Welsh Ryan Arena Tickets

Complete Guide to Buying Tickets at Welsh-Ryan Arena

Have you ever missed out on an event you didn’t know was on, or maybe a show got rescheduled and you didn’t know? We all know the frustration. Missing out on information is the absolute worst, especially if it means you miss out on seeing one of your favorite artists. Well, do we have some good news for you. If you’re based in the Evanston area, then you must already know about the iconic Welsh Ryan Arena, right? This hugely popular venue will be keeping you up to date with all the latest news so you never have to miss out on an announcement again. What can you do you ask? Just order your tickets, here.

Welsh-Ryan Arena, located at 2705 Ashland Avenue in Evanston, Illinois, within McGaw Memorial Hall on the Northwestern University campus, maintains a seating capacity of 7,039 following a major renovation completed in 2018. This capacity positions it as the smallest arena in the Big Ten Conference, contributing to an intimate and intense atmosphere for competitions.

The venue hosts Northwestern Wildcats men’s and women’s basketball games, volleyball matches, wrestling events, along with occasional concerts, graduations, and community activities.

While the Welsh Ryan Arena venues popularity continues to grow throughout Evanston, unfortunately its capacity doesn’t. That means that although the venue is seeing unprecedented numbers of fans flocking through its doors, the tickets for shows are also flying out faster than ever with fans up and down the country learning about this incredible venue. So, to save you any upsets we recommend you get your tickets as early as possible to secure those perfect seats you’ve been thinking of.

This site is not affiliated or sponsored by Northwestern University or Welsh Ryan Arena and is not an official ticket seller of Northwestern University. This site links to resale tickets for events at the Welsh Ryan Arena. See the Disclaimer page.

You can find our full ticket policies here to find out what added perks you can get from your visit. To purchase tickets, simply click the Welsh Ryan Arena schedule to scroll through events, or alternatively click Welsh Ryan Arena tickets to get your tickets now.

Welsh-Ryan Arena Upcoming Events

• 28th Feb 2026: Northwestern Wildcats vs. Oregon Ducks (Tickets from $84 at TicketSqueeze.com)
• 01st Mar 2026: Northwestern Wildcats Women's Basketball vs. Purdue Boilermakers (Tickets from $55 at TicketSqueeze.com)
• 04th Mar 2026: Northwestern Wildcats vs. Purdue Boilermakers (Tickets from $184 at TicketSqueeze.com)

Welsh-Ryan Arena Venue Information

Originally constructed as McGaw Memorial Hall in 1953, the facility underwent significant renovations, including a name change to Welsh-Ryan Arena in 1983 in recognition of donor contributions from the Welsh and Ryan families. A comprehensive $110 million privately funded renovation from 2017 to 2018 modernized the entire structure, expanding the footprint while reducing seating capacity from 8,117 to 7,039 to enhance intimacy and accessibility.

The arena is recognized as one of the most ADA-compliant venues in college athletics, featuring wheelchair-accessible seating distributed across every level and vantage point, multiple elevators, and other accommodations. Modern upgrades include state-of-the-art lighting, audio-visual systems, improved concourses, new locker rooms, and enhanced environmental controls.

The venue supports versatile configurations for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and other events. Gates typically open 60 to 90 minutes prior to start times, varying by event. Accessibility features and policies prioritize inclusive experiences for all patrons.

Welsh-Ryan Arena Seating Chart

Welsh-Ryan Arena Seating Options

Seating is organized into lower and upper levels, with dedicated premium areas providing elevated experiences.

Lower Level

The Lower Level includes courtside and baseline sections closest to the playing surface. These seats offer direct proximity to the action, ideal for observing player movements, bench activities, and game details in basketball, or court interactions in volleyball and wrestling. Configurations place sections along sidelines and baselines, with premium options in prime locations. Sightlines from these areas deliver immersive views with minimal obstructions.

Upper Level

The Upper Level provides elevated perspectives across the arena. These sections afford comprehensive views of the entire court or mat, suitable for appreciating team strategies, overall gameplay, and venue atmosphere. The design ensures good visibility from higher positions, supported by the arena’s intimate scale and modern rake angles.

Premium Seating

Premium seating encompasses areas such as the Wilson Club, Loge Boxes, and Courtside options. The Wilson Club offers an inviting hospitality environment with comfortable seating, access to exclusive lounges, and enhanced amenities overlooking the court. Loge Boxes provide semi-private settings within the club area, combining privacy with premium views and services. Courtside seating delivers first-class comfort directly adjacent to the playing surface, often including swivel chairs and tables in select configurations like Wildcat Terrace. These areas include benefits such as priority access and upgraded concessions.

Welsh-Ryan Arena Ticket Sources

Tickets are available through primary official platforms and secondary resale options.

SeatGeek (Primary Tickets)

SeatGeek serves as a primary ticketing partner for many Northwestern events at Welsh-Ryan Arena, facilitating purchases for single games, season tickets, and select packages. The platform provides interactive seating charts, seat views, and mobile ticket delivery. Transactions ensure official access and buyer protections.

Box Office

The Welsh-Ryan Arena Box Office, located within the venue, handles in-person sales, will-call services, and game-day transactions. The main Athletic Ticket Office operates weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the arena box office opening approximately 75 minutes to 1.5 hours prior to events on game days. Inquiries can be directed to the ticket office via phone or email through Northwestern Athletics channels.

