America’s best conference, in America’s best stadium for the sport. Better-than-television sightlines from every seat. Instead of the poor sightlines inherent in a traditional stadium bowl, New Ryan Field leverages modern engineering to bring every seat closer to the field, optimizing every fan’s view of the action and creating the intimacy of an arena with the scale of a stadium.
Instead of the traditional college stadium experience with skyboxes for the few and benches for the many, every fan at the new Ryan Field will get a premium experience with a comfortable seat, protected from the weather by a canopy.
With 200,000 square feet of parks and plazas surrounding the stadium but within the ticketed perimeter, the new Ryan Field will host pregame activities for every type of fan. In addition to traditional Big Ten tailgating, there will be an “NFL Experience” inspired family festival in a new park, a plaza featuring pop-ups of some of the best restaurants of Chicago. In addition, the new Ryan Field will have a student plaza and hall hosting student festivities with food and live music, as well as a community tailgating zone.

The opening of the new Ryan Field symbolizes more than a new stadium. It represents years of investment, growth, and belief in the future of Northwestern Football.
With 88% of eligible snaps returning from the 2025 season, this roster was built here. This leadership was built here. This culture was built here.
A program already constructed to compete in the Big Ten and pursue College Football Playoff contention. A stronger culture, a tougher identity, and a roster capable of competing in the Big Ten and beyond.
The stadium itself is 320,000 square feet larger than the old Ryan Field — with fewer seats, in service of a premium experience for every fan. Not a smaller stadium — the first of its kind.
Capacity—every seat premium
sq. ft. larger than the old Ryan Field, including plaza and festival grounds
Most expensive college football stadium ever built
ADA-required seating—most accessible major stadium ever built
Choose from eight private in-bowl hospitality spaces at Ryan Field, hosting groups of 25 to 250 to watch the game together in Chicago’s premier setting. Or enjoy a private tailgate on the grounds, offering full-service pregame and halftime hospitality within the gameday footprint. Ryan Field’s private clubs are also available for non-gameday meetings, receptions, celebrations, and events.



Only “Claim Your Place” holders ($50) choose seats before the public — and the earlier you’re in the queue, the better your seats.