A new era for Northwestern football is set to begin this fall, when its new state-of-the-art stadium opens. It's a build that's been about five years in the making. Pat Ryan Jr., the CEO of Ryan Sports Development, says on any given day, about 1,100 people are working to get the new Ryan Field ready to debut on Oct. 2, exactly 100 years after Northwestern Stadium opened in the same spot. These are 100-year decisions; the last made decision 100 years ago.