OT: The new Ryan Field is taking shape

[Tango Two]

Exclusive look at Northwestern University's new Ryan Field facility, Wildcats football team playing at temporary site | abc7chicago.com

The%20shell%20of%20the%20new%20Ryan%20Field%20is%20complete%2C%20and%20visitors%20can%20get%20an%20idea%20of%20what%20the%20view%20will%20be%20like%20from%20their%20seats.

abc7chicago.com

 

[Section124]

Looks great but 35k seems small for the B1G. Doesn’t look like they can expand so I guess they don’t expect many future fans.

 

[Anon1751632159]

35,000 limits the number of Nebraska and Ohio st fans to 35000 in your building

 

[RUGuitarMan1]

Most new stadiums being built for professional or college sports have more limited seating. They are typically geared toward actual attendance expected and to enhance the comfort and visuals for those attending.

 

[RUTGERS95]

Doesn't the BIG have minimum stadium requirements?

 

[RU Jeep]

35,000 limits the number of Nebraska and Ohio st fans to 35000 in your building

I remember when people claimed OSU, UM and PSU fans would buy all of our season tickets just to see their team once every couple of years.

 

[e5fdny]

I remember when people claimed OSU, UM and PSU fans would buy all of our season tickets just to see their team once every couple of years.

Sitting in my row last night were two Oregon fans who were doing just that.

 

[RU Jeep]

Sitting in my row last night were two Oregon fans who were doing just that.

If there were 30k more, we’d have a sellout

 

[HeavenUniversity]

I remember when people claimed OSU, UM and PSU fans would buy all of our season tickets just to see their team once every couple of years.

They just buy them from Rutgers season ticket holders who are trying to get some money to pay for the ever rising season ticket costs ( not to mention food for those that buy food in Rutgers Stadium). It seems to have started when Ash was coach and the season was over in early October.

 

[Fat Koko]

Doesn't the BIG have minimum stadium requirements?

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seat go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwesterns focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

Doesn't the BIG have minimum stadium requirements?

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seat go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwestern’s focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

I think it will work. Northwestern’s athletic director says the temporary 12,000 seat stadium has lots of premium seats and generates more revenue than Northwestern’s old 47,000 seat stadium that lacked premium seats.

 

[Fat Koko]

Doesn't the BIG have minimum stadium requirements?

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seats go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwestern’s focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

I think it will work. Northwestern’s athletic director says the temporary 12,000 seat stadium has lots of premium seats and generates more revenue than Northwestern’s old 47,000 seat stadium that lacked premium seats.

 

[Leonard23]

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seats go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwestern’s focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

I think it will work. Northwestern’s athletic director says the temporary 12,000 seat stadium has lots of premium seats and generates more revenue than Northwestern’s old 47,000 seat stadium that lacked premium seats.

That's a poor take. $102M wasn't just to add student seats in the South end zone. Phase 1 completed in 2008 added the club and ~1,000 club seats, which generates considerable $$$ and donations. Phase 2 completed in 2009 added the South end zone seats, most of which go to students, but not all, as 131 and 144 don't. It also added much needed bathrooms, concession stands, new videoboard (which was 1 of the largest in CFB at the time) and the related HD cameras and control room equipment, ribbon scoreboards on the upper decks, new sound system, recruiting lounge, and I also think elevators.

 

[Fat Koko]

That's a poor take. $102M wasn't just to add student seats in the South end zone. Phase 1 completed in 2008 added the club and ~1,000 club seats, which generates considerable $$$ and donations. Phase 2 completed in 2009 added the South end zone seats, most of which go to students, but not all, as 131 and 144 don't. It also added much needed bathrooms, concession stands, new videoboard (which was 1 of the largest in CFB at the time) and the related HD cameras and control room equipment, ribbon scoreboards on the upper decks, new sound system, recruiting lounge, and I also think elevators.

Thanks for details. I oversimplified the scope of work in my post.

Question - why is the recruiting pavilion, a part of the expansion, empty during games? I do appreciate this was funded by private donations.

 

[e5fdny]

Saying it three times doesn’t make it so as @Leonard23 has already pointed out.

I also agree with the idea he suggested about putting in seat backs throughout the Stadium.

And we only got one elevator, think we were supposed to get two or three out of it.

Question - why is the recruiting pavilion, a part of the empty during games? I do appreciate this was funded by private donations.

Ask the NCAA, it’s their rule on that.

