Northwestern to play 2024 and 2025 home games at lakefront practice field
Michigan is scheduled to play in Evanston in 2025.
My sons U-6 soccer team played their home games there during the 2023 season.
Makes sense. Both have similar levels of fan interest.
Here's their 2024 home schedule
8/31 Miami-Ohio
9/7 Duke
9/14 Eastern Illinois
10/5 Indiana
10/19 Wisconsin
11/16 Ohio State
11/30 Illinois
Northwestern's academic calendar is on a quarter system, and fall classes don't begin until mid-September.
I'd expect their first 4 home games will be on campus, and I'd expect the AD is exploring larger venues for the last 3.
They've played the Illinois game at Wrigley before, even when they had their own 'stadium.' It would shock me if that game, at least, wasn't located there or elsewhere in the Chicago.
Isn't their practice field well away from any sizeable parking? It's been a long time since I've been to the campus, but access as well as seating (even with the temporary structures they mentioned) will be hilarious, I am sure.
IIRC, there's one small-ish surface lot back there next to the b-school, but otherwise no. There isn't a lot of parking anywhere directly on campus, and not even a lot once you cross Sheridan, either.
Maybe this is all a carefully nurtured plan with the city of Evanston, to share fines from all the drivers desperate for a place to park so they park illegally.
NW probably should not be in the B1G 10 or future super conferences. Just like Vandy in SEC. It's entertaining but not good for anyone.
Dumping Minnesota and Indiana would make more sense in football. Northwestern has been far more successful. The Gophers and Hoosiers haven't sniffed a title since 1967.
The Gophers and Hoosiers haven't sniffed a title since 1967.
To be fair, Indiana was hosed out of a BTCG appearance in 2020. The title game rightly should have been...checks notes...Indiana vs. Northwestern?!?...
Unlike Vandy, Northwestern went 8-5 last year with a bowl victory over a P5 team. Their basketball team finished 22-12 and was 12-8 in the B1G, 4th in the conference.
Northwestern athletics are fine.
Kind of makes you wonder how good they could be if the school actually cared about them...
You need to look across the aisle… Northwestern has several women’s teams that are highly ranked at nd compete well both in the conference and nationally.. Field Hockey and Softball are examples.
They should play at Evanston Twnshp HS or New Trier. A practice facility? What a joke.
I think they could build some sizable, temporary grandstands at what was New Trier West in Northfield - and, use that for a couple of seasons. Parking would be a mess - but, that will be an issue anywhere.
The logistics of this feel like a nightmare. The practice field is deep into campus on the lakefront, and even with reduced capacity, getting people in and out of there is going to be awful.
The lengths Northwestern will go to purely because of an irrational fear of not having enough NU fans in the building... It's the whole point of this stupid stadium project.
One frustrating thing is - Michigan travels to Northwestern in ‘25 - and, it’s unclear when and where they’ll play.
Being in the Chicago area - I’d like to host our “tailgate friends / neighbors” for that game - but, have no idea of where it will be. And, it would be nice if the B1G announced the ‘25 conference dates sooner rather than later. They should already be known since the opponents for the ‘25 schedule are set.
Like NittanyFan said, it'd be shocking if our game in 2025 isn't played at a bigger stadium (my money is on Wrigley, but Soldier Field is another possibility)...
April 11th, 2024 at 12:54 PM ^
I will surely make the drive if it is at Wrigley. Parking isn't much better for that stadium. Usually only go to baseball games there if it is a bus trip. But that would be awesome.
Go Blue!!!!
You still have plenty of time to plan your party for (checks notes) 2025.
I agree that there is plenty of time to plan for ‘25 - but this season is going to be a “booked fall” from a football / tailgate perspective. Michigan has a very good list of home opponents - and, we’ll also take in a road game - or two.
The Northwestern game is on my mind - for two reasons. First, we’ll have a bunch of Northwestern alumni joining us in A2 this November. And, we’ll reciprocate in ‘25.
I actually liked the ‘23 schedule - goid spacing / timing for home games.
Surprised the Big10 is okay with this. Oh it's not something they can screw over Michigan on so...
The Oakland A’s of the Big Ten.
There are a few nice Chicago HS stadiums they could choose from. I haven't seen the practice field, but it can't be as nice as a some of these.
https://cpsathletics.com/facilities/
Another question - what do the networks think about setting up camera coverage there? I wonder how that will work? Will there even be enough camera angles for legitimate replay challenges?
PatFitzgeraldJumpingCelebration.gif
April 11th, 2024 at 10:19 AM ^
They should use the ETHS stadium. There's already some parking and lights. The current capacity is 4500 but there's room to add more stands.
April 11th, 2024 at 11:30 AM ^
That's so.....Northwestern. Geez.
April 11th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
17 brands and Northwestern.
The bigger games will be at Soldier Field, it just hasn't been announced.
Miami, Duke, Eastern Illinois and probably Indiana will be on campus. Wisconsin, Ohio State and Illinois will most certainly be played at Soldier Field this Fall.
April 11th, 2024 at 12:30 PM ^
Can't see us playing there - if nothing else, the networks will push for a game at Soldier Field or even Wrigley. Same for Ohio at NW this coming season. Too bad if the stands are 80% Maize or Scarlett.
April 11th, 2024 at 12:50 PM ^
I'm expecting nothing less than a First Battle of Bull Run vibe as picnickers from the big city soak in the action.
This guy at Athlon is pretty enthusiastic about the plan. Dunno about sailgating in November, though.https://athlonsports.com/college/northwestern-wildcats/northwestern-wildcats-temporary-college-football-field-three-reason-fans-i-will-love
It's a beautiful spot with a great view of downtown Chicago but it's going to be cold come November.
Cannot wait, though, for those people who still do the stand-up paddleboarding in thick wetsuits during the winter to row up to watch the game as November whitecaps toss them around.
I know some of the guys & gals at Open Water Chicago who swim year-round as long as the lake isn't iced over. I can easily imagine some of them doing exactly that.
The Michigan game might be at Wrigley? There is no hard intel. Just read that they are going to be playing a few games there, and it's not hard to connect the dots. I would still love to see Michigan play Northwestern at Lambeau, but Wrigley would be pretty cool, too.
I'll venture a wild guess that our game will be at Lambeau, Wrigley or Soldier Field. I don't know what the dimensions or logistics are at whatever they call the White Sox park nowadays...but it's interesting that it's never mentioned as an option.
Here's a complete wild card option, at a good mid-point...what if the game was scheduled for Notre Dame stadium? There is train service from Chicago.
April 11th, 2024 at 11:53 PM ^
That's insane. That place is tiny. Even Northwestern will have too many people for it.