Northwestern's Demolition Of Ryan Field Set To Begin Jan. 29

EVANSTON, IL — Demolition of Northwestern University's football stadium is scheduled to begin the week of Jan. 29, with fencing and other equipment slated to begin arriving next week.

Asbestos abatement is already underway and on track to be completed before any demolition begins, and Northwestern has completed the paperwork required by state historic preservation officials, university representatives and contractors announced Thursday at a 7th Ward meeting.

Dozens of residents attended the remote meeting, with many expressing concerns about trucks, debris, vibrations and dust associated with the project. City officials pledged to step in and stop the work if there are any major concerns.

No explosives or wrecking balls will be used, according to representatives of project contractors, who explained an excavator will take apart the building piece-by-piece.

In an effort to reduce the amount of dust floating from the site into the surrounding residential area and Central Street business district, demolition crews plan to spray water on the building and use misters around the equipment.

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A single route has been approved for trucks to get to and from the stadium during construction. It will be limited to portions of Golf Road, Sherman Avenue and Central Street, according to a map shared by the Evanston RoundTable.

Construction work is scheduled to run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

The demolition is expected to take at least four months, and university officials are targeting the fall of 2026 for completion of the project.

The university's $800 million plan to replace its 98-year-old football stadium with a smaller, 35,000-seat arena and fund the debt service on the money it plans to borrow by holding concerts there was narrowly approved in November when Mayor Daniel Biss cast a series of votes to break 4-4 deadlocks on the City Council.

Biss wound up getting a vote on the matter due to the recusal of 9th Ward Ald. Juan Geracaris, a university employee, who Biss appointed to the council after learning of Northwestern's stadium plans.

A group of Evanston and Wilmette residents filed suit last month in Cook County court seeking to block the project, and Wilmette village officials have indicated that they, too, are considering potential litigation over the project.

Additional meetings with residents are planned, with city and university officials pledging to release more details about truck movements and asbestos removal in the future.

7th Ward Ald. Eleanor Revelle, who voted against the project and whose ward includes the stadium site, said video of Thursday's meeting will be posted on her City Council website.

Read more:

• Lawsuit Over Ryan Field Rebuild Considered By Wilmette Village Board
• 'Backroom Deal' Led To Illegal Vote To Rezone Ryan Field, Suit Alleges
• Ryan Field Concert Plan Gets Final Evanston City Council Approval
• Mayor Daniel Biss Casts Deciding Vote In Favor Of Ryan Field Concerts
• Deny Request For Ryan Field Concerts, Land Use Commission Recommends