Kristian Ferrell
The Welsh-Ryan Arena is the home of Northwestern University's basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams. Construction on the arena began in 1951 and was completed in 1953. The arena was renovated in the early 1980s and renamed the Welsh-Ryan Arena in honor of the Ryan family. After the 2016-17 basketball season, the arena underwent a $110 million renovation, which was completed in late 2018. The new Welsh-Ryan Arena features state-of-the-art amenities and accessibility for all visitors, including new locker room facilities, a four-sided center-hung scoreboard, and a Taraflex court system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Location | Evanston, Illinois, United States |
| Year Opened | 1952 |
| Renovation | 1983, 2018 |
| Capacity | 7,039 |
| Construction Time | 19 months |
| Construction Began | March 2017 |
| Construction Completed | Fall 2018 |
| Cost | $110 million |
| Floor Material | Maple wood |
| Floor Provider | Connors Sports Floors |
| Court System | Taraflex |
| Locker Rooms | 2,000 sq ft |
| Donors | Patrick G. Ryan, Shirley Welsh Ryan, Howard J. Trienens, Stephen R. Wilson, Susan K. Wilson, Harreld N. "Kip" Kirkpatrick III, Sara Kirkpatrick, Tim Sullivan, Sue Sullivan, Howard Witt, Marilyn Witt |
| Teams | Northwestern Wildcats (men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling) |
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What You'll Learn
- The new Welsh-Ryan Arena is a world-class facility for Northwestern men's and women's basketball
- The renovation was made possible by Patrick G. Ryan and Shirley Welsh Ryan
- The main arena floor is constructed of maple wood sourced from Menominee Tribal Enterprises
- The original roof structure remains intact and refurbished
- The new arena offers state-of-the-art amenities and accessibility for all visitors
The new Welsh-Ryan Arena is a world-class facility for Northwestern men's and women's basketball
The original Welsh-Ryan Arena was named in honour of the parents of the Ryan family, who have been long-time supporters of Northwestern University. The new arena continues to bear their name and reflects their ongoing commitment to the university. The renovation was made possible by a leadership gift from Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan, along with significant donations from other benefactors.
The new Welsh-Ryan Arena offers a range of upgraded features. The main arena floor is constructed of maple wood sourced from Menominee Tribal Enterprises, providing a stunning and durable playing surface. The arena is also equipped with a four-sided, centre-hung scoreboard that offers cutting-edge video, audio, and lighting capabilities. The facility boasts new and improved locker room facilities for the men's and women's basketball teams, each stretching across more than 2,000 square feet. These locker rooms include kitchens, "fuelling stations", and lounges, ensuring the comfort and convenience of the athletes.
The Welsh-Ryan Arena is located inside McGaw Memorial Hall, which was constructed between 1951 and 1953. The building has undergone several renovations over the years, but the new Welsh-Ryan Arena represents the first top-to-bottom renovation of the entire structure. The latest renovation began immediately after the 2017 men's basketball regular season and lasted for 19 months.
The new Welsh-Ryan Arena is now a beautiful and accessible facility that the entire Northwestern community can be proud of. It provides a competitive home for the Northwestern Wildcats, hosting competitions, practices, and a range of events for the university and surrounding communities. The arena offers outstanding sightlines and first-class amenities, including the private Wilson Club for premium ticket holders. The Welsh-Ryan Arena is a testament to the university's dedication to excellence in athletics and the student experience.
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The renovation was made possible by Patrick G. Ryan and Shirley Welsh Ryan
Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena, home to the Northwestern Wildcats basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams, underwent a $110 million renovation that was completed in late 2018. The arena was first built in 1952 and was renovated in 1983, when it was renamed Welsh-Ryan Arena. The renovation in 2018 was made possible by a leadership gift from Patrick G. Ryan, a 1959 Northwestern graduate, and his wife, Shirley Welsh Ryan, a 1961 graduate.
The Ryan family has been long-time supporters of Northwestern University and its athletics programs. They have provided broad and deep philanthropic investments across the institution, including significant donations to academics and research. The original Welsh-Ryan Arena in 1983 was named after their parents to thank them for sending the Ryan couple to Northwestern University. This was their first major philanthropy, and it marked the beginning of a journey to elevate Northwestern Athletics.
Patrick G. Ryan is distinguished as one of Chicago's most successful entrepreneurs and prominent civic leaders. He founded and served as CEO of Aon Corporation, a leading global provider of risk management, insurance, and reinsurance brokerage. Ryan also served as chairman of Northwestern's Board of Trustees for 14 years and has been a member of the board since 1978. In recognition of his support for Northwestern Athletics and Recreation, Ryan Field, home of Northwestern's football program, was renamed in his honour in 1997.
Shirley Welsh Ryan shared that the renovation of Welsh-Ryan Arena would enable the venue to set a new standard for accessibility. The upgraded arena features wider concourses, balconies behind the baskets, and suites, enhancing the experience for both athletes and fans. The main arena floor is constructed of maple wood sourced from Menominee Tribal Enterprises and was built by Connors Sports Floors, the official provider of NCAA Basketball Tournament and FIBA competition courts.
The renovation of Welsh-Ryan Arena is a testament to the continued support and generosity of Patrick G. Ryan and Shirley Welsh Ryan, ensuring that Northwestern University has a world-class venue for athletics, practices, graduations, concerts, and community events.
