Overview
- Officials announced Tuesday, May 26 that Ryan Field will open on Friday, October 2, 2026 with Northwestern hosting Penn State on national television and that Evanston Township High will play New Trier there on Friday, October 16, 2026 rent-free.
- Northwestern also confirmed a boys’ and girls’ basketball doubleheader at Welsh‑Ryan Arena on February 5, 2027 with the stadium subsidizing the games for Evanston.
- The stadium will operate under a constrained first-year plan that includes five college football games, 45 days of community events instead of the 60 authorized, and a ban on concerts until 2027.
- Construction continues with roughly 1,000 workers on site and developers have pledged mitigation steps as neighbors raise concerns about noise, traffic, and parking.
- Officials said they hope the Oct. 16 game will start a recurring partnership that lets Evanston play at least one home game per season, a move tied to the school rivalry that began in 1913 and which Evanston currently leads narrowly in the all‑time series.