In 2026, Northwestern will open the brand-new Ryan Field, a 35,000 seat, first-of-its-kind (and most expensive) college football stadium in the United States. While it will only be a fraction of the capacity of some of the stadiums of its Big Ten rivals, the goal is to build a venue that creates an intimate setting that competes with watching games on TV. Even fans at the highest level of the stadium will be closer than fans in lower bowls at other stadiums. It will also offer a new music venue to the Chicago area. WGN’s Ryan Burrow talked with Pat Ryan Jr., whose Ryan Sports Development is overseeing the project.