 

[Fat Koko]

Saying it three times doesn’t make it so as @Leonard23 has already pointed out.

I also agree with the idea he suggested about putting in seat backs throughout the Stadium.

And we only got one elevator, think we were supposed to get two or three out of it.



Ask the NCAA, it’s their rule on that.

I've heard that many times. But nobody has pointed to the rule. My suggestion is break the rule because the NCAA probably won't notice or if they do they won't enforce it. Seems like the outdoor space would be less stuffy than the Provident Club.

FYI - Apologize for typo, I fixed.

 

[e5fdny]

I've heard that many times. But nobody has pointed to the rule. My suggestion is break the rule because the NCAA probably won't notice or if they do they won't enforce it. Seems like the outdoor space would be less stuffy than the Provident Club.

Outdoor space like that has already been mentioned for the North End. Much bigger than the what’s in the Recruiting Pavilion. I saw the renderings. Looked pretty good.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seat go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwesterns focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seat go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwestern’s focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

I think it will work. Northwestern’s athletic director says the temporary 12,000 seat stadium has lots of premium seats and generates more revenue than Northwestern’s old 47,000 seat stadium that lacked premium seats.

As i understand it, the student fees pay for the student tickets. The way we account for that is as a university cost and not as a department revenue. But it still is generating and justifying that expense.

Do i have that wrong?

 

[Fat Koko]

As i understand it, the student fees pay for the student tickets. The way we account for that is as a university cost and not as a department revenue. But it still is generating and justifying that expense.

Do i have that wrong?

Student fees have nothing to do with ticket sales. Mandatory student fees to the athletic department are simply a recurring revenue stream for the athletic department. Ticket sales are ticket sales and can be allocated by sport.

What is the university cost and expense you mention?

Ticket Sales $14,733,345
- Football $9,248,430
- Men's Basketball $4,370,754
- Women's Basketball $385,995
- Wresting $453,904
- Men's Lacrosse $115,705
- Other $158,557

Mandatory Student Fees to Athletic Department $14,538,668

Source: NCAA Membership Financial Reporting System, fiscal year 2024

 

[Leonard23]

Thanks for details. I oversimplified the scope of work in my post.

Question - why is the recruiting pavilion, a part of the expansion, empty during games? I do appreciate this was funded by private donations.

You're welcome. Details are important in these discussions.

Saying it three times doesn’t make it so as @Leonard23 has already pointed out.

I also agree with the idea he suggested about putting in seat backs throughout the Stadium.

And we only got one elevator, think we were supposed to get two or three out of it.



Ask the NCAA, it’s their rule on that.

We need chairbacks for next season.

Outdoor space like that has already been mentioned for the North End. Much bigger than the what’s in the Recruiting Pavilion. I saw the renderings. Looked pretty good.

I've heard that many times. But nobody has pointed to the rule. My suggestion is break the rule because the NCAA probably won't notice or if they do they won't enforce it. Seems like the outdoor space would be less stuffy than the Provident Club.

FYI - Apologize for typo, I fixed.

I'd like to see the recruiting lounge used during games, and we should add those party decks/beer gardens.

 

[e5fdny]

I'd like to see the recruiting lounge used during games, and we should add those party decks/beer gardens.

Someone I know very well has used them in the past and said it wasn’t a very well operation on Rutgers part.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Student fees have nothing to do with ticket sales. Mandatory student fees to the athletic department are simply a recurring revenue stream for the athletic department. Ticket sales are ticket sales and can be allocated by sport.

What is the university cost and expense you mention?

Ticket Sales $14,733,345
- Football $9,248,430
- Men's Basketball $4,370,754
- Women's Basketball $385,995
- Wresting $453,904
- Men's Lacrosse $115,705
- Other $158,557

Mandatory Student Fees to Athletic Department $14,538,668

Source: NCAA Membership Financial Reporting System, fiscal year 2024

Do the students pay for tickets?
I think not.
So the student fees are in lieu of ticket sales and offset (by amortizing over all students) the otherwise have day cost for each student who attends a have at which a ticket few would be charged (across sports)...

I'm not sure what i have wrong? It's certainly how they did it when it was in school on the 18th century...

 

[DHajekRC1984]

They just buy them from Rutgers season ticket holders who are trying to get some money to pay for the ever rising season ticket costs ( not to mention food for those that buy food in Rutgers Stadium). It seems to have started when Ash was coach and the season was over in early October.

