Ryan Field one year after groundbreaking

In case you haven’t passed by lately, Ryan Field is taking shape as home to a new era in Wildcat athletics and a dynamic gathering place for both the Northwestern and Evanston communities.

The changes appear subtle on a day-to-day basis, but steel beams now outline the upper bowl, and the interior levels are filling out to provide a clearer vision of the expansive yet intimate sightlines all around the stadium.

In the early stage, crews excavated more than 300,000 cubic yards of soil to lower the field to its below-ground depth. Once the frame is complete, the 35,000-seat facility will have used approximately 12,000 tons of steel.

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the groundbreaking on June 24, 2024, when University officials and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss joined members of the Ryan Family to officially dedicate the new project.

In the coming months, as the top of the bowl is completed, crews will begin work on the canopy that will focus sound and light on the field, limiting effects on the neighborhood and promising an intense and immersive experience for fans and players alike.

Construction of the new stadium is set to be completed in fall 2026. Follow all the progress at RebuildRyanField.com.