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The main arena floor is constructed of maple wood sourced from Menominee Tribal Enterprises
The Welsh-Ryan Arena, home to the Northwestern Wildcats athletic teams, underwent a $110 million renovation in 2016, which was completed in late 2018. The arena is a 7,039-seat multi-purpose venue in Evanston, Illinois, near the campus of Northwestern University. The main arena floor is constructed of maple wood sourced from Menominee Tribal Enterprises and built by Connors Sports Floors, the official provider of all NCAA Basketball Tournament and FIBA competition courts.
The maple wood floor is a key feature of the arena's renovation, providing a state-of-the-art playing surface for the Northwestern Wildcats basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams. The choice of maple wood is significant as it is known for its durability, resilience, and smooth surface, making it ideal for athletic competitions. The wood's light colour and natural grain pattern also enhance the arena's aesthetics, creating a visually appealing playing surface.
Menominee Tribal Enterprises, the supplier of the maple wood, is a renowned and trusted source of high-quality maple wood flooring. The enterprise has a long history of providing exceptional maple wood for sports floors, known for its superior craftsmanship and sustainability practices. Their maple wood is carefully harvested and processed to ensure the highest quality and performance standards, making it a trusted choice for many sports facilities across the country.
Connors Sports Floors, the company that constructed the main arena floor, is the official provider of NCAA and FIBA competition courts. They are experts in sports flooring installation, known for their precision and attention to detail. Connors Sports Floors has a wealth of experience in the industry, ensuring that the Welsh-Ryan Arena's floor meets the highest standards for athletic competitions.
The combination of premium maple wood from Menominee Tribal Enterprises and the expert craftsmanship of Connors Sports Floors has resulted in a world-class playing surface for the Northwestern Wildcats. The floor not only meets the functional requirements of a high-performance athletic venue but also contributes to the arena's overall aesthetic appeal, creating a visually stunning space for both athletes and spectators to enjoy.
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The original roof structure remains intact and refurbished
The Welsh-Ryan Arena, home to Northwestern University's basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams, has undergone extensive renovations over the years, with the most recent major renovation completed in late 2018. While the arena has been transformed to include modern amenities and improved accessibility, the original roof structure remains intact and carefully refurbished.
The Welsh-Ryan Arena has a long history dating back to the early 1950s. Construction on McGaw Memorial Hall, which houses the arena, began in 1951 and was completed in 1953. The building opened in 1952 as a replacement for the Patten Gymnasium. Significant renovations were carried out in the early 1980s, with the main arena being renamed Welsh-Ryan Arena in honour of the Ryan family's extraordinary leadership and support for Northwestern University.
The original Welsh-Ryan Arena was named after the parents of Patrick G. Ryan, president of the Board of Trustees, and his wife, Shirley W. Ryan, in 1983. This naming was in recognition of the family's first significant philanthropy towards the university. The Ryan family has continued their support for Northwestern over the years, providing leadership and funding for various projects, including academic programs, scholarships, and construction of multiple facilities.
The recent $110 million renovation of the Welsh-Ryan Arena began after the 2016-2017 basketball season and displaced the athletic programs for that season. The project was made possible by a generous leadership gift from Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan, along with significant donations from other benefactors. The arena's main floor was constructed using maple wood sourced from Menominee Tribal Enterprises, and the facility now includes new and improved locker room facilities, wider concourses, balconies, and suites.
Throughout the renovations, careful consideration was given to preserving the arena's past. Each of the four corner stairwells retains the original exterior wall of the old Welsh-Ryan Arena, and the original roof structure has been meticulously refurbished. This blend of historical elements with modern amenities creates a unique space that honours the arena's legacy while providing a world-class, competitive home for Northwestern's athletic teams.
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The new arena offers state-of-the-art amenities and accessibility for all visitors
The new Welsh-Ryan Arena is a world-class venue that will host competitions, practices, graduations, concerts, and community events. The arena is the result of a $110 million renovation project completed in late 2018, which was made possible by Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan, along with a $10 million gift from Stephen R. and Susan K. Wilson, and donations from other loyal Northwestern benefactors. The facility underwent a 19-month transformation that began immediately after the Wildcats' 2017 men's basketball regular season finale.
The new locker room facilities for men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams each stretch across more than 2,000 square feet of space. They include kitchens, "fuelling stations", and lounges, while the lounges for wrestling and cheerleading feature the latest audio and visual technology. The Wilson Club, named for the family of Trustee Stephen R. Wilson and Susan K. Wilson, is a private space within the arena offering an outstanding sightline to the court and other first-class amenities. It includes a private seating area for 700 spectators, private restrooms, and an all-inclusive food and beverage option.
The renovated facility also has wider concourses, balconies behind the baskets, and suites. Partitions, portable bleachers, and a removable basketball floor make the building suitable for a wide variety of uses. The original roof structure remains intact and refurbished, and each of the four corner stairwells includes the original exterior wall of the old Welsh-Ryan Arena. The new Welsh-Ryan Arena is a stunning and exceptionally accessible facility that provides Northwestern scholar-athletes with the state-of-the-art facilities they deserve.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the new Welsh-Ryan Arena opened in late 2018 after a $110 million renovation.
The new arena has a main floor made of maple wood sourced from Menominee Tribal Enterprises. It also has a four-sided, centre-hung scoreboard with cutting-edge video, audio and lighting. The new locker rooms for the basketball teams include a kitchen, "fuelling station" and lounge. Wider concourses, balconies behind the baskets, and suites have also been added.
The renovation was funded by a leadership gift from Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan, a $10 million gift from Stephen R. and Susan K. Wilson, and donations from other loyal Northwestern benefactors.
Construction on McGaw Memorial Hall, in which Welsh-Ryan Arena is located, was started in 1951 and completed in 1953. The basketball arena was then renovated in the early 1980s and renamed Welsh-Ryan Arena.
