Northwestern’s New Football Stadium Hopefully Brings Better Results

47,130 SEATS AT RYAN FIELD, NORTHWESTERN’S FOOTBALL STADIUM? NOT ANYMORE. THE UNIVERSITY IS BUILDING A NEW STADIUM WHICH IS SMALLER BY 25 PERCENT, GETTING RID OF MORE THAN 12,000 SEATS. THE NEW STADIUM IS REPORTED TO HOLD A CAPACITY OF 35,000.

[fans cheering at Ryan Field] 

THIS DECISION IS QUITE UNIQUE, CONCERNING THE FACT THAT PAST STADIUM RENOVATIONS SERVED THE PURPOSE OF ADDING CAPACITY AND INCREASING TICKET SALES. WHILE THIS MAY BE BAD NEWS FOR FOOTBALL FANS, THE NEW FEATURES AIM TO BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY. 

LESLIE KIM, A SOPHOMORE WHO REGULARLY ATTENDS FOOTBALL GAMES, SAYS SHE THINKS THE NEW STADIUM MAY—AND HOPEFULLY WILL—ATTRACT A BIGGER CROWD. 

[Leslie] I think it’s a good idea that we change it up a bit, especially since the current student reactions to the football games and the way the football teams are performing isn’t that great. 

“OUR HOPE IS THAT THROUGH THIS NEW STADIUM CAMPUS, RYAN FIELD IS REIMAGINED AS AN ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT YEAR-ROUND GATHERING PLACE FOR THE NORTHWESTERN AND EVANSTON COMMUNITIES THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL,” SAID PATRICK RYAN, THE LARGEST DONOR IN THE UNIVERSITY’S HISTORY.

THE STADIUM FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO “EMPHASIZE FAN EXPERIENCE, ACCESSIBILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY,” ACCORDING TO DR. DERRICK GRAGG, THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ATHLETICS AND RECREATION. 

[band noises at Ryan Field]

SOME FEATURES THE UNIVERSITY PLANS TO ADD INCLUDE PLAZAS, A NEW COMMUNITY PARK, AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE GREENSPACES. A WELCOMING AND EXCITING NEWS FOR STUDENTS LIKE KIM.

[Leslie] Not everyone is completely aware of football and not everyone goes for the sport itself. I know I don’t. A lot of my friends don’t. They mostly want to go for the college game experience, so I think it’s great that they’re trying to make new facilities. 

IT IS LIKELY THAT NORTHWESTERN’S RENOVATION GOALS DIFFER FROM OTHER SCHOOLS DUE TO ITS RELATIVELY LOW RATE OF TICKET SALES – ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE SCHOOL RARELY SELL OUT. 

KIM ADDS THAT THIS REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF SEATS SEEMS LOGICAL. 

[Leslie] In terms of Northwestern, I went to the recent football game, the seats were not full at all. In terms of that aspect, having the seats being shrunk could actually make it feel more full. It might not be a bad idea.

[introduction of marching band] 

AT THIS POINT, EVERYONE MUST HAVE ASKED: HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? THE PROJECT MAY REPORTEDLY COST UP TO 800 MILLION DOLLARS, ACCORDING TO THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES. AS A STUDENT ON CAMPUS, KIM EXPRESSED HER CONCERNS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF THE NEW STADIUM.

[Leslie] If it’s being in some way pitched in by the school, as someone who is not involved in the football team in any way, I feel like a lot of students think it’s a lot of their tuition. Also as an international student, having to pay that full tuition, it’s a lot of that (tuition) going into something that I don’t feel as connected to — so I don’t think I or many of my friends would be that happy about it. 

HOWEVER, THERE IS NO NEED TO BE WORRIED. NORTHWESTERN ANNOUNCED THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS, AND IT WON’T AFFECT TUITION COSTS OR TAKE AWAY FROM FACULTY RAISES OR SCHOLARSHIPS. 

OTHERWISE, THE STADIUM COULD SERVE FOR OTHER PURPOSES THAN JUST FOOTBALL. PERHAPS, THE NEW RYAN FIELD MAY BE GOOD NEWS FOR MUSIC LOVERS LIKE KIM. 

[Leslie] I think those could definitely be utilized by other student organizations. I definitely do enjoy other festivals and performances and I wish they would be in a bigger, more open venue. 

THE MODERN DESIGN FURTHER HOPES TO REDUCE NOISE AND LIGHT POLLUTION, A MUST FOR FREQUENT CONCERTS AND GAMES. FOR FINANCIAL VIABILITY, THE UNIVERSITY CLAIMED TO CONSIDER HOSTING A LIMITED NUMBER OF SUCH EVENTS ACCORDING TO NORTHWESTERN NOW. 

THE REPORT ADDS THAT ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, NORTHWESTERN IS SPEAKING WITH METRA, CTA, AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO FIND A MORE EFFICIENT SCHEDULE ON GAME DAYS. 

THIS IS JEONGEUN JENNIFER KIM SIGNING OFF FROM WNUR NEWS.