anyway, but who isn't? A nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon, tickets are $50/$30, so it's cheap too! It's NEVER sold out, so if it's a nice day, head up to Evanston. read more

Ryan Field - Mmm. Goose Island Beer. Free in beer garden prior to game. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I enjoy going to games at Ryan Field. It is not state of the art for fan conveniences. It is not loaded with suites. It is old school. There are no bad seats. Obviously the Northwestern Wildcats are not the Chicago Bears. Northwestern is one of the greatest academic institutions in America. This means the fans are LAID BACK!! They want the Cats to win, but it does not ruin their day if they do not. They are used to football losses. Makes the wins more special. It is a great place to spend an Autumn day. Unlike attending Bears games, the odds of the fan behind you being blind drunk and vomiting on you are next to nothing. Also unlike Bears games, the odds of the fans near you having an undergraduate degree at Northwestern games is good, unless they are children. The place is great for kids. Family friendly. Also unlike Bears games, you need not fear some intoxicated goof in a Bears jersey standing up and cursing the refs. opposing team or opposing fans. These people have PERSPECTIVE. They have no need to live vicariously through athletes!!! read more

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Parking is a pain or incredibly expensive. I've never actually been inside, as I am a vendor on the outside, where the wind can really whip like a maniac around the stadium. Dress warm! But if you don't I'll be there to offer warm knitwear for your frozen fingers and ears! I love the atmosphere, even when the 'cats are losing, the energy of the fans is amazing. read more

A friend invited me to a northwestern game versus western Illinois and had a great time. Didn't tailgate but it seems pretty awesome. Field is well kept and all seats have a great view. Gate staff can be a bit confusing but they try their best with large groups. Tried a Italian beef from here and it was not great, but then again it's stadium food. I did see people getting that Connie Pizza though, maybe next time I am in Chicago and catch a game here I will sample the pizza. read more

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Great ambiance and great place to see a game. They have the WORLDS BEST STADIUM STAFF. I lost my car keys shortly after arriving to the game on the concourse near the concession area. Every staff member was so helpful. They took down my phone number and said they would call me when someone turned them in. They really tried to make me feel at ease and one gentlemen even went inside the restroom and checked the garbage cans. Eventually someone turned in my keys after about 30 minutes or so and I was able to enjoy the game with my kids. Thank you to all the Northwestern Staff! read more

Gorgeous day and beautiful marching band. Not sure the value of having a DJ when the marching band is a huge part of the whole show of college football. read more

Worst stadium I have ever been to. They do not know how to host a big crowd and created one of the most horrible situations I have ever experienced. Hundreds if not thousands of people trapped in the southwest tunnel, people pushing and shoving, almost trampled to death. If there had been any type of emergency last Saturday 11/3/18, we all would have died. The staff and police were absolutely no help at all. I had tears in my eyes and was on the verge of a panic attack when I finally made it out of the crowd. Something seriously needs to be done about this. You created a very dangerous situation for all involved and are extremely lucky that everyone was okay. If I could give zero stars I would. read more

What a great stadium! Clean and spacious. Concessions spread throughout so that you're not walking forever. My only gripe is that there needs to be a bit more variety in the choices. I really could not imagine a bad seat in this stadium. I loved the addition of the terrace. There were quite a few activities being held there and it was also a great place to get a closer view of the field and watch the action up close. It was also nice that shuttles are offered from various points on campus. The buses were quick and efficient and definitely added to the great time I had at Ryan Field. read more

I enjoyed my experience at Ryan Field - there wasn't a bad seat in the house! My complaints would be that there aren't nearly enough urinals or toilets which makes going to the bathroom on game day a real hassle. I was in line for half an hour to use the men's room. Not to mention the water pressure was pretty non existent. The food wasn't great and the food prep seemed pretty dirty. You'd think a school as prestigious as Northwestern would hold themselves to a higher standard. All this being said, I didn't go to Ryan field to be treated - I went to watch a great game and I did just that! read more

I may not be an alumni from here, but I support my local teams, this being one of them. Northwestern's historic football team plays here with a fury. The crowds (fans) here are so supportive of their Wildcats. It's a good time all the way around. I hope they have a great 2005/6 season. The stadium was built in 1926. read more

Ryan Field - Northwestern's Ryan Field - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

