The new Ryan Field will welcome fans for its first official game tonight, exactly 100 years after the original stadium opened on the same site on Oct. 2, 1926. Northwestern hosts Penn State at 7 p.m., and the sold-out debut is expected to bring about 35,000 people to Evanston. With tens of thousands of fans arriving in the area, the city is putting a special traffic plan in place beginning at 2 p.m.
The new stadium, valued at about $875 million, is larger than its predecessor but has a smaller seating capacity. Instead of more than 47,000 spectators, the new venue seats 35,000. A large canopy covers the seating areas, while the complex also features two 5,000-square-foot video boards and surrounding parks, plazas, and festival spaces designed to be used beyond football game days.
A Century Between Two Openings
Northwestern’s return to Central Street carries added symbolism because the new stadium opens exactly a century after the original stadium debuted on the same site. The old venue was demolished nearly three years ago, forcing the Wildcats to play home games at other locations.
Tonight’s matchup is therefore both a return of football to this part of Evanston and the first major test of how the new complex will operate in a densely populated neighborhood.
Restrictions Begin Five Hours Before Kickoff
Road closures, traffic controls, and turn restrictions around Ryan Field begin at 2 p.m. The heaviest congestion is expected along Central Street, with additional measures in effect on Asbury Avenue, Poplar Avenue, and Isabella Street. City officials are advising drivers to allow extra travel time or, when possible, avoid the stadium area during the afternoon and evening.
Special District 6 parking restrictions will be enforced from 5 to 11 p.m. Vehicles left in restricted residential areas can receive a $125 citation, and cars parked in designated tow zones may be removed. Visitors can also use city garages at 525 Church Street, 1800 Maple Avenue, and 821 Davis Street, although tailgating is not allowed inside those garages.
Metra and CTA Offer an Easier Alternative
Fans hoping to avoid traffic have several special public transit options. Game-ticket holders can ride Metra’s UP-North Line free to and from the game. After the final whistle, additional trains will operate toward Ogilvie Transportation Center and Waukegan, departing Central Street Station about 30 minutes after the game ends.
CTA will add Purple Line Express service before and after the game to Central Station. For approximately one hour after the game, fans boarding the Purple Line Express at Central Station will ride free, funded by the Ryan Field Foundation. Pace Routes 208, 213, and 250, along with the Pulse Dempster Line, also provide connections to Evanston.
Festival, F-16 Flyover and Entry Rules
Game-day parking lots open at 3 p.m., shuttle service begins at 4 p.m., and the Great Chicago Food Festival starts at 5 p.m. Two hours later, Northwestern and Penn State will take the field for the first game in the new stadium.
Entry to Ryan Field is mobile-ticket only, the venue is cashless, backpacks are prohibited, and re-entry is not allowed after a guest leaves. A brief pyrotechnics display and an F-16 flyover are also planned shortly before kickoff, with the flyover expected at about 6:56 p.m. Evanston has warned nearby residents to expect additional noise, while vehicle and pedestrian traffic around the stadium may remain heavy for up to two hours after the game.
Sources: City of Evanston, CTA, New Ryan Field, ABC7 Chicago Photo: Wikipedia
