Northwestern University’s hope to rebuild Ryan Field was tackled for a loss late Wednesday as a city commission in Evanston voted against its plan to bring concerts and other money-making events to a new football stadium.
Evanston’s Land Use Commission voted 7-2 against a zoning amendment that would allow concerts and similar events at the planned open-air arena. The panel gave Northwestern some of what it wanted, unanimously approving in a separate vote a planned development authorizing the stadium.
Commission Chairman Matt Rodgers said NU’s insistence on the need for concerts was "somewhat laughable." Rodgers at the last minute proposed an amendment to give NU flexibility for concerts, with the number and conditions to be negotiated with the city, but his idea was voted down. Northwestern wants to demolish the 97-year-old bowl-style arena at 1501 Central St. and replace it with a stadium that has a different alignment. The seating capacity would be reduced from the current 47,000 to 35,000 for football, a change the school said would improve the fan experience. It would continue to be the home of the Northwestern Wildcats football team.A very vocal group of residents made a strong statement Tuesday night against the new Ryan Field project.
At Wednesday night’s meeting, the commission gave Northwestern representatives time to answer arguments made by speakers at the two previous sessions. The nine-member commission then had its own questions for the school. Some commission members questioned representatives about the school’s need for concerts and whether the design can minimize community impact.The fate of the proposal is now in the hands of Evanston’s nine-member City Council. One of its members has said he will recuse himself from the matter because he works for Northwestern.
NU faces numerous other challenges. Some residents see the Ryan Field work as a reward for a football program needing reform after disclosures of a hazing scandal implicating players and coaches. The scandal cost football coach Pat Fitzgerald his job, and he has sued the university, saying he had no knowledge of hazing.
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