Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium
Evanston, United States
Formerly: Lakeside Field, Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium
Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium
The surface is artificial turf, a uniform green carpet that stretches from one end to the other. It was opened in August 2024, a temporary home for the Wildcats while their permanent stadium, Ryan Field, undergoes demolition and reconstruction. The capacity is 12,023, a figure that has been matched in subsequent home games against opponents such as Indiana, Wisconsin, Oregon, UCLA, UL-Monroe, and Purdue.
It is named after trustees J. Landis "Lanny" Martin and Sharon Martin, who donated $15 million to Northwestern’s "We Will" campaign for athletics and recreation, which funded the project. The venue is managed by Northwestern University Athletics, and its official website is nusports.com/facilities/northwestern-medicine-field-at-martin-stadium.
The stadium serves as the primary home for the Northwestern Wildcats men's and women's soccer and women's lacrosse teams, as well as the temporary home for the football team through the 2026 season. It also hosts professional and semi-professional tenants, including the Chicago Stars FC (NWSL), which will use the venue for its 2026 season; the Chicago Tempest (Women's Elite Rugby) in 2025; and the Chicago Union (Ultimate Frisbee) in 2024 and 2025.
The venue has a history of hosting major tournaments, including the Big Ten men's soccer tournaments in 1998, 2005, and 2012, and the Big Ten women's lacrosse tournaments in 2016 and 2024. The 2016 Big Ten women's lacrosse tournament was one of the first major events held at the facility after its renovation.
The stadium was originally part of the Leonard B. Thomas Sports Complex, opening in 1997 as Lakeside Field with a capacity of 2,000. It underwent a significant renovation in 2016, led by architects HOK and 360 Architecture, which included lighting upgrades, the installation of a new video board, and infrastructure improvements as part of the broader Lakefront Athletics and Recreation Complex renovation. Following the 2016 renovation, it was renamed Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium before adopting its current sponsored name, Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, in August 2024.
The venue is distinct from Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, which is the permanent home of Washington State University.