Iowa Hawkeyes Football Team Will Play At Wrigley Field In 2023

Normally when college football teams travel to play against Northwestern University they end up at Ryan Field, in Evanston, Illinois. Evanston is about 20 miles north of Chicago. In the 2023 college football season, the Hawkeyes are headed to the north side of Chicago to play a game at Wrigley Field.

To most casual sports fans, Wrigley Field is famous for being the home stadium of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Wrigley Field is one of the oldest Major League baseball stadiums in the United States and according to Britannica, the stadium has been in use since 1914. Baseball savants might remember it hasn't always been called Wrigley Field. From 1914-1920, it was known as Weeghman Park and then Cubs Park from 1920-1926.

The Chicago Tribune reports this will be the 3rd college football game hosted at Wrigley since 2010. Back in 2010, Northwestern took on Illinois, and that was the first college football game at the stadium since 1938.

Wrigley Field hasn't always been just a baseball stadium. NFL fans and Chicago Bears fans might remember it was the host stadium for the Chicago Bears from 1921 to 1970, before they departed for where they currently play, Soldier Field.

As exciting as this news is for the players, the coaches, and Hawkeye fans, it is possible there could be a scheduling conflict. While it may be a long shot, November 4 is the tentative scheduled date for game 7 of the world series. If the Cubs end up making the playoffs, have home-field advantage, and advance to game 7 of the world series, it will be interesting what the Cubs and Northwestern University decide to do. Likely the game will just be moved back to Northwestern's Ryan Field.

Hawkeye fans can mark November 4 on their calendars, as the Hawkeyes look forward to a historic moment, at one of the most historic sports venues in the country. If the field has the same setup as it did in 2021, and Hawkeye fans make the trip to the game, I wouldn't recommend sitting in what would normally be left center. If you do, bring some binoculars.