Ryan Field

Fanaticat98

Senior
May 29, 2001
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689
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Matt Shelton posted exterior photos on X a couple days ago, did not look that far along on the cladding. Wonder what’s going on inside.
 

CatManTrue

All-American
Oct 4, 2008
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Someone caught this onsite in Evanston:

Fail Amy Poehler GIF by Parks and Recreation
 

NURoseBowl

Junior
Jun 16, 2009
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I imagine the field - and all that is necessary to actually play the game - would be ready. I'm thinking (read: hoping) that whatever isn't 100% ready by then would be more ancillary in nature. Things related to, maybe say concessions, finishing touches in the locker room, painting . . . stuff like that. :sick: Fingers crossed.
 
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techtim72

Senior
May 10, 2010
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Everyone on this board keeps talking about "everything" being complete and fully tested out by the opening date. Nope, unlikely to happen IMO and I said that a few months ago. With a little cooperation, however, NU can sell seats. Would mean not every club and food outlet is complete, site work remains, the punch list is long and perhaps aspects of the exterior cladding look rough. A whole lot of new stadium facilities open in various states of incompletion. The key is that the life-safety aspects are fully functional and tested.
 

Catmandoo78

Sophomore
Nov 12, 2025
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Everyone on this board keeps talking about "everything" being complete and fully tested out by the opening date. Nope, unlikely to happen IMO and I said that a few months ago. With a little cooperation, however, NU can sell seats. Would mean not every club and food outlet is complete, site work remains, the punch list is long and perhaps aspects of the exterior cladding look rough. A whole lot of new stadium facilities open in various states of incompletion. The key is that the life-safety aspects are fully functional and tested.
That’s hardly the triumphant, beacon-on-the-hill opening that I’m guessing the Ryan’s and NU had in mind. Hopefully that’s not the case. That would be a squandered opportunity.
 

techtim72

Senior
May 10, 2010
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That’s hardly the triumphant, beacon-on-the-hill opening that I’m guessing the Ryan’s and NU had in mind. Hopefully that’s not the case. That would be a squandered opportunity.

It would be fine. Just because the big donors don't have a multi-million dollar facility to drink and dine in, doesn't mean the catered canapes and drinks in plastic tumblers won't go down as well.
 

Baz = Heisman

Junior
Aug 15, 2025
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Whomever is running this project from a messaging perspective should be fired. I think it was Jesse Marks though so you can’t fire him given he already left. Maybe this **** show is why?
 

JustGary

Sophomore
Oct 7, 2025
130
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Whomever is running this project from a messaging perspective should be fired. I think it was Jesse Marks though so you can’t fire him given he already left. Maybe this **** show is why?
Jesse pushed the lakefront solution when everyone in the AD department did nothing and he got that stadium done fast. I doubt you can blame him. I am sure there are several people currently associated with the project now that can’t run construction. When the project was first launched, I was surprised it would take as much as 2 years. I do know that when they are having trouble getting it ready for Penn State, it means they don’t believe they can past inspection to get it licensed for occupation. They should have made a contingency for the project not finishing on time (like they should have made a plan of where to play when the project was first planned). I really hope they make it somehow, but it probably takes a lot of money and bodies.
 
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EagerFan

Sophomore
Dec 24, 2010
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As far as actual construction goes, amazing things can happen in days or weeks. As far as inspections and occupation certificates, delays can be as long as the issuer cares to make them.
 
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hdhntr1

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2006
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Jesse pushed the lakefront solution when everyone in the AD department did nothing and he got that stadium done fast. I doubt you can blame him. I am sure there are several people currently associated with the project now that can’t run construction. When the project was first launched, I was surprised it would take as much as 2 years. I do know that when they are having trouble getting it ready for Penn State, it means they don’t believe they can past inspection to get it licensed for occupation. They should have made a contingency for the project not finishing on time (like they should have made a plan of where to play when the project was first planned). I really hope they make it somehow, but it probably takes a lot of money and bodies.
It is construction in the Chicago market,. Takes too much time to figure out who to pay off to get it actually done
 
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NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
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Also remember Evanston has specific days/hours that construction is permitted and strictly enforced. This is unfortunate
The hours are pretty liberal:

These work hours are within the City of Evanston construction work hour requirements, Monday through Friday:

7:00am – 7:00pm, Saturday: 8:00am – 5:00pm, Sunday: No work allowed.
 
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CatManTrue

All-American
Oct 4, 2008
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FWIW there are currently ~700 people working on the project every day right now and they plan on upping that to about 820 per day soon, if they haven't already
Well are the rumors true that the October 2nd date is at risk?

I was thinking about flying back for Homecoming but may wait.
 

techtim72

Senior
May 10, 2010
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The hours are pretty liberal:

These work hours are within the City of Evanston construction work hour requirements, Monday through Friday:

7:00am – 7:00pm, Saturday: 8:00am – 5:00pm, Sunday: No work allowed.

I thought the work hours, at least for a good portion of the project, were more restrictive? Anyway, yes, these are reasonable hours but it doesn't get into the nitty gritty of what were likely big schedule impediments with street closures, trucking restrictions, etc, etc. The biggest impact to the schedule were the months lost at the start when litigation from the neighborhood was ongoing. Plus didn't Evanston have a pretty rough winter? Remember that cold not just snow is debilitating when a project is still exposed to the elements.
 
May 29, 2001
1,492
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The hours are pretty liberal:

These work hours are within the City of Evanston construction work hour requirements, Monday through Friday:

7:00am – 7:00pm, Saturday: 8:00am – 5:00pm, Sunday: No work allowed.
I’m aware of what they are. I reside here and the residents do not want the construction they want more restrictions unfortunately the new city council representative wants stricter regulation
 
May 29, 2001
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Evanstonians are the biggest pussies in the world. Without NU, it’s a nothing town. NU should call all the shots.
The people around Ryan Field do not want the stadium. They also won victory over the soccer team. That is why the soccer team pulled out from their attempts to play at the new Ryan Field, and they will win the lawsuit against the mayor for violating state law regarding the super majority violation, which means no concerts unfortunately. The mayor is a piece of ****. Who lined his pockets many suspect
 
May 29, 2001
1,492
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As an Evanston resident who likes the stadium, I can tell you that unfortunately those who live around the stadium are pushing for strict permit parking only for a wider area worse than what they did to the hospital when permit Parking went into affect a decades ago.
If you think Evanston is bad, Wilmette Residents will make life miserable also on football game days by blocking streets, etc.
 

Purple Pile Driver

All-Conference
May 14, 2014
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The people around Ryan Field do not want the stadium. They also won victory over the soccer team. That is why the soccer team pulled out from their attempts to play at the new Ryan Field, and they will win the lawsuit against the mayor for violating state law regarding the super majority violation, which means no concerts unfortunately. The mayor is a piece of ****. Who lined his pockets many suspect
Feel for you Happy. That same Mayor is going to screw up more than Evanston now that he’ll be in the Senate. Typical Silver spoon politician that will say and do whatever to keep in power.
 
May 29, 2001
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I sat through a majority of the hearings regarding the NRF and they were packed with both sides of the issue.

NU staff, students and alum for and against. Residents for and against. The City Council which voted in favor were from Wards away from the NRF. I’ve resided here forever and NU & COE are like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. I don’t trust either the COE Council or NU Admin.

Here’s to hoping for an Oct 2nd opening night!
 
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