Wrong. The season tix cost have hardly increased and if they buy them now from Rutgers STH you can now partially thank this new site for chasing folks away from selling to fellow Rutgers fans.

I can't make THE PSU game and guess what.. now they are listed on stubhub.

 

[DHajekRC1984]

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seat go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwesterns focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seat go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwestern’s focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

I think it will work. Northwestern’s athletic director says the temporary 12,000 seat stadium has lots of premium seats and generates more revenue than Northwestern’s old 47,000 seat stadium that lacked premium seats.

Well didn't RU sell the seats the students used to have? They didn't just add 11k student free seats.

 

[DHajekRC1984]

Someone I know very well has used them in the past and said it wasn’t a very well operation on Rutgers part.

Someone I know very well has used them in the past and said it wasn’t a very well operation on Rutgers part.

SHOCKING!! SO SHOCKING!!

 

[DHajekRC1984]

Rutgers can't even replace the 2 faded 3 by 5 faded flags flying over north end zone. (NJ and Old Queens)

Same flags I offered to replace with min 5 x 7 flags out of MY pocket but they refused because they were afraid they'd interfere with antennas that are 10 feet away.

Did they freshen up with same size? F no. Still look like ****.

Joke.

 

[Fat Koko]

Do the students pay for tickets?
I think not.
So the student fees are in lieu of ticket sales and offset (by amortizing over all students) the otherwise have day cost for each student who attends a have at which a ticket few would be charged (across sports)...

I'm not sure what i have wrong? It's certainly how they did it when it was in school on the 18th century...

I am not sure but I think what you are trying to communicate is Rutgers charges students who attend football games by charging all students a mandatory student athletic fee - no matter if they go to games - instead of selling tickets to students who attend football games.

This is fuzzy thinking.

Rutgers classifies student fees as non-program specific. In other words, student fees have no connection to football or any other sport. They are a way to rake money out of students into the athletic department.

Most B1G schools don't charge mandatory student athletic fees. They don't need to because they sell piles of tickets and bring in a lot of donations too.

Mandatory student athletic fees are spreading though. Last year, Clemson approved a mandatory student athletic fee of $300. That is on top of the $42 per ticket students pay for the lower bowl and $25 for the upper bowl.

 

[Fat Koko]

Well didn't RU sell the seats the students used to have? They didn't just add 11k student free seats.

Based on what I witnessed at the Ohio game, the former student section in the opposite end zone was mostly empty, so no.

 

[Knight Shift]

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seat go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwesterns focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

Nope.

Why bother building an upper bowl when those seats are the most expensive to build and generate little revenue.

Rutgers spent $102 million to add 11,000 end zone seats that generate almost no revenue because the seat go to the students.

Will be interesting to see the take up on Northwestern’s focus on premium tickets in its new stadium.

I think it will work. Northwestern’s athletic director says the temporary 12,000 seat stadium has lots of premium seats and generates more revenue than Northwestern’s old 47,000 seat stadium that lacked premium seats.

Grok disagrees with you on cost, and anyone with a construction background would see that. Grok says:

Upper-level seats in a football stadium are generally less expensive to build than lower-level seats. Several factors contribute to this:

1. Structural Complexity: Lower-level seats are closer to the field and often require more robust structural engineering, including foundations, support columns, and integration with premium amenities like luxury suites, club areas, or field-level facilities. Upper-level seats, built higher up, rely on simpler structural frameworks, often cantilevered or supported by lighter materials.
2. Access and Infrastructure: Lower-level seating areas need more extensive access points, such as wider concourses, escalators, elevators, and proximity to premium entrances. These areas also require better integration with utilities like restrooms, concessions, and VIP facilities. Upper-level seats typically have simpler access routes and fewer amenities, reducing construction costs.
3. Materials and Design: Lower-level seats are often designed with higher-quality materials and finishes to cater to premium ticket holders, increasing costs. Upper-level seats use more standardized, cost-effective materials and designs.
4. Proximity to Utilities: Lower levels house critical infrastructure like plumbing, electrical systems, and HVAC for the entire stadium, driving up costs. Upper levels have fewer utility demands.

While exact costs vary by stadium design, location, and capacity, industry estimates suggest lower-level seating areas can cost 20-50% more per seat to construct due to these factors. For example, premium lower-level sections in modern NFL stadiums often include features like cushioned seats or climate-controlled areas, further inflating costs compared to the utilitarian upper decks.

 

[Knight Shift]

Someone I know very well has used them in the past and said it wasn’t a very well operation on Rutgers part.

I think I know that person. The person running the show during that time period is long gone.

 

[Knight Shift]

Back to the topic at hand, after an ugly loss to Tulane, Northwestern may want to shrink the stadium further. And WTF with denying Tulane wearing the Jerseys?

 

[cioffineverrana43]

Sitting in my row last night were two Oregon fans who were doing just that.

Joke's on them!

 

[Loyal_2RU]

I am not sure but I think what you are trying to communicate is Rutgers charges students who attend football games by charging all students a mandatory student athletic fee - no matter if they go to games - instead of selling tickets to students who attend football games.

This is fuzzy thinking.

Rutgers classifies student fees as non-program specific. In other words, student fees have no connection to football or any other sport. They are a way to rake money out of students into the athletic department.

Most B1G schools don't charge mandatory student athletic fees. They don't need to because they sell piles of tickets and bring in a lot of donations too.

Mandatory student athletic fees are spreading though. Last year, Clemson approved a mandatory student athletic fee of $300. That is on top of the $42 per ticket students pay for the lower bowl and $25 for the upper bowl.

It's not fuzzy thinking at all
It's what was explained to me when i was in student government at Rutgers. And yes it is not program specific as football, basketball, wrestling, women's basketball at least ask charge for admission. It reflects one way that Rutgers accounting is odd and not comparable to other institutions. Further it's also one reason the real deficit is not what it is reported as. They are absent revenues other programs have and seen to be subsidized instead by the student fee amount.

 

[Fat Koko]

Grok disagrees with you on cost, and anyone with a construction background would see that. Grok says:

Upper-level seats in a football stadium are generally less expensive to build than lower-level seats. Several factors contribute to this:

1. Structural Complexity: Lower-level seats are closer to the field and often require more robust structural engineering, including foundations, support columns, and integration with premium amenities like luxury suites, club areas, or field-level facilities. Upper-level seats, built higher up, rely on simpler structural frameworks, often cantilevered or supported by lighter materials.
2. Access and Infrastructure: Lower-level seating areas need more extensive access points, such as wider concourses, escalators, elevators, and proximity to premium entrances. These areas also require better integration with utilities like restrooms, concessions, and VIP facilities. Upper-level seats typically have simpler access routes and fewer amenities, reducing construction costs.
3. Materials and Design: Lower-level seats are often designed with higher-quality materials and finishes to cater to premium ticket holders, increasing costs. Upper-level seats use more standardized, cost-effective materials and designs.
4. Proximity to Utilities: Lower levels house critical infrastructure like plumbing, electrical systems, and HVAC for the entire stadium, driving up costs. Upper levels have fewer utility demands.

While exact costs vary by stadium design, location, and capacity, industry estimates suggest lower-level seating areas can cost 20-50% more per seat to construct due to these factors. For example, premium lower-level sections in modern NFL stadiums often include features like cushioned seats or climate-controlled areas, further inflating costs compared to the utilitarian upper decks.

Thanks for posting. Reasonable but different cost allocation methods will lead to different outcomes.

A Sportico article on the new Ryan Field concludes, "Financially, upper bowl seats are the most expensive to build and typically produce the least revenue."

 

[tico brown]

I've heard that many times. But nobody has pointed to the rule. My suggestion is break the rule because the NCAA probably won't notice or if they do they won't enforce it. Seems like the outdoor space would be less stuffy than the Provident Club.

FYI - Apologize for typo, I fixed.

Do this and I guarantee you that the NCAA will notice and will get the East Tennessee Tech Treatment.

 

[Fat Koko]

It's not fuzzy thinking at all
It's what was explained to me when i was in student government at Rutgers. And yes it is not program specific as football, basketball, wrestling, women's basketball at least ask charge for admission. It reflects one way that Rutgers accounting is odd and not comparable to other institutions. Further it's also one reason the real deficit is not what it is reported as. They are absent revenues other programs have and seen to be subsidized instead by the student fee amount.

Thanks for serving in student government.

I read quite a bit on TKR that on athletic department accounting, Rutgers does things differently and more conservatively.

