Ryan Field (stadium)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ryan Field

Location	1501 Central Street Evanston, IL 60208
Opened	1926
Owner	Northwestern University
Operator	Northwestern University
Surface	Natural grass
Construction cost	$20,000,000 USD 1996 Renovation
Architect	James Gamble Rogers
Former names
Dyche Stadium (1926-1995)
Tenants
Northwestern Wildcats (NCAA) (1926-Present)
Capacity
49,256

For other uses, see Ryan Field.

Ryan Field is a stadium in Evanston, Illinois, United States. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Northwestern University Wildcats football team. Ryan Field opened in 1926 and holds 49,256 people. The field is named after Patrick Ryan who was the chairman of the school's board of trustees. Prior to 1997, the stadium was named Dyche Stadium, for William A. Dyche, Class of 1882, former Evanston mayor and overseer of the building project.

The stadium originally consisted of two semi-circular grandstands on either sideline, with the west (home) sideline having a small, curved upper deck ending at twin concrete . Endzone seating was later added in the south endzone, and in 1952 McGaw Memorial Hall was built in the north endzone.

Besides boasting modern amenities such as a new workout room, it is said that the reason the stands were built five feet up was to prevent Northwestern students from rushing the field and destroying goalposts. Such occurrences were common when the field was still known as Dyche Stadium and Northwestern had upset victories over storied programs such as the University of Michigan in 1995. However, a stunning upset in 1996 over Michigan did not prevent students from clinging to the goalposts.

The Chicago Bears hosted their first home game of the 1970 season as an experiment due to the NFL demanding the Bears move out of Wrigley Field because the seating capacity was under 50,000. The Bears ended up moving to Soldier Field.

The closest transit stations are Metra commuter railroad's Central Street station and Chicago Transit Authority's Central station on the Purple Line.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 42°03′55.5″N, 87°41′32.9″W

Northwestern University

Academics	Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences • School of Communication • School of Music • J. L. Kellogg School of Management • Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science • Medill School of Journalism • School of Education and Social Policy • Feinberg School of Medicine • School of Law
Athletics	Big Ten • Go U Northwestern • Northwestern Wildcats • NUMB • Ryan Field • Welsh-Ryan Arena • Wildside • Willie the Wildcat
Campus	Chicago • Evanston • The Lakefill • The Rock • Technological Institute
People	Alumni • Henry Bienen • Bill Carmody • John Evans • Faculty • Pat Fitzgerald • Frances Willard
Student Life	The Daily Northwestern • Dance Marathon • Dillo Day • Dolphin Show • History • Mee-Ow • NNN • Waa-Mu • WNUR