Following the progress on Ryan Field construction

Four months have passed since work on Ryan Field ramped up — demolishing the entire stadium and hauling away concrete, steel and debris. When the press box came down late in May, the construction crew achieved a major milestone, and operations shifted fully from tear down to new build.

Along the way, crew members have captured photos from the ground and the air to document the process.

Related content:

• Watch a timelapse video of the demolition process.
• Follow the latest developments from the work site on the Central Street Consortium Instagram account.
• Also, read construction updates here.

The new Ryan Field stadium campus will be funded entirely with private dollars — requiring no taxpayer financing — and will create a world-class home for Northwestern University Athletics. When complete in 2026, the new stadium will create a best-in-the-nation football experience for fans, student-athletes and the community. 

Design highlights include:

• A more intimate setting: Significantly smaller crowds — designed for a maximum capacity of 35,000, more than 12,000 fewer than the current Ryan Field, with a state-of-the-art canopy designed to focus noise and light on the field;
• New community assets: The new Ryan Field is being developed as a modern stadium campus with beautiful plazas, an exceptional new community park as well as other publicly accessible greenspaces for residents to enjoy year-round community activities;
• Accessibility: The new stadium will apply Universal Design standards and will set a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity, making it among the most accessible stadiums in the country; and
• Sustainability: The project is designed to achieve Gold LEED certification.

Visit the Ryan Field website to learn more about the project.