Northwestern built something college football hasn't tried — and aims to intimidate
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Matt Leinart stood in the end zone at the new Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois, to soak in a different feeling for a college football stadium.
Above the south end zone sits the “Wildcat Wall,” Northwestern football’s student section at the brand-new $862-million stadium that opens on Friday, Oct. 2, vs. Penn State. USA TODAY Sports was given an exclusive sneak preview of the stands, which will hold 2,000 students and stand at a steep 33-degree, 65%-slope.
Though the stands were empty and the stadium was still under construction at the time of Leinart’s visit, the former Southern California Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback still could see how intimidating it could be.
“We showed it to Matt Leinart when he was through town for Fox during the season,” CEO of Ryan Sports Development Pat Ryan Jr. told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive reveal of the student section.
“He got down to the end zone to take a look at it, and he talked about how you could feel energy coming off of it, even without people in it. Because it’s looming over that south end zone.”
Consider it mission accomplished for Ryan and Northwestern football, as they look to open the largest stadium project in college football history.
The Wildcats will be the first college program in the country to employ the European football-style-standing supporters section. The hope is to build a deafening wall of energy to intimidate opposing teams, even with the smallest capacity in the Big Ten.
“No one’s ever imported a supporter section from European football to create a student section,” Ryan said. “And I think most people in sports know that European football fans are among the most passionate fans out there and they really energize a building unlike most any other sport.”
Pat Ryan Jr. is a member of Northwestern’s legendary Ryan family, which is following a similar model by Phil Knight, who used to develop facilities for the University of Oregon. They gifted the stadium to the school and are also acting as the developer on a pro bono basis before handing it back to the university.
While the majority of the students will be standing — as they do at most Northwestern home games — Ryan pointed out that there will be seats available for those who need them. Safety rails will also be in place to keep the students safe.
But it’s an opportunity for the fans to feel they can make a difference. While the majority of the students saw the unveiling of the student section when the university announced the plans on Thursday, May 14, a few did get a sneak preview.
“We previewed it with some students and they are really fired up,” Ryan said. “I think they feel it will take the legendary intensity of what we call the ‘Wild Side,’ which is our student fan group at Welsh Ryan Arena. Our students are the heartbeat of the arena and have a big impact.
At Welsh Arena, Northwestern has pulled off upset wins over Purdue, when it was ranked No. 1, in recent seasons. Even with a reduced capacity — down to 35,000 from 47,310, smallest in the Big Ten — the Wildcat Wall and the canopy that covers 100% of the stands should pump up the crowd noise for opposing teams.
“It’s a chance to take that legendary energy and channel it into the football stadium at Ryan Field,” Ryan said.
The Purple Line: Student hype tunnel
Anyone who has traveled using public transportation in Chicago knows of the CTA — the city’s transit system. Building on that, the “Purple Line” will be the first student hype tunnel, modeled after the tunnel the players enter.
The tunnel will take students from the Paynter Family Hall — a student-dedicated pregame space — to the Wildcat Wall, building excitement as they walk through lights, sounds and energy to build a “visceral, adrenaline-fueled” experience for fans.
The hope is for students, like the players, to bring even more energy for big games.
“The idea is this tunnel would activate just a bit ahead of the player hype tunnel, and that would be a part of the tradition for the students in the new building,” Ryan said. “Obviously, we’re not here to tell them how to use it, because you want it to be organic. But these are some of the capabilities and tools they’ll have to do some fun things and build new traditions.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Northwestern football new stadium borrows from Europe with student section
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos