Nittany Lions eager to be Ryan’s first guest
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The new Ryan Field will be unveiled for the first time on Friday night when Penn State goes to Northwestern for the first game in the new stadium.
The project cost $850 million -- all privately raised -- and was built in the same spot as the old stadium. It's the most expensive stadium in college football.
Penn State's players are embracing that they are the opponent for the Wildcats in a primetime game.
"It's going to be sick playing in a brand new stadium," quarterback Rocco Becht said. "It's going to hopefully be a good environment for them, and I'm excited to go in there."
The original Ryan Field had a capacity of 47,130, but Northwestern actually decreased it to 35,000. There are fewer than 35,000 seats in the new stadium, but the Northwestern student section will have standing-room tickets.
PSU defensive lineman Keanu Williams said he has not seen the pictures of the new stadium but is excited to see it in person.
"We're really just embracing the fact that we're opening a new stadium," he said. "We're going out there to compete. We're going out there to send a message as always. We're not taking any opponent lightly."
While the new Ryan Field will have the bells and whistles showcased on Friday night, it will still be the smallest football venue of any Big Ten or SEC school.
Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium is the next smallest stadium with a capacity of 40,350.
Still, the new stadium and the primetime game will make for a big crowd in Evanston. As of Wednesday, there were some single-game tickets available.
"I don't really know too much about it, but I just know that the environment is going to be good," offensive lineman Trevor Buhr said. "We just have to stay focused on our jobs and assignments, and we just have to get things going."
While Penn State stumbled in its Big Ten opener at home against Wisconsin, Northwestern gave defending national champion Indiana all it could handle in a 29-23 setback last Friday night.
Becht likes the challenges road games present.
"I feel like it's just us -- 85 guys on the team against everyone else," Becht said. "I think that's what brings us closer together. I'm excited to get back out there and move on."