Ticket Squeeze (Resale Tickets)

Ticket Squeeze operates as a resale marketplace, allowing individuals to buy and sell tickets for Welsh-Ryan Arena events. Prices vary based on market demand and may differ from original face values. This source supports access to limited-availability events, and comes with buyer guarantees and ticket verification. Discounts to be had via downloading their app for purchasing. See verified reviews below.

Ticket Squeeze 4.6/5 rating and highly trusted marketplace

Welsh-Ryan Arena Ticket Types

Sports Tickets

Sports tickets cover Northwestern Wildcats competitions in men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, and wrestling. Options include single-game tickets, season subscriptions, partial plans, and group rates for select matchups.

VIP Packages

VIP packages integrate premium seating with hospitality elements, such as Wilson Club access, Loge Box experiences, or all-inclusive options like the Fast Break Premium Experience for certain games. These provide enhanced viewing, exclusive lounges, and additional amenities tailored to premium patrons.

Seating Tickets

Seating tickets assign specific locations in lower or upper levels, or premium areas. This category applies to most events, ensuring reserved positions upon entry.

General Admission

General admission is not commonly used at Welsh-Ryan Arena for primary athletic events, which predominantly feature reserved seating to optimize distribution and sightlines.

Resale Tickets

Resale tickets are sourced from secondary platforms, including Ticket Squeeze. These enable attendance at sold-out or high-demand games but operate under marketplace conditions.

Ticket Squeeze

Ticket Squeeze is renowned and highly-regarded ticketing system which is promoted by some of the top vendors all over the world. They have access to a greater number of tickets which we can give to our readers, meaning you will rarely be met by sold out events. And what’s more, the partnership brings with it some added perks which are usually only offered to customers who buy direct from the ticket stalls at the venue itself. So whether you’re looking at event next month or even next year, you can be sure we’ll have all the tickets you need for an unforgettable experience both at the event and getting the tickets.

In line with our policies which are linked above, our mission is to make the ticket purchasing process as simple and easy as possible so the focus is less involved around getting your tickets, and more time is spent getting ready and preparing for your favorite shows. After all, getting tickets to a show is always going to be a part of the process, so why make it more difficult than it needs to be?

We ensure competitive prices

Often, Illinois ticket sellers struggle to offer a reasonable price for tickets as they only have a limited quantity to sell and they aim to maximise their profits, but we work directly with Ticket Squeeze and our main goal is fill the venue for a sell-out event which gives us much more flexibility with prices.

Guaranteed group seating

All you need to do is choose the show, how many tickets you need, and pick which part of the Welsh Ryan Arena at Northwestern University section you want to be in, and Ticket Squeeze handle the rest. So now, just enjoy the show.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Never again be disappointed by a last minute cancellation of a show. Sometimes yes, it’s unavoidable and a performer may fall ill. But after that, how the ticket seller handles the situation with the customer is key. If you get your tickets from an unreliable seller, often you won’t be notified and sometimes worse, you won’t even get a refund. We promise to give you up to date information all the way to the start of the show so that you never miss out on the latest information. If an event does get cancelled, you also won’t have to worry as we offer a 100% money-back guarantee on any event cancellations, giving you a full refund of your ticket price.

When you get your seats through Ticket Squeeze and in the unlikely event a show gets postponed, we instantly validate your ticket for the rescheduled date so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of re-booking the show and possibly missing out on the show you’ve been planning and waiting for. All you have to do is keep your ticket, and simply use it for the rescheduled date. Their cancellation policy still remains the same however with a 100% refund for any events which are cancelled.

Guaranteed Authenticity for Welsh Ryan Arena Tickets

If you’ve ever bought a ticket that turned out not to be completely authentic, you’ll know better than anyone that this is one of the worst feelings in the world. You’ve paid for a ticket, you’ve organised the trip with friends, you’ve travelled to the venue, only to not be allowed in because you’re ticket is invalid. These tickets are often easy to spot as they are a fraction of the normal price, but not everyone knows that this is because they are fakes. Of course, everyone wants to find the cheapest tickets possible but please never compromise on authenticity. Secure your Welsh Ryan Arena tickets here direct from the Ticket Squeeze, and have the weight lifted off your shoulders so you can just be excited for the event. Together with Ticket Squeeze, that’s exactly what you’ll get guaranteeing you 100% authentic tickets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Parking Included in the Ticket?

Yes, with ample on-site parking available.

Where Are the Best Seats at Welsh-Ryan Arena?

Seat preferences vary by event and viewpoint desired. Lower Level courtside and baseline sections provide the closest, most immersive proximity to the action, particularly advantageous for basketball and volleyball. Wilson Club and Loge Box premium areas combine excellent sightlines with upscale amenities. Upper Level seats offer broad overviews of the court in an intimate setting, benefiting from the arena’s design for strong visibility even from higher positions.

Are There Any Age Restrictions?

Policies generally require tickets for all attendees, with exceptions for young children in some cases. Children under a specified age (often two years) may enter free when seated on a lap without occupying a separate seat, though requirements vary by event and sport. Specific productions or games may include content-based guidelines; patrons should verify details through official sources.