Northwestern University and the Ryan Family officially unveiled the first public look at the new Ryan Field, a state-of-the-art $850 million sports and entertainment venue set to become a landmark for college football and Chicago. The project, with the majority of the funding provided by the Ryan Family without public investment, will set a new standard in college athletics, transforming the traditional stadium model into a year-round community asset. Scheduled to open in 2026, the new Ryan Field promises to bring a world class student athlete, fan and community experience to college sports.
The new Ryan Field reflects both the unique history of Northwestern football and Chicago's vibrant connection to the Big Ten Conference. Once completed, it will not only host Northwestern football but also serve as a premier destination for national events, youth sports championships, and additional opportunities, creating an unparalleled community hub, truly "Chicago's Big Ten Stadium." [Northwestern University]
City officials cut the ribbon Monday evening on the newly renovated Vare Recreation Center, the first project completed by Rebuild Philadelphia to cost more than $20 million.
Renovations cost $21 million, bringing a full indoor basketball gym to Grays Ferry and a gymnastics gym with new equipment. The Philadelphia Eagles have donated $250,000 toward a new outdoor field expected to be completed by spring.
The facility will also include space that can be converted into new classrooms. Of the city’s 183 rec centers, Vare is the first to receive fiber-optic high-speed internet that will be utilized in the facility’s new computer lab. Parks and Rec Commissioner Susan Slawson said this project is the department’s “goal for the city of Philadelphia.” [WHYY]
The UTA Athletics department unveiled its first fueling station in the Gilstrap Athletic Center at Maverick Stadium, a significant upgrade designed to enhance student athletes’ performance through nutrition.
Ira Childress, senior associate Athletic director for development, said the initiative was made possible through fundraising, a crucial step in the program’s commitment to providing essential resources to its athletes.
The program has done several things, but the fueling station was the most important because nutrition is at the top of the list for student-athletes, Childress said. [The Shorthorn]
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