EVANSTON, IL—Northwestern University unveiled its world-class football stadium last Friday Oct. 2 in a Big Ten matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions, and it couldn’t have gone much better. The new stadium—and its thrilling introduction to the college football world on network TV—was universally praised, and the Wildcats followed through with a big win, 34-13.
The new Ryan Field significantly raises the bar for elite college venues. Among its bells and whistles is a 16,000-square-foot videoboard network anchored by two 100-foot end zone LED scoreboards at the north and south ends of the stadium. Built by SNA Displays, the vast video network also includes more than 2,500 linear feet of LED ribbon and vomitory boards in the bowl, dozens of timing and scoring clocks by OES scoreboards, and hundreds of indoor and outdoor TVs. Anthony James Partners (AJP) provided design and consultation services on behalf of Northwestern, ultimately recommending a suite of display products throughout the new stadium.
“Northwestern and AJP designed an elite video footprint for an elite stadium,” said Barbara Barry, director of sports and live events for SNA Displays. “By carefully considering the video experience as part of the stadium’s fundamental design and infrastructure, they have created a connected and energized atmosphere across the entire venue, from the concourse to the locker room to the bowl.”
In addition to the cutting-edge video experience, the new Ryan Field is much larger than its predecessor and features a state-of-the-art roof canopy that improves acoustics and shelters spectators from the elements. Despite its seating capacity of just 35,000, the venue represents an unprecedented level of investment for an NCAA Division I program, evidence of the school’s intention to trade mass capacity for a premium fan experience. The rebuild comes exactly 100 years after the original Wildcats home, Dyche Stadium, was opened in 1926.
Each of the new stadium’s two main LED videoboards is 45’ tall by 100’ wide (1,740 x 3,840 pixels) and sport an 8 mm pixel pitch. A 10 mm mid-bowl LED ribbon on the upper concourse extends three-quarters of the way around the stadium, and other video network features include a ultra-tight 1.2 mm pixel pitch exterior display in the stadium’s North Great Hall, multiple vomitory displays, and an additional 1,270 linear feet of LED ribbons.
Established in 1851, Northwestern University is a private research institution just north of Chicago and the oldest chartered university in Illinois, with a total enrollment of approximately 23,000 students. The original Wildcats home field was the first NFL-type stadium in college football.
Learn more at SNA Displays’ Northwestern University Ryan Field case study page.
About SNA Displays
SNA Displays is a leading LED video display manufacturer across several market sectors including sports and live-event venues, out-of-home (OOH), commercial real estate, retail environments, museums and commissioned digital art, workplaces, new construction, and many others. With a focus on quality, technological and construction expertise, and dependable service, SNA Displays has worked alongside technology partners to design and build some of the largest and most recognizable LED video installations in the world. Discover how SNA Displays builds big on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Vimeo, or visit us at snadisplays.com.
About Anthony James Partners
Anthony James Partners (AJP) is a leading technology consulting firm specializing in the design and implementation of large-scale technology solutions. AJP collaborates with top professional sports teams, colleges and universities, and facility operators across North America, Europe, and the UK. Core services include facility audits, strategic planning, design, financial modeling, procurement, and construction oversight. Technology disciplines include LED displays, broadcast systems, audio, network infrastructure, structured cabling, DAS/Wi-Fi, event and show lighting, digital signage, and more. To learn more, visit anthonyjamespartners.com, or connect with AJP on LinkedIn or Instagram.
About Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a premier private research university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. It combines innovative teaching and world-class research with a global outlook. Learn more at northwestern.edu.