SportsQuest
All games

Week 10, Fri, Nov 6, Time TBA local

Iowa Hawkeyesat Northwestern Wildcats

Ryan Field, Evanston. Fly into ORD.

Build the quest

What we know about Ryan Field

Where visiting fans stay

Checked at the source
  • Downtown Evanston. Free game day shuttle from Chicago Ave and Church St, Orrington Ave and Davis St, or Maple Ave near Emerson St. Restaurants and bars next to campus, with the Davis Purple Line and Metra stops. The Graduate Hotel at 1625 Hinman Ave has a bar open late on weekends.
  • Chicago. CTA Red Line to Howard, then the Purple Line to Central, or Metra UP-North to Central Street. Biggest choice of hotels; Evanston is about 12 miles north of the Loop.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Downtown Evanston, next to the Northwestern campus, has about 85 restaurants. Game day shuttles run between downtown and the stadium. Double Clutch Brewing sits on Ashland Avenue near the stadium.

Getting in from the airport

Checked at the source
ORD O'Hare, 17 to 20 miles away, a 35 to 60 minute drive. By train, take the CTA Blue Line, change to the Red Line at Jackson and the Purple Line at Howard, and get off at Central.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
Metra Union Pacific North Line. Central Street station, about a five-minute walk from the gates. CTA Purple Line. Central station; walk west along Central Street. Pace Bus 201 to In front of the stadium. Downtown Evanston shuttle. Ashland Avenue at Gate 1 (Southwest Gate).

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Every ticket includes the Great Chicago Food Festival on 200,000 square feet of grounds around the stadium, with live music, DJs and the Great Big Ten Grillout. You don't need a parking pass or a cooler. Chicago chefs including Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard and Gibsons run pop-up pavilions in The Village. Willie's Fan Favorites sells hot dogs, burgers and nachos for $5 each through the New Ryan Field app. The festival opens two hours before kickoff, when gates open. Parking lots open four hours before. Sixteen Kevin O'Brien Tailgating Tents, each with a patio and room for 25 guests, can be reserved through [email protected].

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: One bag per person up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches. It does not have to be clear. No backpacks of any kind, and no hard coolers or cases.
  • Cashless: Cashless concessions and retail. Reverse ATMs load cash onto a prepaid card. Alcohol sales end at the start of the fourth quarter, two drinks per purchase.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
Take the train home. Metra and the CTA have been asked to add special trains and give fans a free ride home after the game. Shuttles pick up along Ashland Avenue.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't plan to park on the street. Evanston bans event day street parking in the neighborhoods around the stadium, and Canal Shores Golf Course parking is gone. Buy a lot pass on JustPark or take the train.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • Double Clutch Brewing Company

    2121 Ashland Ave., Evanston, IL 60201

    Big industrial brewery and restaurant with house beers and a rotating collection of classic cars.

    Away fans: mixed crowd; the closest brewery to the stadium.

  • Sketchbook Brewing Co.

    821 Chicago Ave., Evanston, IL 60202

    Neighborhood taproom and brewery with games, live Irish music on Tuesdays and Saturday social events.

    Away fans: family friendly brewery; relaxed for visiting fans.

  • Ridgeville Tavern

    1520 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL

    Neighborhood bar with tavern food, 20 beers on tap, craft cocktails and big screens for the game.

    Away fans: neighborhood bar; good for watching other games.

  • Benson Avenue Tavern

    1735 Benson Ave., Evanston, IL

    Pub with deli-inspired food made with a fine dining approach. The kitchen closes an hour before the bar.

    Away fans: pub crowd; a late bite after a night game.

Sidequests in Evanston

In the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Photo40 points

    Deering Library on campus

    This library served as Northwestern's main library from 1933 to 1970. It's a landmark on the lakeside Evanston campus.

    Free. The day before

  2. Landmark50 points

    Grosse Point Light

    Evanston's lighthouse has stood on Lake Michigan since 1873. It's a National Historic Landmark.

    Free. The day before

  3. Eat90 points

    The Great Chicago Food Festival

    Every ticket gets you into the pregame festival around the new stadium. Chicago chefs cook, bands play, and Willie's sells classics for $5.

    $. 2 hours before kickoff

  4. Landmark75 points

    See the new Ryan Field

    This is the most expensive college football stadium ever built, opening in 2026. It has the standing Wildcat Wall student section, and no seat sits more than 150 feet from the field.

    Free. 1 hour 30 minutes before kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of Ryan Field sits, and what you see from it.

Main bowl, end zone, coveredMain bowl, corner, home side, coveredMain bowl, home sideline, coveredMain bowl, corner, home side, coveredMain bowl, end zone, coveredMain bowl, corner, visitor side, coveredMain bowl, visitor sideline, coveredMain bowl, corner, visitor side, coveredLoft level, end zone, coveredLoft level, corner, home side, coveredLoft level, home sideline, coveredLoft level, corner, home side, coveredLoft level, end zone, coveredLoft level, corner, visitor side, coveredLoft level, visitor sideline, coveredLoft level, corner, visitor side, coveredHomeVisitors
Main bowl100s; Section 114 is on the north side of the main concourseLoft level200s; Sections 221 and 235 sit on the Loft level west, Section 206 on the upper concourse eastCoveredTap any part of the stadium to see its view.