Evanston, IL – February 4, 2026 –
Northwestern University’s football team will split its 2026 home games between two stadiums as the new Ryan Field nears completion.
- Northwestern will play its first two home games at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
- The Wildcats will debut at the new Ryan Field against Penn State on October 2.
- Organizers now expect the 35,000-seat Ryan Field to be completed in mid-September.
- Initial plans for the stadium opening where delayed due to a later-than-expected demolition start.
Northwestern football will play select home games at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in 2026 before moving to the newly constructed Ryan Field, according to reporting from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
The Wildcats will begin the season hosting South Dakota State on September 5 and Colorado on September 19 at the lakefront stadium, which has served as thier primary home field for the past two years. Northwestern will then officially open Ryan Field against Penn State on October 2.
Following the October 2nd game, Northwestern will play its final five home games at Ryan Field, Rittenberg reported. The new stadium is planned to seat 35,000 fans.
Construction Timeline
The timeline for Ryan Field’s opening has shifted since initial plans, as demolition of the existing stadium began later than anticipated, according to Rittenberg. Despite the delays, organizers remain confident in the project’s completion.
“those [first two] games were likely always going to be on the lake,” Pat Ryan Jr., CEO of Ryan Sports Development, told Rittenberg. “The only way we would have been able to support those games is if we finished early,and just with the weather alone,there’s no way we were going to get this thing done then. So we’ve had tough headwinds, but we’ve had some good tailwinds because of great people. And the stadium, despite all of this, is going to end up being delivered in mid-September, on time.”
Why It Matters
the staggered opening of Ryan Field reflects the complexities of large-scale construction projects, particularly those involving demolition and rebuilding. While the initial delay may be disappointing for fans eager to experience the new stadium, the decision to utilize the existing Martin Stadium ensures continuity for the program. The debut of ryan Field against a big Ten opponent like Penn State is intended to create an electrifying atmosphere and showcase the new facility.
