Preparations at Northwestern's temporary football stadium enter 4th quarter

EVANSTON (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Helmets joined hard hats for the first time Monday at Northwestern's temporary football stadium.

Wildcat football held its first outdoor practice at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium while several dozen construction workers kept hammering away.

“The plans really aren’t changing, but it’s minor things,” said Deputy Athletic Director Jesse Marks. “Are the seats in the right spots? Let’s make sure that our ticket teams and our marketing teams are doing a manifest of all the seats now to make sure what was on paper matches what’s actually in design, making sure that we are adding the TVs in the right spots, our furniture is in the right spots.”

Workers were feverishly adding finishing touches on Monday.

“They’re putting in some of the seats right now,” Marks said. “We’re stickering the seats, and, for the next 19 days, it’s going to be signage, making sure we have our way-finding, and our fans can find a way where they’re going to their seats and how they are going to explore our property…We are on pace and ready to open in 19 days vs. Miami of Ohio.

Marks led a tour of the facility that includes 10 still be painted coaching and press boxes, an all inclusive club section and food and beverage areas away from the action. Plus, there’s the views and the breeze that come from having your stadium literal steps from Lake Michigan.

Martin Stadium used to hold about 1,000 people for lacrosse, soccer and field hockey. Now, Marks puts the capacity at 12,000, and some of the upgrades, like LED overhead lights, will survive once football moves to the new Ryan Field in 2026.

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