The temporary lakeside stadium bridging the gap between football eras

History · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When Northwestern's historic Ryan Field faced demolition, the university faced a logistical crisis. The solution was not a new stadium, but a creative transformation of an existing lacrosse and soccer venue into a temporary football home, providing a scenic lakeside backdrop for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

For decades, Northwestern football played at the expansive Ryan Field. However, with the old stadium slated for demolition to make way for a new, state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open in 2026, the university needed an interim solution for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The answer lay at the Lanny and Sharon Martin athletics facility, a venue originally built in 1997 as part of the Leonard B. Thomas Sports Complex.

Originally designed for soccer and lacrosse, the stadium—which has also hosted the Chicago Stars FC and Chicago Tempest—underwent a significant enlargement in mid-2024. This temporary enhancement to the facility, located near Lake Michigan on the Evanston campus, was designed to provide a stunning backdrop of the lake and the Chicago skyline. While the capacity of this temporary structure is considerably less than the old or new Ryan Field, it serves as a vital bridge for the Wildcats' football program following their 2023 bowl-winning season.

The transformation is part of a broader athletic evolution. The venue itself was renamed in honor of trustee and alumnus J. Landis 'Lanny' Martin and his wife Sharon, who contributed $15 million to the university's 'We Will' fundraising campaign. While the football team utilizes this enhanced space, other programs like men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse continue their residency here, maintaining the university's presence on the lakefront during this period of massive infrastructural transition.

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