Any word on the new or improved Ryan Field

zeek55

Sophomore
Nov 21, 2010
3,583
132
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Blunt reality is just that things move slowly in Evanston even with Northwestern's deep pockets.

I'd be surprised if the stadium rebuild starts before 2024; there's a lot of steps from here to there.

Fundraising has to be finalized as far as major donors go; all we know right now is the Ryans gave some amount in the ~$180-240 million range (out of their $480 million gift) for it. There will likely be other major gifts for this project.

Design has to be finalized (if it's anywhere even close to that step).

Then we gotta go through the various approval processes.
 

JoeWildcat

Freshman
Jul 31, 2001
2,696
99
31
Blunt reality is just that things move slowly in Evanston even with Northwestern's deep pockets.

I'd be surprised if the stadium rebuild starts before 2024; there's a lot of steps from here to there.

Fundraising has to be finalized as far as major donors go; all we know right now is the Ryans gave some amount in the ~$180-240 million range (out of their $480 million gift) for it. There will likely be other major gifts for this project.

Design has to be finalized (if it's anywhere even close to that step).

Then we gotta go through the various approval processes.
I already sent in the engineering design for my heated seats, so that should speed up the process.
 
May 29, 2001
45,734
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Haven't heard much if anything at all.
Why? Scrap it. Sell the land. Its on an indian burial ground and the rights should be given back instead of exploiting their land with pitiful JON defenses. The ole chief no doubt has cursed us for this misdeed.

Drop the money and cut a deal with the bears to play in arlington. Run 4 or 5 buses over for the students who actually show up.
 
Aug 13, 2002
3,221
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Blunt reality is just that things move slowly in Evanston even with Northwestern's deep pockets.

I'd be surprised if the stadium rebuild starts before 2024; there's a lot of steps from here to there.

Fundraising has to be finalized as far as major donors go; all we know right now is the Ryans gave some amount in the ~$180-240 million range (out of their $480 million gift) for it. There will likely be other major gifts for this project.

Design has to be finalized (if it's anywhere even close to that step).

Then we gotta go through the various approval processes.
According to Derrick Gragg, the current plan is to begin construction following the 2022 season, which will continue through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, so we’re looking at 2025 as the first season in the new place.
 

zeek55

Sophomore
Nov 21, 2010
3,583
132
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According to Derrick Gragg, the current plan is to begin construction following the 2022 season, which will continue through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, so we’re looking at 2025 as the first season in the new place.
That sounds really aggressive (and would be a terrific outcome if it happens).

But after seeing how long the fieldhouse project took to get going (like 4-5 years admittedly back when the AD had way less experience with major construction projects), I'm struggling to see how exactly we're going to get to the point of shovels in the ground in a year from here. Nothing ever moves that fast at Northwestern.

Unless many of the details are already decided and they just haven't told us yet and Evanston is willing to help move the project along quickly...
 
Aug 13, 2002
3,221
268
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That sounds really aggressive (and would be a terrific outcome if it happens).

But after seeing how long the fieldhouse project took to get going (like 4-5 years admittedly back when the AD had way less experience with major construction projects), I'm struggling to see how exactly we're going to get to the point of shovels in the ground in a year from here. Nothing ever moves that fast at Northwestern.

Unless many of the details are already decided and they just haven't told us yet and Evanston is willing to help move the project along quickly...
I think what you say is plausible, though as you suggest we now have significantly more recent experience with major athletics construction projects, as well as with the fundraising for them. I think it is also plausible that additional likely significant donors have been identified or are on board, and that the recent experience could prove beneficial to the planning process.
 

zeek55

Sophomore
Nov 21, 2010
3,583
132
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I think what you say is plausible, though as you suggest we now have significantly more recent experience with major athletics construction projects, as well as with the fundraising for them. I think it is also plausible that additional likely significant donors have been identified or are on board, and that the recent experience could prove beneficial to the planning process.
Yeah, other thing is this has been worked on for years and I assume would have been announced a year or two ago if Phillips hadn't left.

