Limited-edition memorabilia pre-sale begins Aug. 14
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern Athletics today announced a new online destination, CollectNU.com, where Wildcat fans can buy authenticated memorabilia created from artifacts pulled from the old Ryan Field during its transformation. The site goes live August 14.
The campaign launch comes as Northwestern prepares to open the new Ryan Field for a Big Ten matchup with Penn State on Oct. 2 — exactly 100 years after the old stadium first hosted football in 1926.
As one era of Wildcat football gives way to the next, Northwestern Athletics is working with Northbrook-based CollectU to create one-of-a-kind, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles, preserving the memories made across generations of games, tailgates and traditions. A portion of the proceeds from every sale benefits Northwestern Athletics and its student-athletes.
The new premium collection includes:
- Gate and section signs
- Rings containing authenticated fragments of the iconic North Tower
- Artistic architectural line drawing prints of the old Ryan Field
- North Tower collectible fragments
- A limited number of box seats and stadium club seats
- Unique wayfinding signs
Some items will be reserved for auction, while others will be available for immediate purchase. Each item is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Northwestern Athletics.
"The old Ryan Field holds decades of Wildcat memories, and this collection gives our fans a way to hold onto a piece of that history," said Christopher Schoen, associate athletics director for revenue generation and marketing strategy at Northwestern. "Partnering with CollectU allows us to celebrate everything the old stadium meant to our community while supporting Northwestern Athletics’ future."
"Every seat, sign, ring, and rendering tells a story," said Jay Sharman, a 1995 Northwestern alum and CollectU founder. "Our goal is to put those stories directly into the hands of the fans who lived them — with authenticity and premium craftsmanship at the center of everything we create. To be able to do this with my alma mater at a stadium where I never missed a game is very personal to me."