Categories: Chicago Stars FCNWSL

Stars make play for Ryan Field

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - JULY 24: A general view of New Ryan Field as construction continues on July 24, 2025 in Evanston, Illinois. The $862-Million New Ryan Field is anticipated to open in fall 2026 ahead of the Northwestern football season. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

EVANSTON, IL–On Friday, Chicago Stars FC filed an application to play home games at Ryan Field on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston from the 2027 season to at least the 2031 season. Home games in 2026 will be nearby at Martin Stadium which is home to Northwestern’s soccer and lacrosse teams. Last season, the Stars played a home game at Martin Stadium in which they drew 10,127 making it their third largest crowd for a standalone match.

Ryan Field has been undergoing an extensive renovation that is set to be completed this year in time for Northwestern’s 2026 football season. They had spent the past two seasons between Martin Stadium and Wrigley Field.

The club cited that a survey done by 2040 Strategy Group for the Stars “shows 82 percent of Evanston residents are in favor of the team playing at Ryan Field” … and “overwhelmingly believe the team would reinforce Evanston’s values, and promote gender equity.”

The Chicago Bears played a home game at what was then called Dyche Stadium in 1970 before neighbors and the National Football League’s mandate that teams play in stadium with at least 50,000 capacity forced them to move to Soldier Field.

In a statement, the Stars say that the soccer team playing at Ryan Field “will have a positive economic, cultural, and social impact on Evanston and highlight female world-class athletes as role models for the North Shore.”

The club also noted that they will be a tenant (of Northwestern) at Ryan Field, while they pursue a stadium of their own. Right now, just Kansas City Current have their own stadium in CPKC Stadium.

It’s been a busy week for the Stars as far as trying to make their imprint in the area. On Tuesday, they announced plans to build a new performance center in North suburban Bannockburn which they hope to open in 2027. For 2026, they will continue to train at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.

Banking that most of their support is based north of downtown, the Stars are hoping to be “North Side’s” soccer team for years to come.