chicago_suntimes
As the Northwestern University Wildcats played their first game in the newly constructed Ryan Field on Friday, residents in the surrounding Evanston neighborhood largely embraced the return of college football's vibrant atmosphere. However, many are less enthusiastic about the city's ambitions to hold concerts and other commercial gatherings at the venue.
The $875 million, 35,000-seat stadium occupies the same location where the team played from 1926 until the old structure was demolished in early 2024. The area is predominantly residential, with single-family homes encircling the stadium. On game days, neighbors traditionally host barbecues and tailgates, and some players even reside across the street. Northwestern football and its accompanying festivities have long been woven into the neighborhood's identity.
"We go to the games all the time, and our neighborhood always tailgates, and we have stuff going on," said Nicole Wroblewski, who has lived less than a block from Ryan Field for seven years. "Our neighborhood kind of rallies together, and it's pretty exciting."
Concerns Over Commercial Expansion
While residents are accustomed to the commotion of a football stadium, they did not anticipate living next to a concert venue. Evanston officials seek the authority to host concerts and other commercial events, a prospect that has raised eyebrows among locals. The nonprofit Most Livable City Association, along with residents, filed a lawsuit against the city when the plans were first unveiled in 2023, arguing that the "commercialization" of the site would lead to noise, pollution, and traffic problems. That lawsuit is still making its way through the appellate court system.
"When they're using it for their own activities, that's been going on for years, and that's fine," said Andrew Berman, a retired Cook County judge and president of the Most Livable City Association. "But when they decide they're going to run it as a giant commercial venture, and escape paying property taxes like other commercial and residential properties pay, that's what we find really objectionable."
At the time, Northwestern argued that revenue from concerts would help finance the stadium, and supporters of the plan say the university's agreement with the city will funnel an estimated $157.5 million from Northwestern to local schools and community causes over 15 years.
Game Day Experience and Mixed Reactions
Friday night's game, in which Northwestern defeated Penn State 34-13, proceeded without incident, according to Berman. The noise was not disruptive, and traffic was well-managed. He welcomed the addition of residential parking signs to prevent fans from taking residents' parking spots.
For Jack Oyola, a defensive back in his fifth season at Northwestern who lives across the street from the stadium, the new setup was a welcome one. Oyola played at the old Ryan Field and the temporary lakefront facility. He was undecided about returning for another season, he said, but the prospect of playing in the long-awaited stadium helped sway his decision. Seeing the student section and other student athletes at the game Friday night affirmed his choice.
"This was definitely something that influenced my decision, so it's been awesome," he said. "It's a blessing."
The fan experience inside the stadium was much improved, too, said Oyola's parents Maureen and Christian. The old stadium had grown worn down, they said, and the new one is not only more comfortable but also boasts an energy more on par with college football powerhouses like the University of Georgia, near where the Oyolas hail from.
"The [Southeastern Conference] gets that kind of experience every weekend, but for these boys to get that same type of energetic, loud, exciting atmosphere was priceless," Christian Oyola said.
Though many nearby residents are invested in Northwestern football, some have no connection to it at all. Faraz Hedayati moved into a house down the block from the stadium about six months ago and said he was sleeping during the game. The noise, especially from the F-16 flyover, was enough to wake him up, but he's trying not to worry too much about it, he said.
"I'm not gonna lose the sleep over it, but I prefer a more peaceful environment," Hedayati said.
As for the potential of concerts and other commercial events in the stadium, Hedayati said it's nice to see young people having fun in the area, and Jack Oyola said it could energize the city more when the football team isn't playing.
"I think it's going to make the area a lot more lively," he said. "I think it's great for the college kids here. But again, I am a college kid, so I'm a little biased."
But for others, like Wroblewski, who grew up in Evanston, the possibility of bringing concerts comes with a lot of questions.
"How is this going to really affect the noise level here? Is it going to still be a quiet neighborhood? Who's going to be coming? You know, we just had a lot of concerns around that," Wroblewski said.
Originally reported by chicago_suntimes.