By: Josh Torres
(Photo/Northwestern Athletics)
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern football is preparing for a new chapter as the Wildcats get ready to open the new Ryan Field during the 2026 season.
The $862 million stadium will seat approximately 35,000 fans. Northwestern is set to play its first game at the new stadium against Penn State on Friday, Oct. 2.
The new stadium is designed to give fans a closer view of the action. The lower bowl will be just 48 feet from the field, while the farthest seat in the upper deck will be 136 feet away. The stadium will also include a canopy over the seating areas, which will help protect fans from the weather.
One of the most unique features will be the Wildcat Wall, a student section designed to place 2,000 Northwestern students directly above the south end zone. Giving the Wildcats a true home field advantage.
The stadium will also be used for events outside of Northwestern football. Northwestern has announced plans to host community events and high school football games at Ryan Field. Evanston Township High School and New Trier are scheduled to play their rivalry game at the stadium on Oct. 16, just two weeks after Northwestern's opener.
The opening of Ryan Field also marks a major change for Northwestern football. The Wildcats have spent the past two seasons playing home games at the temporary lakefront facility while construction continued.
The first game against Penn State will be more than the start of a new season at a new stadium. It will mark the beginning of a new era at Ryan Field, exactly 100 years after the original stadium hosted its first football game in 1926.