Every concourse concession market will be a “Two-Minute Market” powered by AI checkout.
Willie’s Fan Favorites $5 menu; Best of Chicago lineup features Al’s Italian Beef, Pat’s Tavern-Style Pizza, Vienna Beef Chicago-Style Dogs, USDA Prime Chicago Steakhouse Burgers and Garrett’s Popcorn
EVANSTON, Ill. – New Ryan Field today announced its concessions strategy and partners for the stadium’s inaugural season, building on its commitment to deliver a premium experience for every fan at every price point. That promise now extends to the concession stand: every in-stadium market will use AI checkout technology to cut wait times, Chicago sports’ first $5 menu will make game-day favorites affordable for every fan, and the iconic foods that made Chicago famous, from Al’s Italian Beef to Pat’s tavern-style pizza to Vienna Beef Chicago-style dogs, will be served fresh on the concourses.
“A world-class game-day experience shouldn’t be reserved for the few, it should belong to every fan,“ said Pat Ryan Jr., CEO of Ryan Sports Development. “Premium at new Ryan Field is a philosophy, not a tier, and that philosophy runs all the way to the concession stand: $5 fan favorites, opportunities to enjoy iconic Chicago classics, and be back in your seat in two minutes.”
The concessions program includes:
Two-Minute Markets: Grab Food and Drinks Without Missing a Play. Every in-stadium concession market at New Ryan Field will be a “Two-Minute Market”, a walk-in, walk-out experience designed to get fans from the concourse back to their seats in two minutes or less. The markets leverage AI checkout technology from Mashgin, which uses computer vision to instantly recognize every item in a fan’s order, with no barcodes to scan and no line for the cashier and complete checkout in seconds. Paired with concourses that open directly to the bowl, the result is simple: fans can grab food and drinks without missing a play.
Chicago Sports’ First $5 Menu. New Ryan Field is introducing Willie’s Fan Favorites, named for Northwestern’s mascot, Willie the Wildcat, home of Chicago sports’ first $5 menu. Willie’s serves high-quality versions of the fan favorites every stadium-goer knows, hot dogs, burgers, nachos, popcorn and soft drinks, done right and priced at $5 per item. It is game-day food done right at a price no Chicago venue has offered before, further making New Ryan Field financially accessible for every fan, from students to families.
Best of Chicago. In addition to Willie’s, fans seeking elevated fare can enjoy some of the best of Chicago, the iconic items that make Chicago famous among eaters, including Al’s Italian Beef; Chicago tavern-style pizza from Lincoln Park icon Pat’s, made fresh at Ryan Field; jumbo Vienna Beef Chicago-style dogs with fresh “drag it through the garden” dressing; Chicago Steakhouse Burgers made with USDA Prime beef, the top 10 percent of all beef in the United States; Garrett’s Popcorn; and much more, bringing the best of Chicago eating to the concourses of New Ryan Field.
“Financial accessibility is built into everything we’re doing at New Ryan Field, and the $5 menu is the clearest proof, every fan can eat well on game day without stretching the family budget,” said Ryan. “And the fan looking for something indulgent on game day doesn’t have to leave the stadium to find the food that Chicago is famous for. Authentic Chicago icons , an Al’s Italian beef, Pat’s tavern style pizza fresh from the oven, a Vienna Beef dog with the works, are right here on the concourse at New Ryan Field.”
“We’ve always believed great hospitality starts with creating dining occasions that are memorable and authentic,” said Andy Lansing, CEO of Levy. “New Ryan Field puts that thinking at the heart of the stadium with each space so purposefully designed for the fan experience. We’re thrilled to create a food and beverage program that celebrates our hometown of Chicago, offers something for every fan and makes game days special.”
This rollout represents the first wave of the stadium’s dining program, with more announcements on the full scope of the food and beverage program to come. This includes the soon-to-be-announced Evanston & North Shore Favorites, which will give even more local businesses direct access to fans and give the fans the chance to enjoy pop us of their favorite local restaurants on game day.
About New Ryan Field
New Ryan Field, the home of Northwestern Football, is a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue designed to be an accessible space for college football. A transformative civic space, it serves as a year-round hub for the Northwestern and Evanston communities, hosting everything from Big Ten football to NCAA national championship events and local community festivals.