Evanston commission approves rebuild for Northwestern’s Ryan Field, but recommends against concerts

Evanston’s Land Use Commission voted Wednesday to unanimously send approval of Northwestern University’s Ryan Field rebuild proposal to the suburb’s City Council but denied a recommendation for zoning changes that would allow the university to host events such as concerts.

Neighbors and some community groups concerned about the noise and increased traffic that would come with the concerts were grateful for the commission’s decision. But the action dealt a blow to the university, which argued the concerts were necessary to afford upkeep on the $800 million rebuild of the nearly 100-year-old dilapidated stadium.

“While we appreciate the commission’s support of the new stadium, we are disappointed in the commission’s nonbinding recommendation of the complete project without concerts,” said Northwestern’s director of media relations, Hilary Hurd Anyaso. “However, we remain encouraged by the support of thousands of residents who support this project, and we are hopeful the City Council will vote to approve the new stadium in its entirety.”

The 7-2 zoning vote came after Chair Matt Rodgers attempted to simplify the proposal by removing details he felt would be better suited for consideration in a memorandum of understanding between the university and the city. His simplified version was shot down by a 6-3 vote.

“By using a memorandum of understanding that is reviewed on a regular basis, that’s our test,” Rodgers said. “It gives the university a chance to prove to be good neighbors.”

A memorandum of understanding is already in the works and is required as part of the overall project. Included in the contract will be parameters Northwestern has to follow and the consequences of not doing so. Changes can be made to the memorandum much easier than if they were set in zoning and would allow for more flexibility.

Commissioner Jeanne Lindwall pushed back, saying she would rather have the details outlined in the zoning changes because people engage with concerts differently than football games. She recalled attending the homecoming game on Oct. 7, where she said attendees slowly trickled into the game during the first quarter and began to disburse around the start of the fourth. This, she said, is not how concertgoers who stay for an entire show would travel.

“We actually did go to eat in downtown Evanston and, frankly, I was really surprised at how few people there were in downtown Evanston after the football game,” she said. “It got out at prime dinner hour.”

Commissioner George Halik echoed these concerns, saying the increased foot, car and public transportation traffic would put too great a strain on the system.

“I think the applicant has every right to try to make the best and highest use of it for their purposes. That’s their right. And I think the city should accommodate it as far as it possibly can,” Commissioner Kristine Westerberg said. “The devil is really in the details in that, and I don’t see right now that the plan does not mitigate potential negative impact on the community, on Evanston, as a whole.”

Several commissioners called into question Northwestern’s argument that without the concerts the rebuild would not be financially viable and said the argument was not convincing.

“The bottom line is it’s not just about the money. There is more to the request. It’s not just to cover operating costs,” said Katie Jahnke Dale, an attorney for Northwestern. “A lot of our supporters are excited about the concerts. They want us to have more concerts. ... We think that we’re striking a balance.”

Commissioner John Hewko felt the city would benefit from hosting concerts as long as Northwestern is held to strict standards. Neighbors’ concerns about noise at the complex were overblown, according to Commissioner Myrna Arevalo, who said many of those same residents have likely attended a concert at Ravinia, which directly abuts several homes in Highland Park.

“Music is one thing that brings people together. Doesn’t matter what language you speak. Doesn’t matter what race you are. Music will always bring people together,” Arevalo said. “It’s one thing that should be considered and being able to have all the benefits that come with concerts.”

Some of those benefits, which Northwestern said are a starting point, include a surcharge for tickets to guarantee $500,000 to Evanston schools annually, another guaranteed annual $2 million minimum from tax and fee revenue from the stadium and a $10 million endowment for a workforce training program geared to help Evanston residents.

Rodgers threw his support for the concerts and argued Northwestern has been managing traffic at football games for years. With a smaller capacity design for the new field, he said he believes this could be continued. Vice Chair Max Puchtel countered, saying he would rather proceed with caution and consider adding concerts after the stadium is rebuilt.

Noise and traffic concerns were taken more seriously by Commissioners Halik and Lindwall, who mentioned Northwestern’s history of attempting to commercialize Ryan Field. Those plans have been rejected by the city five times.

Halik went further, saying that while there may be benefits to the city as a whole, the real issue is the impact on the neighborhood.

“When you consider that the neighborhood 5 to 1 does not want these concerts, I think our job is to listen,” Halik said.

Most Livable City Association, which fought against the project, said in a statement that it was pleased by the concert rejection.

“When questioned last night by Commissioners, University officials struggled to articulate why the cash-flush school needs to turn Ryan Field and its other athletic facilities into a commercial entertainment complex,” read the MLCA statement. “The commissioners wisely recognized this — as well as the costs it would impose on the community — and voted the proposal down.”

The fate of Ryan Field now lies in the hands of Evanston City Council, where the proposal can be altered and a decision can be made regardless of the Land Use Commission’s recommendation.

“There is precedent for the City Council to approve projects after a commission has recommended against, and we are hopeful that will be the case with the stadium proposal,” Hurd Anyaso said. “We were also encouraged by the dialogue that emerged at the meeting about alternative paths about moving the stadium forward inclusive of concerts. Given what’s at stake, including thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact, we hope that the City Council will consider the sum of this opportunity and the impact it will have on the entire community for years to come.”