If the University of Michigan played here 7 times a year, I would rank this place 5 stars. It's better than Purdue's stadium, and there is nothing more fun than departing Wrigleyville with a bunch of maize and blue fans to catch a game with a lot of other fellow Wolverines who actually drove up there that almost make the place a mini-Big House. It's small and open so it also reminds you of your high school games, so it's a nice atmosphere and it's easily the most unique amongst the Big Ten teams. Speaking of the Big Ten, what is with the horrible Division names. Leaders and Legends? You can't be serious. How embarrassing and self-indulgent, I hope everyone else around the country doesn't notice it. Ay yi yi. Chicago has tons of Big Ten alums in the area. You guys have no excuse not to come up here whenever the Wildcats host your team. It's one of the few places that aren't hostile when wearing opposing garb too, so you don't have to worry about being taken out in an ambulance. A lot of schools can learn some things from you all. Go Blue! And Go Northwestern against MSU and O$U! read more

I was excited to head to Ryan Field this past weekend to watch what promised to be a very interesting football game. I've been to a good number of stadiums in the big ten and while I'm bias, I appreciate a good stadium and a good crowd. This stadium was smaller than many but the field was nice and the crowd was enthusiastic. I go to sporting events to cheer on my team, get rowdy and eat good stadium food. That may seem weird but I believe a good portion of fans go to games and expect good food. Now what do I mean by good food? Well I'm not talking about gourmet anything. I'm looking for good old hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders and nachos. These are items that you SHOULD NOT mess up. Unfortunately the food here was BAD, and I mean BAD. I got the worst hamburger I have ever eaten in my life. The bread was soggy and gross and the meat was soft and soggy. A friend got a hot dog and said it was terrible as well. I've never been to prison but I'm sure this is what prison food taste like. If you want to not starve eat before the game or after. Don't come here expecting good stadium food. Ryan field is OK. While it's a cool location to watch your team play the Wildcats and Evanston is very pretty, I would rather watch at a decent bar that has decent food and good drink specials. read more

I should admit up front that I've never been outside of Section 133. And that I'm probably the only grad student up there (Yeah, you should see the double-takes I get from my students. "Is that?" "No, it can't be!" "Oh, hey, Professor." "Dude, call me Jason." "Oh, hey, Professor Jason."). All that fancy stuff up on Randy Walker Terrace and decent food isn't a part of my Ryan Field Experience. I go, and keep coming back even though I'm pretty sure I'll never see a Rose Bowl team, because it's a lot of fun to hang out and cheer on a team that'll always make the game exciting. Yes, we're uneven, but that makes it exciting. And the camaraderie in the student section is great: everyone knows the fight song, does the thing with the keys and the other thing with the claw hand. I've looked over at the other sections and folks don't seem to be having as much fun. I hope they're not there to see a kickass football team! Facilities-wise, it's good enough. Good sight lines, except of the video scoreboard, which is blocked by the television scaffold. Metal benches that make noise when you stomp on them. Cold water bathrooms, but you're not at a day spa, Gold Coaster. You can't buy booze, and you can't bring any in with you (unless it's hidden in your girl's purse), so if that's your thing you'll want to tailgate in the parking lot west of the stadium. Skip the food. Hit Mustard's Last Stand on your way in (either the real building or their trailer, east of the stadium on Central). After the game, take the subway into Chicago, find a sports bar, and watch the big boys in the SEC. Go 'cats! read more

Go U Northwestern! My most recent trip actually wasn't my first but it has been a while since I have been here. Ryan Field is the smallest football stadium in the Big Ten seating 47,130. While it may not feel like it for every game it is nice to have a Big Ten atmosphere in Chicago. Big Ten games will draw many alumni as well as non-conference games with Illinois native schools. There are really no bad seats in this stadium due to its compact size much like the basketball arena. There are east, west and south stands. The student section is on the southwest side with the band to their right. The Wildcats will come out of the tunnel on the north end of the field and there is a wildcat statute that heads the south of the field. The stands and seating areas were nice, no complaints here. The concessions are really affordable compared to other large sporting venues. You can get a few things and not be completely broke. I think water was $4 and a pretzel was $4.50. There is a huge jumbotron to aid in your game viewing experience and a classic football announcer. When the Cats get a W be sure to stick around and sing Go U Northwestern with the team and the band. read more

Can't have a bad seat at Ryan. Recently attended to see the Huskers take on Northwestern in a barn burner. Ryan could undoubtedly use a facelift, but for what it is its a great place to watch a game. The seating offers a great view from wherever you are. Although The concession stand and exterior could use a facelift. Tailgating was difficult in that the areas are well outside of boundaries of the stadium. However they do offer shuttles to the field. The atmosphere was fairly tame considering but filled with Huskers fans much to my enjoyment. read more

Ryan Field - Huskers win!!! - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Evanston, Illinois