Northwestern fans are getting their first look at food prices inside the new Ryan Field, with traditional stadium favorites, app discounts and new Chicago-focused food options ahead of the Oct. 2 opener against Penn State.
With less than two weeks until Northwestern opens the doors to its brand-new Ryan Field, fans are getting their first look at one of the most important parts of any game-day experience: the food.
A photo of the concession menu at New Ryan Field provides an early look at prices for several traditional stadium options, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, nachos, popcorn, pretzels and desserts. While some of the prices may initially look high, the menu also includes a $5 option for several items when fans use the New Ryan Field app.
The regular menu lists a Willie’s Hot Dog for $7.99, a Willie’s Cheeseburger for $8.99, Willie’s Nachos for $7.99, a Willie’s Popcorn Box for $7.99 and a Willie’s Pretzel for $6.99. Fans can get each of those items for $4.99 through the stadium’s app discount program.
The menu also includes a Fresh Market Salad and Fresh Market Wrap for $8.99 each, Peanuts for $7.99, Miss Vickie’s Kettle Chips and Skinny Pop Popcorn for $4.99 each, candy for $6.99, Häagen-Dazs single-serve ice cream for $5.99 and a Luigi’s Italian Ice Tube for $4.99. A souvenir popcorn option is listed at $17.49.
There is also a $12.99 discount bundle for app users that allows fans to select any combination of three discounted Willie’s food items. Sales tax is not included in the listed prices.
The app discount could make a noticeable difference for fans looking to keep their game-day spending down. According to the New Ryan Field app guide, fans can access the $5 pricing by using their member barcode at Willie’s markets throughout the stadium.
The food options extend well beyond traditional stadium concessions, however. Northwestern announced Wednesday that New Ryan Field will introduce The Great Chicago Food Festival, which will feature six culinary concepts from Chicago-area chefs and restaurant groups. The lineup includes Frontera Tacos y Tortas by Rick Bayless, Goatdown by Stephanie Izard, Gibsons Tavern and Luxbar Grill, The Medallion featuring Publican Quality and Dimmi Baby from the team behind Dimmi Dimmi.
The festival will also feature the Great Big Ten Grillout and rotating restaurants from Evanston and the North Shore. Access to the food festival is included with every game ticket, with fans paying separately for whatever they choose to eat and drink.
That emphasis on food and hospitality has been a major part of the buildup to New Ryan Field. Levy, the stadium’s food and beverage partner, previously said the venue would feature Chicago favorites, neighborhood restaurants and a range of affordable options alongside more elevated food experiences.
For Northwestern fans, the wait to experience it in person is almost over.
The Wildcats are less than two weeks away from opening the new stadium, with Penn State coming to Evanston on Friday, Oct. 2, for the inaugural game at New Ryan Field. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on FOX and will mark exactly 100 years to the day since the original Northwestern Stadium opened on the same site in 1926.
The first look at the concession menu suggests fans will have a mix of familiar stadium food, discounted options and more extensive Chicago-focused offerings to choose from when New Ryan Field finally opens its gates.
