NOTE: This page is occasionally updated with new images from the Ryan Field I teardown.
Feb. 18-- Two Days After Demolition Bagan
Crews knock out the southeast corner of the stadium
[Image sent to HTP]
Less
than a week after the city of Evanston finally gave Northwestern a
demolition permit, construction crews began tearing down Dyche
Stadium / Ryan Field I, 98 years after the stadium's creation.
For two weeks, fans watched as construction vehicles, cinderblock,
and fencing appeared and ringed the stadium. On February 16, crews tore
out some of the brickwork around the old ticket office. Then, on
Saturday the 17th, the demolition began in earnest.
Crews began by knocking down a sizable chunk of the southern horseshoe
enclosure, which had been added to the stadium in 1949. When they were
done, they had opened a large space in the southeast corner of the
stadium. According to sources, this was done first so that crews can
move construction equipment onto the field, where they will begin
tearing out the seating, working their way from the inside out. The
plan is to keep the large masonry exterior for as long as possible
during demolition, trapping as much noise as possible within the bowl
of the stadium and helping to cut down on noise distraction in the
neighborhood. The southeast corner opening will be used to haul debris
away.
Additionally, separate sources told HailToPurple.com that the Wildcat statue, nicknamed Hannibal, was put into storage and will
reappear when Ryan Field II is ready to open in 2026. The donor bricks
that paved the small court around the statue were also saved from
demolition.
[Image sent to HTP]
[Image from the Trib.]
Feb. 19
Southeast and east-side seating areas are coming down
[Logan Schiciano]
Feb. 27
Overhead view of the elimination of the southeast stands
[dogstar7]
Mar. 5
Work begins on the upper deck
[HTP]
Mar. 8
More of the southwest stands are razed
[M_Shelton33]
Mar. 12
The southwest tower loses its top
Mar. 13
The ramains of the southwest town are now separate from the rest of the stadium
[Turner_Chicago]
Mar. 13
Another aerial view on March 13, as the southwest tower loses more of its upper half
[K. Habermehl]
Mar. 14
Just one day later, the southwest tower is completely gone
[A. Parrilli]
Mar. 17
Overhead shot showing the elimination of the southern half of the stadium
(Eerily, the goalposts and field design remain)
[@trentchicago]
Mar. 17
Ground view after the demolition of the southern half of Ryan
[M_Shelton33]
Mar. 23
Another ground view; the northwest stands are gone
[M. Lowe]
Mar. 24
The northwest tower is now separated from the main structure
[B. Kamir]
Mar. 25
A day later, much of the northwest tower has been demolished
[S. H. Rowley]
Mar. 26-27
By late March, only sections of the west and northeast stands remained
[S. H. Rowley]
Mar. 27
Drone view of the demolition of the northwest tower
[Central Street Consortium]
Mar. 30
The press box stands alone
[S. H. Rowley]
By Easter, the northwest tower was gone
[A. Prakash / The Daily]
Elevated shot of the remains of the west stands
[Central Street Consortium]
April 5
Surreal image of the inside-out demolition of the locker rooms.
[Central Street Consortium]
April 8
The locker rooms and Walker Terrace have been demolished.
Improbably, the south goal post remained.
[Central Street Consortium]
April 10
The press box roof is clearly gone. Little remains of the original west stands
except a few of the arch supports
[@Bvchi]
April 12
Rebar hangs from a lone arch support on the west side.
[HTP]
April 12
For the first time since 1996, McGaw Hall's facade is seen unobstructed.
Note that the scoreboard / monitor is gone as of April 12.
[HTP]
April 12
The press box appears nearly ready to go.
(Seriously, that south goal post is still up!)
[HTP]
April 18
All that is left is the '97 press box AND THE GOAL POST.
April 20
You can now see through the press box and its remaining supports.
[HTP]
Farewell to the Jewel of the North Shore
