Ryan Field
Ryan Field is a college football stadium in Evanston, Illinois, home of the Northwestern Wildcats, who play in the Big Ten of NCAA Division I FBS. It opened in 2026 and seats 35,000 fans. It ranks 18th of 18 in the Big Ten by capacity.
The team plays on artificial turf. New Ryan Field opened in 2026, replacing the previous stadium on the same site.
Stadium facts
- Location
- Evanston, Illinois
- Home of
- Northwestern Wildcats
- School
- Northwestern University
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Subdivision
- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- Opened
- 2026
- Capacity
- 35,000
- Playing surface
- Artificial turf
- Size rank in FBS
- 87th of 138
Famous games at Ryan Field
- 2026: New Ryan Field opened with Northwestern vs. Penn State on Oct. 2
Seating & views
The rebuilt Ryan Field opened on October 2, 2026, and seats 35,000, the smallest capacity in the Big Ten. The bowl is steep and vertical, and a canopy covers every seat while the field stays open to the sky, so rain and sun are less of a factor than at most stadiums. Premium seating starts about 90 feet from the field and the farthest seats are roughly 135 feet away. About 10 percent of seats are premium, including sideline suites, living room boxes and four club areas. The student section, the Wildcat Wall, holds about 2,000 in a steep end zone stand.
Parking & tailgating
Ryan Field sits on Central Street in a residential part of north Evanston, so parking is tight. Northwestern says stadium lot parking on game days is reserved for season ticket holders, annual Ryan Field permits are not valid on game days, and nearby street parking is limited to residential permit holders. The city warns of road closures and parking restrictions. Transit is the easiest option: Metra's Central Street station and the CTA Purple Line's Central station are a short walk away. About 200,000 square feet of plazas host a food festival inside the ticketed perimeter. Check Northwestern's official gameday page, since details change.
Seating and parking sources: axios.com, northwestern.edu, en.wikipedia.org.
Plan your trip to Ryan Field
Stadiums near Ryan Field10
- 1FCSSeatGeek Stadium — Chicago State Cougars 22 mi
- 2FCSBrown Field — Valparaiso Beacons 51 mi
- 3FBSBrigham Field at Huskie Stadium — Northern Illinois Huskies 56 mi
- 4FBSNotre Dame Stadium — Notre Dame Fighting Irish 79 mi
- 5FBSWaldo Stadium — Western Michigan Broncos 109 mi
- 6FBSCamp Randall Stadium — Wisconsin Badgers 112 mi
- 7FBSRoss–Ade Stadium — Purdue Boilermakers 120 mi
- 8FCSHancock Stadium — Illinois State Redbirds 126 mi
- 9FBSGies Memorial Stadium — Illinois Fighting Illini 137 mi
- 10FBSSpartan Stadium — Michigan State Spartans 171 mi
Questions about Ryan Field
Where do the Northwestern Wildcats play home games?
The Northwestern Wildcats play at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois.
How many people does Ryan Field hold?
Ryan Field has a capacity of 35,000.
When did Ryan Field open?
Ryan Field opened in 2026.
Does Ryan Field have grass or turf?
Ryan Field has an artificial turf field.
What other college football stadiums are near Ryan Field?
SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview is about 22 miles away. See the full list of nearby stadiums on this page.
Facts are for the 2026 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your stadium? Get the “Listed on All Football Stadiums” badge for your website.