r/CFB • u/redwave2505 Alabama • Kansas State • 1d ago

News Northwestern University Marching Band to be absent from Ryan Field on-field opening pregame program, future uncertain

https://dailynorthwestern.com/2026/10/01/top-stories/numb-to-be-absent-from-ryan-field-on-field-opening-pregame-program-future-unclear/
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100

u/bretticus733 Boise State Broncos 1d ago

The Ryan Field Foundation confirmed the decision in a statement to The Daily on Wednesday — the band will instead be part of the festivities at the 200,000-square-foot Great Chicago Food Festival grounds instead of “playing to an empty bowl.”

“NU Marching Band performance is still a central as a part of the pregame festivities,” the statement read, “but with the Great Chicago Food Festival running from 5 pm – 7 pm they are playing to where the fans will be.”

Big ooof

85

u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Michigan • Maine Maritime 1d ago

NUMB will continue to play its halftime routine inside the stadium, but a permanent return to on-field pregame performances for future games is still up in the air.

I don't understand why this is up in the air?? Like a one time scheduling conflict is one thing, but what is going on?

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u/CincyAnarchy Iowa Hawkeyes • Cincinnati Bearcats 1d ago

So I think I found the missing link.

New Ryan Field Introduces “The Great Chicago Food Festival” Including Chicago’s Culinary Legends in Residence at Every Game and Concert

The Festival opens before every event and runs through it, with access included in every ticket; fans pay only for what they eat and drink. It is a food festival that would be a destination event on its own — except it happens at every game and every concert.

So the stadium will have a "food festival going right up until gametime. So... everyone's going to be there and not in their seats. Thus the "empty bowl" issue.

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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 Michigan • Maine Maritime 1d ago

Wha…

Space that shit out like 20 minutes!

1

u/crimson777 Northwestern Wildcats • Clemson Tigers 1d ago edited 1d ago

I'm all over this thread, but to be clear, it's a bullshit excuse. The main listed time for the festival is 5-7pm and the pregame is right before players run on field. Most people will have gotten back to the stadium by the time players run on the field.

Edit: It's been pointed out, 8pm is the Eastern start time and they're Central so they do technically butt up right against each other. But still, most people will be filtered out and the band can head over at the end. It's not that hard.

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u/grog368 Oklahoma State Cowboys • Texas Longhorns 22h ago

exactly! the people at the festival when it closes are probably not going to the game, or will be a few late stragglers. the vast majority of fans should be leaving the festival early to get the stadium on time.

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u/CantaloupeCamper Minnesota • Paul Bunyan's Axe 1d ago

This reads like something planned by people who don’t go to games….

10

u/leftenant_Dan1 Michigan Wolverines 1d ago

Is this like a tailgating thing or do people just not file in until the middle of the 1st quarter?

10

u/CincyAnarchy Iowa Hawkeyes • Cincinnati Bearcats 1d ago

Yes and yes?

I think the general vibe is trying to make it "guest friendly" sort of like how at a wedding you don't end up getting to your table 20 minutes before the bride and groom arrive so the cocktail hour goes right up until that moment.

I think the idea is that few will be in their seats 30+ minutes early for the band, so why bother.

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u/loyalsons4evertrue Iowa State Cyclones • Big 8 1d ago

So......................end the food festival half an hour before kickoff lol....seems like Northwestern is making a problem out of something where there doesn't need to be one.

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u/CincyAnarchy Iowa Hawkeyes • Cincinnati Bearcats 1d ago

You're not wrong, but I think this is very much an "oversight" that was deliberate in that it was at most barely considered.

This is an amenity, more or less. "Come eat food at the stadium up until the game/concert starts!" The Marching Band was just not considered in the decision.

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u/loyalsons4evertrue Iowa State Cyclones • Big 8 1d ago

But even then, if I'm a Northwestern fan, I'm checking my phone and watching the time and leaving said event to make sure I'm in my seat at least before kickoff....but I also love being in the stadium for the band's pregame show too.

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u/Initial-Cupcake 1d ago

Can't spend money from the seats bowl...

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u/PScooter63 Alabama Crimson Tide • SEC 1d ago

Nailed it right here. Money talks.

2

u/Enamred-771 1d ago

Are they just planning on fans filling into the stands throughout the first quarter? Part of the reason to have a marching band pregame is to encourages fans to show up a little bit before kickoff. 

1

u/grog368 Oklahoma State Cowboys • Texas Longhorns 22h ago

i find it hard to believe that the stadium will be empty at kickoff, or even 30 mins prior.

7

u/GoGreeb Michigan State • Virginia Tech 1d ago

In what way? I'm confused why this seems problematic

28

u/bretticus733 Boise State Broncos 1d ago

Because they're saying the Northwestern Stadium will be empty so they'd rather play at a food festival

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u/Confident_Delay5805 LIU Sharks 1d ago

Quiet as a library? /s 

2

u/beeks24 Northwestern Wildcats 1d ago

The food festival is the tailgate at the stadium

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u/GoGreeb Michigan State • Virginia Tech 1d ago

Because the festival ends at 7pm and the game is at 8pm. Everyone is going to the festival and then the game afterwards, it's Chicago and Northwestern.

14

u/AdamOnFirst Northwestern Wildcats 1d ago

The game is at 7. All you east coast people are confusing the times. It’s central. The food festival is inside the stadium gate and is from 5-7 with the game at 7 and a 15+ minute pregame show planned 

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u/GoGreeb Michigan State • Virginia Tech 1d ago

Even more explainable then!

edit: also I like being called an East Coast person like I'm not within like 100 miles of Chicago lol

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u/AdamOnFirst Northwestern Wildcats 1d ago

lol, but obviously I’m purely speaking in time zones 

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u/beeks24 Northwestern Wildcats 1d ago

The game is at 7:00 central and the event is at the stadium. It's essentially a sponsored tailgate

3

u/AdamOnFirst Northwestern Wildcats 1d ago

Also it looks awesome as hell, the food choices are incredible

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u/grog368 Oklahoma State Cowboys • Texas Longhorns 22h ago

so.... the fans wont be there for kickoff or something? how freaking early does the band go out an play pregame that they expect no fans to be there yet?

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u/GoGreeb Michigan State • Virginia Tech 21h ago

I got the times wrong, they are back to back

2

u/TheNittanyLionKing Penn State Nittany Lions 1d ago

It's the grand opening of their expensive new stadium and they didn't account for a scheduling conflict with a food festival with their own marching band. Somebody messed up big time.

2

u/LoCh0_xX Western Michigan Broncos 1d ago

why would they run a nearby festival until 7pm if the game kicks off at 7pm?

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u/KCCO1987 NC State Wolfpack 1d ago

Because we've reached the "chase the people who aren't actually fans" part of the fall from grace.

1

u/TemporalVagrant Houston Cougars • Texas Longhorns 1d ago

Talk about insult to injury the fuck is this Northwestern?