Ryan Field – until 2024

Capacity 47 130
Country United States of America
City Evanston
Clubs Northwestern Wildcats
Retire year 2024
Other names Dyche Stadium (1926–1996)
Inauguration 02/10/1926
Construction 08/04/1926 – 09/1926
Renovations 1949, 1952, 1996
Cost $2.6 million
Design James Gamble Rogers
Contractor J. B. French Construction Company
Address 1501 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201, USA

Advertisement

Ryan Field – historical stadium description

The origins of the stadium, located in the north of the Chicago metropolitan area, date back to 1905, when the first wooden stands for about 10,000 spectators were built at the site. The initiator of their construction was Evanston Mayor William Dyche. He was also behind the start of construction of a new facility at the same place in 1925.

Worth more than $1.5 million, the facility was among the best college stadiums in the country when it opened in 1926. It originally held about 25,000 spectators, but after expansions and the addition of the south curve, it approached the 50,000 capacity just after World War II.

The facility changed significantly with a major upgrade in 1996. The stands along the pitch then received an unusual shape. The western one with its upper level in the shape of a crescent moon was among the most original among stadiums not only in the US.

In the first half of 2024 Ryan Field was demolished to make way for a new stadium of the same name – slightly smaller, though more modern.

Advertisement

Pictures

2020

2014

2012

2011

  • Ryan Field
    18.02.2011 © vxla (cc: by)

2010

2006

Related news

2024

2022

2015