Northwestern prepares Evanston campus for football games

Northwestern begins the 2024 football season against Miami University (Ohio) this Saturday, Aug. 31, with its first home game at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.

Situated on the north end of the Evanston Campus, the temporary facility is expected to bring new levels of activity and excitement — along with thousands of community members, fans and visitors — before, during and after each of the five home games that will be played at the facility this fall.

With only a few days before the first game, Northwestern Now has compiled a list of notes and reminders regarding closures and campus policies that will remain in effect throughout the season.

Athletics and recreation buildings will close

The Henry Crown Sports Pavilion, including the Norris Aquatics Center, Combe Tennis Center, membership office and wellness suite, will be closed all day for the five football games to accommodate various gameday activities. It will reopen the following morning.

As an alternative, Blomquist Recreation Center will operate with an adjusted schedule on gamedays to help ensure Northwestern students, faculty, staff and members have sufficient access to recreational opportunities.

Walter Athletics Center will be closed to the public on gamedays but accessible to authorized University personnel, student-athletes and credentialed media.

The bookstore and Starbucks at Norris University Center will be open on all gamedays. For the first three games of the season, Norris hours are as follows:

• Saturday, Aug. 31: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Friday, Sep. 6: open until 8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 14: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Public access to other campus buildings will be restricted. Northwestern community members are reminded to always carry their Wildcards to ensure entry.

Be aware of parking and transportation restrictions

Travel through campus may take longer than usual due to heavier vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow.

Seven parking lots on the Evanston campus have been designated as gameday parking areas. All seven lots will close at 6 p.m. the night before gamedays and will reopen immediately after a game ends. Football game attendees are permitted to keep their cars parked in designated lots for up to two hours after the end of the game. Sanitation crews will clean up the parking areas after the games.

Cook Hall lot will need to close earlier to accommodate gameday activities. The south end of Cook Hall lot will be closed all day on Thursday, Aug. 29. The rest of the lot will close at 10 p.m. that evening. Cook Hall lot will remain closed after the game and will reopen the following day.

Signage will be posted in each lot to indicate closing times and dates. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed.

Limited parking will be available on campus and in downtown Evanston garages on football gamedays for fans and guests. Gameday shuttle buses will be available for fans, guests and Northwestern community members who park downtown. Those who are able are encouraged to use public transportation or bikes on gamedays.

Rideshare vehicles can drop people off anywhere along Sheridan Road near campus. A designated rideshare pick up point has been established on Colfax Street between Orrington Avenue and Sheridan Road.

Closing the lakefill the night before games

The lakefill will close at 10 p.m. the night before each game so that crews can set up Lakeside Gameday, the tailgating and watch party experience. The walking and biking paths near the stadium and lakefill space will also close at that time.

Fans with tickets to Lakeside Gameday are invited back to the lakefill after the game. Food and beverage services will continue up to two hours after the Miami (Ohio) game, and one hour after the Duke and Eastern Illinois games. The operating times for future games can be found on the Lakeside Gameday website.

After the respective post-game celebrations, Lakeside Gameday will close and the area, including the walking path, will reopen to the public.

Food and beverage rules will be enforced

Vendors at the two venues, Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium and Lakeside Gameday, will serve food and beverages to ticketed patrons, including alcoholic beverages to those over 21 years old. Outside food and beverages will not be allowed in the venues.

Beyond the perimeters of Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium and Lakeside Gameday, alcohol may only be served by licensed and insured caterers at registered University events.

A separate notice to ticket holders will go out later this week with important information to know before gameday.