Your Guide to an NU Football Game Day

Trade in your armchair quarterbacking for the real deal with an exciting day (or evening) out at stunning New Ryan Field redefining the thrills of Big Ten football. Experience the first NFL-type, state-of-the-art stadium for college football with this easy-as-pie Great Game Day Guide to perks, directions and parking tips, restaurant recommendations and much more to see and do. Come on over and stay awhile, too, when you find all the things to do on the North Shore. 

 

Ryan Field, Northwestern University, Evanston

New Ryan Field, Northwestern University (Evanston)
Get the hottest ticket in town to revel in the brand-spanking New Ryan Field bursting with perks. You’ve got the ultimate spot to cheer on college football live in this first-of-its-kind, NFL-style stadium. Modern engineering strategically seats you on top of the action with premium options including top-tier food and real bars. No bleachers. No benches. Every seat has cupholders and armrests in this most accessible stadium ever built with the canopy roof covering every fan. The 200,000 square feet of festival grounds give every ticketholder access to pregame food, drinks, live music, DJs and entertainment, including The Great Chicago Food Festival with a $5 menu, Two-Minute Markets and The Great Big Ten Grillout. The New Ryan Field app is required for entry. Download it before you arrive for your tickets and access to the $5 menu. The Village is an 11-acre social gathering district showcasing Chicago's culinary royalty where Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard, Gibsons and others offer delicious concepts developed exclusively for New Ryan Field fans.  
 

CTA Purple Line

How to Get There (with Parking Details)
New Ryan Field has thoughtfully considered every fan’s needs. Situated at 1501 Central Street in Evanston, the impressive venue features a designated Bike Valet, a Shuttle Service picking up at several  downtown Evanston and NU campus locations, plus Metra and CTA trains supplementing regular service with free rides home after the game. A single designated ride share pickup and drop-off hub at Haven Middle School provides a free shuttle ride back after events. Street parking is limited (and restrictions enforced) but you can reserve your parking space online or park in downtown Evanston or NU campus lots and take advantage of those complimentary shuttle buses. Coming from downtown Chicago? Take Metra's Union Pacific North Line from Ogilvie Transportation Center to the Central Street station, just a short walk away. CTA riders can take the Red Line north to Howard, transfer to the Purple Line and exit at Central Street, just blocks from the stadium. Driving from O'Hare, follow I-190 East out of the airport, merge onto I-90 East, then take I-94 West toward Milwaukee and exit east toward Evanston (35–60 mins.). Or hop on the CTA Blue Line toward downtown Chicago, transfer to the Red Line northbound at Jackson, then to the Purple Line at Howard where you’ll exit at Central in Evanston.
 

Northwestern Wildcats, Evanston

2026 Home Game Schedule
Don’t miss a minute up close and personal when NU’s Wildcats host home games on Saturdays this Fall. After kicking off against Penn State in early October to inaugurate the brand-new stadium, the Wildcats continue their run at the championship and go helmet to helmet at New Ryan Field for more big games: against Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Oct. 24), University of Iowa Hawkeyes (Nov. 7) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Fighting Illini (Nov. 28). 
 

Double Clutch Brewing Co., Evanston

Where to Eat in Evanston … Before and After the Game
You and your buddies (or fam) will need some serious chow before or after all that college football excitement. Celtic Knot Public House serves authentic pub grub where you can munch Fried Pickles, Fish & Chips or Corned Beef & Cabbage with that perfect pint of Guinness. Bustling brewpub Double Clutch Brewing Company doubles as a classic car palace with German-style beers to match the Brewhouse Nachos (or vegan version) or Bier-battered Sidewinder Fries. Big screens populate family-friendly sports bar and restaurant Bluestone where you can fill up on Bluestone Signature Smoked Wings or Wildcat Waffle Chips with Tailgate Beef Chili. Prairie Moon pairs their authentic, scratch cooking with a lively bar featuring beer on tap and a warm, welcoming atmosphere for Blue Crab Cakes, Shrimp & Crawfish Étouffée, Tri-Chili Wings with The Moon Burger. Friendly weather graces the outdoor beer garden at The Fat Shallot while the full bar inside complements favorites like the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich or Truffle BLT with Spicy Sesame Fries or Cheese Curds. Keep the game-day energy going at Five & Dime with craft beers, cocktails and hearty favorites like loaded nachos, BBQ Baby Back Ribs and the Bacon Jam Burger. Not quite what you're hungry for? There's plenty more deliciousness to discover in Evanston!
 

Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe

Attractions: Things to Do Before/After the Game
Home games kick off at different times — day and night — so come early or stay later and enjoy other local sights. Evanston boasts three shopping districts with gobs of boutiques, eats, and spa treats in Downtown Evanston, Main-Dempster Mile and Central Street. Maximize the beauty of Fall on the North Shore and head to Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe) to bask in the colors of the season. Or go wild traipsing through those hues along the Green Bay Trail (Glencoe, Wilmette, Winnetka), a two-plus-mile asphalt path just minutes from New Ryan Field. Get your shopping fix at Westfield Old Orchard (Skokie), where a fabulous mix of stores, restaurants and open-air strolling makes for a fun diversion before or after the game.
 

Hangar Two by Tangled Roots Brewing Co., Glenview

Where to Watch Outside the Field
Cheer on the Wildcats even if you don’t score tickets to every game. A polished casual eatery with an expansive craft beer selection, iconic keg walls and American-inspired cuisine, Fatpour Tap Works (Lincolnwood) has screens galore and Game Day Specials (NFL and college ball). At Finn McCool’s Irish Sports Pub (Wheeling) it’s right there in the name: large extra-bright flat screen TVs illuminate their famous wings, burgers and a killer selection of draft and craft beers. The high-quality, chef-created dishes at Hangar Two by Tangled Roots Brewing (Glenview) provide an elevated game day with locally-grown-and-brewed craft beers, award-winning IPAs and Imperial Stouts. Lazy Dog (Northbrook) puts innovative twists on American dishes like the BBQ Bison Meatloaf, Bacon Candy and yummy large shareables. Big Game Day energy bursts from Village Inn Pizzeria (Skokie) and their 50+ screens for televised sports with classic food where everyone kicks back for a great time.
 

Graduate by Hilton, Evanston

Pack a Bag and Stay Overnight
Why just stay the day when you have a rich selection of choice hotels to revel in? Beautiful suites with swoon-worthy amenities or budget-friendly charmers crop up in and around Evanston. Take the travel out of your game day and book your stay today!