Early this month Northwestern University unveiled Ryan Field, its beautiful new football stadium. While Ryan Field grabbed headlines, Northwestern also debuted Kirkpatrick Stadium, its new softball field.

At $870 million, Ryan Field is the most expensive college football stadium ever. Despite the building being 320,000 square feet larger than the old stadium, it has about 12,000 fewer seats. The 35,000-seat capacity makes Ryan Field the smallest Big 10 stadium.

One interesting feature is Wildcat Wall, a standing-room-only student section. Taking the concept from European soccer, the section is designed to inspire more noise and energy from students.

Among many food options is the Great Chicago Food Festival, included with a ticket purchase. Other food offerings are local restaurants, James Beard Award winners and even a $5 menu.

The next day, tucked behind Ryan Field, Kip and Sara Kirkpatrick Stadium, home to Northwestern Softball, opened. While the stadium is named for former student-athlete Kip, the playing field remains Sharon J. Drysdale Field, in honor of the NFCA Hall of Fame coach for whom the field was first named upon her retirement in 2001.

The new stadium has a team clubhouse; players’ lounge, training and development facilities, a huge press box, a courtyard for tailgating and other team events, and a grand entrance. Chairback seating was expanded from 800 to 1,326. All seats are purple.

The new stadium hosted its first game, a Fall Ball matchup between Northwestern and Ball State University. Former coach Drysdale and many former players, including Hall of Famer Tammy Williams, were honored throughout the day.

Sharon J. Drsydale

Tammy Williams

It was an amazing day for Northwestern and its fans. I look forward to many more games at both stadiums.

— John Wroblewski, online writer