I disagree. The NCAA requires Division 1 schools to create annual financial reports using uniform standards. These reports are audited and must be certified by the university's leader. At Rutgers, that was KPMG and Jonathan Holloway. If any school was aggressive in its accounting, it was Rutgers. Hobbs counted loan proceeds as operating revenue, for example.

To be clear, judgement calls exist - such has how to allocate media deal revenue across individual sports. But that doesn't change the overall media deal revenue.

In 2024, Rutgers led the B1G in student fees and was dead last in ticket sales.

Can you provide some concrete examples of how Rutgers does it differently than other schools?

 

[Knight Shift]

Thanks for posting. Reasonable but different cost allocation methods will lead to different outcomes.

A Sportico article on the new Ryan Field concludes, "Financially, upper bowl seats are the most expensive to build and typically produce the least revenue."

As with all things, the differences depend on the amenities and scope of construction. Looks like the NW stadium second levels will literally be "next level" compared to the upper decks at SHI(TM) stadium upper decks, which are quite Spartan with amenities.

 

[HeavenUniversity]

Wrong. The season tix cost have hardly increased and if they buy them now from Rutgers STH you can now partially thank this new site for chasing folks away from selling to fellow Rutgers fans.

I can't make THE PSU game and guess what.. now they are listed on stubhub

Not sure what you are talking about.— I am sure season ticket prices, parking, food, donations have risen in the last 11 years. The person I was responding to mentioned there was a thinking pre-Big Ten start that other schools would be buying Rutgers season tickets just to get into Rutgers Stadium. What I was saying is, sadly, as our program went off a cliff in the Flood/Ash era, people gave up as the seasons would fall apart. They would just sell their tickets to anyone which helped them pay for their season ticket. After we would win three cupcake games and then get blown out in three or four Big Ten games, ticket holders just gave up.

 

[Loyal_2RU]

Thanks for serving in student government.

I read quite a bit on TKR that on athletic department accounting, Rutgers does things differently and more conservatively.

I disagree. The NCAA requires Division 1 schools to create annual financial reports using uniform standards. These reports are audited and must be certified by the university's leader. At Rutgers, that was KPMG and Jonathan Holloway. If any school was aggressive in its accounting, it was Rutgers. Hobbs counted loan proceeds as operating revenue, for example.

To be clear, judgement calls exist - such has how to allocate media deal revenue across individual sports. But that doesn't change the overall media deal revenue.

In 2024, Rutgers led the B1G in student fees and was dead last in ticket sales.

Can you provide some concrete examples of how Rutgers does it differently than other schools?

Using quickly available data, in 2013 Alabama had 15,700 season ticket packages available for the general student population. This year they cost $256 per package. Multiplying that's north of $4M of football specific revenue. Plus whatever the basketball number is, etc. Then since they don't charge a fee for that purpose, less that much supplementation.

I'm sure there are many variations but this is a concrete example, as you had asked.

 

[MADHAT1]

Back to the topic at hand, after an ugly loss to Tulane, Northwestern may want to shrink the stadium further. And WTF with denying Tulane wearing the Jerseys?

"WTF with denying Tulane wearing the Jerseys?"
did a quick google about it and found this that explains why and just might be Tulane's fault
>Northwestern received Tulane's uniform request Aug. 17, but already had prepared its white uniforms and decals for the game to New Orleans. Uniform change requests are usually made several months in advance.<

Wildcats coach says no disrespect intended in denying Tulane uniform request

Northwestern coach David Braun said his program meant no disrespect in denying Tulane's request to wear white uniforms for Saturday's game in New Orleans, which the Green Wave wanted to do to honor the 2005 team and the 20-year anniversary of Katrina.

www.espn.com

 

[Knight Shift]

"WTF with denying Tulane wearing the Jerseys?"
did a quick google about it and found this that explains why and just might be Tulane's fault
>Northwestern received Tulane's uniform request Aug. 17, but already had prepared its white uniforms and decals for the game to New Orleans. Uniform change requests are usually made several months in advance.<

Wildcats coach says no disrespect intended in denying Tulane uniform request

Northwestern coach David Braun said his program meant no disrespect in denying Tulane's request to wear white uniforms for Saturday's game in New Orleans, which the Green Wave wanted to do to honor the 2005 team and the 20-year anniversary of Katrina.

www.espn.com

Meh- actions speak louder than words. The Northwestern coach seems like a nice enough guy, and maybe the decision was out of his hands.
Karma is a you know what, and Northwestern got theirs.