Northwestern · Big TenNorthwestern’s New Ryan Field Opens With Big Ten’s Smallest Capacity and Premium Reviews
The $875 million stadium will seat 35,000, fewer than any other Big Ten venue this season. Its early advantage is experience, not scale, with analysts praising the sightlines, amenities and design after touring the Evanston facility.
AUG 22, 2026
Cost of Northwestern’s new Ryan Field in millions of dollars.
Listed seating capacity for the new stadium.
01 · The NewsWhat Happened
Big Ten Network analysts Dave Revsine and Jake Butt praised Northwestern’s new Ryan Field after visiting the Evanston stadium and attending a Wildcats practice Friday. Revsine called the venue “first class in every sense” and compared the upgrade to moving from a municipal golf course to Augusta National. He cited the stadium’s sightlines and amenities. Butt wrote that the fan experience would compete with the best in America after athletic director Mark Jackson led the tour. Northwestern will begin playing at the $875 million facility this season. At 35,000 seats, Ryan Field will be the smallest stadium in the Big Ten.