Eric Boggs
Watching Ohio State play Northwestern at Wrigley Field this fall won’t be cheap. Northwestern has announced that tickets for the game are now available to the general public. According to Northwestern’s online ticket office, Ticketmaster, and VividSeats, the cheapest tickets are $94, but most are in the $300 to $400 range. The Buckeyes will play the Wildcats on November 16 at the Chicago Cubs’ famous baseball stadium. This is one of two home venues Northwestern will use in 2024 while constructing a new football stadium, also named Ryan Field, just like their old one.
Playing football in a baseball stadium like Wrigley Field presents some unique challenges. The odd shape of a baseball diamond and field means some fans will have distant or unusual viewing angles. Additionally, the playing surface could be hazardous increasing the risk of injury. For the 2024 season, Wrigley Field will have a new layout for football, with each team having its own sideline instead of sharing one as they did in previous years. Cubs executive vice president of sales and marketing, Colin Faulkner, said this decision came after conversations with the Big Ten and the teams who have played at Wrigley Field.
“We’re always evaluating what works and what things that we can do better,” Faulkner told the Sun-Times. “In 2010, we didn’t even have video boards. We subsequently put in video boards. But after talking with the teams last year, we conferred with the conference, with the Big Ten office, and with Northwestern, and we collectively made the decision that we would switch to accommodate two sidelines.”
This change is important because it mirrors what the teams are used to throughout the season and allows them to maintain neutrality. It also helps teams when it comes to making schematic changes and getting signals in. However, a potential downside is that fans with seats near the sidelines will have their view obstructed, but Faulkner said the video boards could help mitigate that.
“You’re going to be really close to the team, given how intimate Wrigley Field is,” Faulkner said. “Behind that visiting bench, they’re going to be really close to the players. But in talking to the schools, they feel like their fans are going to want those seats and be close to the players.”
Wrigley Field has become a hub for hosting non-baseball sporting events and concerts. The Cubs have learned lessons over the years to ensure the safety of the student-athletes who participate. Back in 2010, both teams played offense the same way because the layout led to one end zone being a few feet away from a brick wall. Field issues during the second half of last season’s NU-Iowa game required officials to flatten divots in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Ohio State has won 10 games in a row against Northwestern since 2004. This includes a 22-10 win in the 2020 Big Ten Championship Game, which was Ohio State’s last conference title. The most recent game between the teams was in 2022, where Ohio State won 21-7 on a very windy day at the old Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. Overall, Ohio State leads the series with a record of 65-14-1.
