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# First Look: Northwestern's Ryan Field
- URL: https://www.stadiumitforum.com/first-look-northwesterns-ryan-field/
- Published: 2026-10-05T17:23:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-05T17:26:17.000Z
- Author: Paul Kapustka

We're over a month into the 2026 college football season but for Northwestern University friends, fans and team members the season really started last Friday, when the Wildcats opened their brand-new stadium, the 35,000-seat Ryan Field, with an upset victory over Penn State.

In the collegiate sports stadium world (and likely in the pro venue world as well) the launch of the [$875 million](https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/10/04/northwestern-debuts-new-ryan-field-in-dominant-win/?ref=stadiumitforum.com) venue has been highly anticipated. On TV, the stadium's debut looked great, with a first-class lighting show and fireworks to go along with the great sightlines. Other amenities like world-class Chicago-area food won instant raves.

On the ground, Stadium IT Forum had its Chicago "field scout" team of [Lisa Farrell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisafarrellchicago/?ref=stadiumitforum.com) and [Ryan Farrell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanfarrellsports/?ref=stadiumitforum.com), who took some first-look snapshots of the overall stadium and some of its technical components. Enjoy the views and watch for more Ryan Field coverage as the season progresses!

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/aa/90/aa902c11-c021-4854-8f23-d4970d5afba2/content/images/2026/10/RF5.jpeg)

**The wide main entrance was backed by an open-air bar.*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/aa/90/aa902c11-c021-4854-8f23-d4970d5afba2/content/images/2026/10/RF3.jpeg)

**Walk-through security scanners from* [**Evolv*](https://evolv.com/?ref=stadiumitforum.com) *made for a fast entry flow.*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/aa/90/aa902c11-c021-4854-8f23-d4970d5afba2/content/images/2026/10/RF4.jpeg)

**Ticket turnstiles from* [**Fortress*](https://www.fortressgb.com/?ref=stadiumitforum.com) *supported QR scans or NFC taps.*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/aa/90/aa902c11-c021-4854-8f23-d4970d5afba2/content/images/2026/10/RF6.jpeg)

**The belly-up bars had some easy-to-use payment devices from* [**Shift4*](https://www.shift4.com/?ref=stadiumitforum.com)**.*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/aa/90/aa902c11-c021-4854-8f23-d4970d5afba2/content/images/2026/10/RF10.jpeg)

**Some Ryan Field concession stands feature the second-generation kiosks from* [**Mashgin*](https://www.mashgin.com/?ref=stadiumitforum.com) *for camera-powered self-checkout.*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/aa/90/aa902c11-c021-4854-8f23-d4970d5afba2/content/images/2026/10/RF8.jpeg)

**Antennas from* [**JMA Wireless*](https://jmawireless.com/?ref=stadiumitforum.com) *are part of the stadium's neutral-host distributed antenna system (DAS).*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/aa/90/aa902c11-c021-4854-8f23-d4970d5afba2/content/images/2026/10/RF9.jpeg)

**The individual chair-back seats offered plenty of leg room.*

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/aa/90/aa902c11-c021-4854-8f23-d4970d5afba2/content/images/2026/10/RF7.jpeg)

**Close-to-the-field seating made for great sightlines all around.*