Welsh–Ryan Arena
Welsh–Ryan Arena is a basketball arena in Evanston, Illinois, home of the Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten, NCAA Division I). It opened in 1952, making it 74 years old in 2026 and seats 7,039 for basketball. It ranks 18th of 18 in the Big Ten by capacity.
The closest NBA arena is United Center in Chicago, about 13 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Evanston, Illinois
- Home of
- Northwestern Wildcats
- School
- Northwestern University
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Opened
- 1952
- Capacity
- 7,039
- Former names
- McGaw Memorial Hall (1952–1983)
- Also home to
- Northwestern women's basketball
Northwestern volleyball
Northwestern wrestling - Size rank in D-I
- 167th of 360
Famous games at Welsh–Ryan Arena
- March 24, 1956: McGaw Hall hosted the Final Four, and San Francisco beat Iowa 83-71 for its second straight national title.
- March 1, 2017: A last-second basket beat Michigan 67-65, giving Northwestern a school-record 21st win on the way to its first NCAA tournament.
- Feb. 12, 2023: Northwestern upset No. 1 Purdue 64-58 before a sellout crowd of 7,039.
- Dec. 1, 2023: Boo Buie scored 31 as Northwestern beat No. 1 Purdue again, 92-88 in overtime.
- Jan. 24, 2024: Northwestern outlasted No. 10 Illinois 96-91 in overtime behind 29 points from Boo Buie.
Seating & views at Welsh–Ryan Arena
At 7,039 seats, Welsh-Ryan is the smallest arena in the Big Ten, which means nearly every seat is close to the floor. A $110 million renovation, finished in 2018, gutted the old McGaw Hall interior and replaced its bleachers with chairback seats, added balconies behind both baskets, suites and wider concourses. Capacity dropped from 8,117 to its current figure. The result is an intimate bowl inside the original 1952 shell.
Parking & tailgating at Welsh–Ryan Arena
The arena sits on Central Street in north Evanston beside the new Ryan Field, which opens in October 2026. Transit is easy: the CTA Purple Line's Central station and Metra's Central Street station on the Union Pacific North line are both a short walk away, which beats driving on busy nights. Northwestern posts game-day parking details for the athletics campus lots; check them before you go, since the stadium construction has reshaped parking around the complex.
Plan your trip to Welsh–Ryan Arena
Arenas near Welsh–Ryan Arena10
- 1NBAUnited Center — Chicago Bulls 13 mi
- 2D-IJoseph J. Gentile Arena — Loyola Chicago Ramblers 13 mi
- 3D-IWintrust Arena — DePaul Blue Demons 13 mi
- 4D-ICredit Union 1 Arena — UIC Flames 13 mi
- 5D-IEmil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center — Chicago State Cougars 13 mi
- 6G LeagueNow Arena — Windy City Bulls 28 mi
- 7D-IAthletics–Recreation Center — Valparaiso Beacons 51 mi
- 8D-IConvocation Center — Northern Illinois Huskies 56 mi
- 9NBAFiserv Forum — Milwaukee Bucks 70 mi
- 10D-IUW–Milwaukee Panther Arena — Milwaukee Panthers 70 mi
Questions about Welsh–Ryan Arena
Where do the Northwestern Wildcats play home games?
The Northwestern Wildcats play at Welsh–Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
How many people does Welsh–Ryan Arena hold?
Welsh–Ryan Arena seats 7,039 for basketball.
When did Welsh–Ryan Arena open?
Welsh–Ryan Arena opened in 1952.
What other arenas are near Welsh–Ryan Arena?
United Center in Chicago is about 13 miles away. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.