dailynorthwestern
When Northwestern's newly reconstructed Ryan Field hosted its first game on Friday, national college football reporters were on hand to witness the unveiling. The Wildcats' near-upset of defending national champion Indiana drew widespread attention, and the stadium itself became a focal point of discussion among media members.
Scott Dochterman, a national college football reporter for The Athletic, was among those in attendance. Having covered roughly 10 games at the old Ryan Field, Dochterman recalled that the previous facility had clearly deteriorated over time.
"It looked kind of like a mix between a (Mid-American Conference) stadium and I've seen some high school stadiums that were in better shape," Dochterman said. Now, he believes the new Ryan Field will transform how opposing teams perceive trips to Evanston.
One key factor, according to Dochterman, is the student involvement. He highlighted the unique approach of Ryan Sports Development incorporating student feedback into the stadium's design. "I think the fact that the students had a role in deciding what goes on in here is game changing," Dochterman said.
Dochterman, who has covered the Big Ten since 2006, was especially taken with the Wildcat Wall. He noted that the students' proximity to the field and the section's capacity for noise creation produce an atmosphere akin to a basketball arena.
Another feature Dochterman appreciated was the ability to see the game from any vantage point in the stadium—a sentiment shared by others. Tim Kalinowski, a content creator for Snapback Sports, echoed that view, pointing out that the field remained visible regardless of one's location on the grounds. "We're in a quiet area, pretty much outside, and you can still have a view of the field," Kalinowski said.
Kalinowski and Snapback Sports have attended and rated over 50 college football games in the past three years, seeking what they call the best experience in the sport. By the end of the third quarter, Kalinowski believed Ryan Field could rank among Snapback Sports' top 10 games ever. Part of that assessment stemmed from the seating arrangement, where every seat is closer to the field than those in the old stadium.
"The way it's built, in terms of how close the stands are to the actual field of play, makes a whole difference," Kalinowski said. "I really feel like it's a hockey arena kind of vibe. I always say the best seat in an NHL (or) college hockey arena is the first seat in the balcony. It feels like every seat here has that kind of vibe to it."
Even the back row offers a clear, unobstructed view of the field. The only seats with partially obstructed views are concert-only seats that were sold on Friday due to high student ticket demand, according to developer Pat Ryan Jr. (Kellogg '97, Pritzker '97), who spoke to The Daily on Tuesday.
For Snapback Sports founder Jack Settleman, Ryan Field stands out as one of the most unique stadiums he has visited, a realization that struck him as soon as the players ran onto the field for the first time. "It's the nicest college football stadium we've ever set foot in, that's without a doubt," Settleman said. "The runout was one of the best I've ever seen."
The Wildcat Wall was loud from the opening kickoff, even forcing a Penn State missed field goal into the student section. Settleman believes such moments will become more common, similar to The Wall at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, where opponents miss free throws at a higher rate than the rest of the league. "I think that when you're going to see more results that are positive for the fans, like missed kicks in front of them," Settleman said, "it's only going to encourage more sound and more rowdiness."
Regarding setting trends for future stadiums, Settleman thinks Ryan Field will stand alone. "You can't build new (stadiums) very often," Settleman said. "All these renovated stadiums, they're attaching new pieces to those old venues. This is built from scratch, and you can just do more with that."
Michael Barker, who operates the X account College Football Campus Tour, concurred. Barker has visited all 138 FBS stadiums and 117 of the 128 FCS stadiums, and he does not foresee similar venues emerging soon. "I think this is gonna be an island on itself for a while and maybe five, 10, 15 (or) 20 years down the road, we'll see some copycats spawn," Barker said, "but I think this is gonna be a unique venue in (Power 4) football for a while."
Dochterman said it remains uncertain whether Ryan Field will set any trends in college football, but he stressed that Northwestern's opponents will need to rethink their student experience to replicate what Ryan Field offers. He mentioned student standing areas and having the away team enter directly next to the student section as two potential features that could be copied elsewhere.
As the Wildcats move past their 34-13 victory over Penn State and turn their attention to Ball State on Saturday, both Settleman and Kalinowski noted that the core of the Ryan Field experience hinges on whether students continue to attend games. Settleman pointed out that the home-field advantage created by the canopy design trapping noise could be negated by large away crowds. "The stadium is built loud," Settleman said. "The problem is, it's also built loud for opposing fans, and so when they get a sack or it's third down, it's (loud)."
Beyond the opening night spotlight, Dochterman said the stadium has the potential to influence public perception of Northwestern. "This could change how everybody views Northwestern," Dochterman said.
Originally reported by dailynorthwestern.