Levy, the Chicago-based hospitality leader, has been selected as the official Food and Beverage (F&B) Partner for the New Ryan Field at the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (US), opening this fall.
Unique Fan Experience
‘levy’ stated that the partnership unites Chicago’s Big Ten team (the Northwestern Wildcats) and the Chicago (US)-born restaurateurs to create a unique fan experience at one of the most distinct and innovative college sports venues ever built.
The disruptor in defining the sports and entertainment hospitality experience Chicago (US)-based Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. Levy’s diverse portfolio includes the award-winning restaurants, the iconic sports and entertainment venues, the zoos and the cultural institutions, the theaters and the music festivals, and the convention centers.
The 35,000-seat New Ryan Field is a state-of-the-art, privately- funded $862 million football stadium being built in Evanston, Illinois (US) to replace the former facility at the Northwestern University. Scheduled to debut on October 2nd, 2026, it is the most expensive college football stadium ever constructed.
The Northwestern University (NU) is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851, it is the oldest chartered university in Illinois.
Elevated Hospitality
‘levy’ further stated that together the Northwestern University, the Ryan Sports Development (a Chicago-based project management and real estate development firm) and Levy are designing a next-generation food, beverage and hospitality program across the stadium. Guided by a shared focus on highlighting the community and activating spaces in creative ways the cherished neighborhood restaurants will feature prominently alongside the acclaimed Chicago chefs and every detail will be crafted to showcase elevated hospitality.
‘One-of-a-kind Stadium’
Pointed out Pat Ryan Jr., Head Honcho, Ryan Sports Development, “The Ryan Field is truly a one-of-a-kind stadium designed to set a new standard for the college football experience and a year-round hub for our Evanston community. Levy’s experience, creativity and deep understanding of the hospitality set them apart from the field and the partnership will help us deliver the exceptional experience for our fans, the alumni and the community the way this stadium is designed to do.”
‘Wonderful F&B Offerings’
Added Andy Lansing, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Levy, “The opportunity to build an entirely unique fan experience and create new traditions at one of the first new college football stadiums built in the last few decades, right here in our backyard, on a campus that means so much to many in our Levy family, it’s incredibly special. We’re beyond thrilled to collaborate with the Ryan Sports Development and the Northwestern University to ensure the experience amplifies this amazing venue and celebrates the community with wonderful food and beverage offerings. The Ryan Family and Northwestern have a vision for innovation and it’s been remarkable watching it come to life so beautifully down to the finest detail.”
Innovation Meets Tradition
Over the past year, Levy has worked behind-the-scenes with the Ryan Sports Development during the design phase to consult on the stadium’s hospitality infrastructure. Now, the two are working together to leverage the intuitive design and create an activated experience at the Ryan Field that taps into Levy’s restaurateur roots and sports hospitality expertise.
The highlights include:
- Chicago’s most beloved dishes and flavors, from the house-made tavern-style pizza to the Italian beef and deep dish from the local icons;
- A close-knit collection of Chicago’s best restaurants and purveyors showcasing both the renowned chefs and the hyperlocal neighborhood favorites from Evanston and the surrounding North Shore community;
- Intricately designed club spaces that evoke the ambiance, immersiveness and energy of Chicago’s bustling restaurants with tailored culinary offerings to match;
- The open-air pregame and postgame festival grounds inspired by vibrant, social event environments unique to college sports;
- A fan-first value program ensuring affordable, high-quality options are available; and
- Frictionless technology integrated within most concourse concession stands for added speed and convenience.
The partnership expands Levy’s presence at the Northwestern athletic venues – the company currently serves fans at the Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium (a 12,023-seat temporary athletics venue) and the Welsh-Ryan Arena (an 8,117-seat multipurpose sports venue located in Evanston, Illinois, on the campus of the Northwestern University) among the other on-campus venues.
Global Hospitality Leader
Originally launching with a single delicatessen in Chicago’s Water Tower Place Levy has grown into a global hospitality leader and remains headquartered on Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Levy leads the food, beverage and hospitality experience at nearly 20 sports and entertainment locations and restaurants around Chicagoland as well as a market-leading network of iconic sports venues and events across the United States. That includes the blue-chip college sports partners across every power conference.
The Ryan Sports Group is the unifying force behind the Ryan Family’s commitment to the world of sports and is acting as the developer of the New Ryan Field on a pro bono basis. What began with a passion for the community and competition has grown into a multifaceted entity involved in various sports ventures and development initiatives.
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