So it's sensible to think that far more has been done behind the scenes for this project than any other AD project.

I know Ryan was already talking about stadium rebuild a couple years ago.
 
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techtim72

Junior
May 10, 2010
6,616
251
83
Architectural and engineering design on this project will take 9 - 12 months - very optimistically - once they know what they want to build. The public announcement said NU will hold public sessions for input and these haven't started. Permitting, even if sequentially fast-tracked will take six months for a foundation permit. So looking at after 23 season. However, considering demolition and underground utilities could take 4-6 months, if everything goes lickety split, demolition could start after the 22 season. That would be optimistic but possible.
 
Nov 5, 2001
18,496
737
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Where do I send my $100.00?
I would like to donate to funds where we can name certain areas with ridiculous names. Instead of Lower Level, we would say "lower body injury level". Fitz is gonna be around for the first 15~ years of the new stadium, let's have some fun with Fitzspeak.

"that's on us, as coaches" concession stand
"depth chart" PSL's
Personal Weight Room Record Strong Coffee
and so on.
 

techtim72

Junior
May 10, 2010
6,616
251
83
Architectural and engineering design on this project will take 9 - 12 months - very optimistically - once they know what they want to build. The public announcement said NU will hold public sessions for input and these haven't started. Permitting, even if sequentially fast-tracked will take six months for a foundation permit. So looking at after 23 season. However, considering demolition and underground utilities could take 4-6 months, if everything goes lickety split, demolition could start after the 22 season. That would be optimistic but possible.

One other thought. Putting a new stadium into a neighborhood and getting all parties to align, particularly a neighborhood as involved as Evanston, is extraordinarily difficult. Pick how long the community review process will take and guess whether it will become highly politicized. The times I mention are optimistic even if everyone claps and oohs and aahs at the first reveal of renderings by the architect. That won't happen.
 

Jonny2TheP

Junior
Dec 11, 2007
8,499
204
37
I would like to donate to funds where we can name certain areas with ridiculous names. Instead of Lower Level, we would say "lower body injury level". Fitz is gonna be around for the first 15~ years of the new stadium, let's have some fun with Fitzspeak.

"that's on us, as coaches" concession stand
"depth chart" PSL's
Personal Weight Room Record Strong Coffee
and so on.
Hoping they improve access to bathrooms. Every time I get up to go to the Trust Yourself Men's Restroom, I don't want to miss a ton of plays on the field in the process.

Also, my young kids would love an area they could play in called Adversity Way.
 

Deeringfish

Senior
Jun 23, 2008
20,522
969
63
Architectural and engineering design on this project will take 9 - 12 months - very optimistically - once they know what they want to build. The public announcement said NU will hold public sessions for input and these haven't started. Permitting, even if sequentially fast-tracked will take six months for a foundation permit. So looking at after 23 season. However, considering demolition and underground utilities could take 4-6 months, if everything goes lickety split, demolition could start after the 22 season. That would be optimistic but possible.
I would think that they would have had some kind of public sessions by now. Perhaps they want to talk with all the major donors before they push out of the inner circle. Seems like a wasted publicity opportunity to keep things so quiet unless there is a good reason. I wonder if the Ryan gift announcement had more to do with the other projects.
 

ricko6543211

Sophomore
Nov 15, 2006
4,204
191
47
I will be happy with new and improved hot dogs and nachos. The old ones suck.
I think generally the best option is to grill food / eat snacks / drink beers in the parking lot. Given the quality of in stadium concessions (and consumption during tailgate time) I just stick to waters inside the stadium. At $4.50 a pop the vendors are still doing okay off of our business.
 

AZCat

Redshirt
May 29, 2001
553
25
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I wonder if we can get Gary & Fitz to pose nude for their statues.
 

CatManTrue

All-American
Oct 4, 2008
15,805
5,249
97
I will be happy with new and improved hot dogs and nachos. The old ones suck.
The nachos were the second most disappointing thing about the MSU game aside from the game itself.

$11 for stale nachos and some uninspiring cheese? GTFO.