New Memorial Stadium FieldTurf & surface design

[Dan]

Edit (8/14/2012), here's the new turf-



http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forum...065#post591065


Edit, here's the new design-

Design for new @FieldTurf Revolution surface going in at Memorial Stadium: http://twitpic.com/abd91m. What do you think #Illini fans? @IlliniFootball

Illini AD Mike Thomas on the July 21st WDWS Saturday Sportsline.

"We have two projects going on at the same time. The replacement of the turf at Memorial Stadium which is supposed to be complete by the time of our first football game -- it better be.. We're also at the same time replacing the turf at the Irwin Indoor Facility.

Starts 57:35-

Saturday Sportsline 7-21-12

The trademark at the center of the new Memorial Stadium will be a Block I backgrounded by a dim outline of the state. The work will hopefully be completed so as not to conflict with Beckman's practices before the opener. The indoor football facility is also receiving new artificial turf. At the same time, work has begun on St. Mary's Road with the intention of having a new surface completed before the Illini opener.

Thomas says the Block I will be a part of the new branding logo being planned by the university and Nike. It is an 18-month project.

Tate

[Thacher_H_Guild]

New logo sounds cool. Can't wait to see a pic.

[Calvin]

Seems like you would want to get a turf project done in time for practice so the players are used to it and comfortable.

[IlliniBacker]

Great news I always thought our turf looked crappy compared to the other schools. Seems like the tire bits showed easier at Memorial and there were always black streaks everywhere. Hope they go with Field Turf this time... those fields come out with a nicer look.

[mattcoldagelli]

I'm liking the Block I/state of Illinois combo we're starting to roll out

[jackman404]

Is there still any discussion of lowering the field a couple feet so we can sell the first 3 rows of seats on the sidelines? That stupid tarp they put over them looks awful.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by mattcoldagelli

I'm liking the Block I/state of Illinois combo we're starting to roll out

I really don't like the state of Illinois outline and just makes anything it is on look very "busy" to me. To each his own.

Seems odd they are doing a branding initiative, but are making changes now before it is done. I guess they can swap out what they have on the football field and basketball courts when they settle on something.

[Sure Shot]

Originally Posted by jackman404

Is there still any discussion of lowering the field a couple feet so we can sell the first 3 rows of seats on the sidelines? That stupid tarp they put over them looks awful.

This would seem to forestall that possibility, which is a bit of a disappointment. It sucks that RG didn't get that done in the renovation. Oh well, the logo thing is exciting.

[mattcoldagelli]

Originally Posted by illinicb

Seems odd they are doing a branding initiative, but are making changes now before it is done. I guess they can swap out what they have on the football field and basketball courts when they settle on something.

I read that as the Illinois outline is a part of the new branding initiative.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by mattcoldagelli

I read that as the Illinois outline is a part of the new branding initiative.

I will defer to marketing people, but i think clean and simple logos are the best and an outline of the state is neither in my view.

[mattcoldagelli]

Originally Posted by illinicb

I will defer to marketing people, but i think clean and simple logos are the best and an outline of the state is neither in my view.

I like it. We do a lot of hand-wringing about how we want to be seen as the flagship university we are. This helps.

Also, did you like ? That was a pretty intricate logo. And simple isn't always better:



That's pretty simple and straightforward, and I think it's god awful.

[illinicb]

Originally Posted by mattcoldagelli

I like it. We do a lot of hand-wringing about how we want to be seen as the flagship university we are. This helps.

Also, did you like ? That was a pretty intricate logo. And simple isn't always better:



That's pretty simple and straightforward, and I think it's god awful.

I loved the sunburst Chief which was very a "simple" logo. The OKC logo doesn't do it for me and I wouldn't consider it simple.

[mattcoldagelli]

I'm not sure what your definition of "simple" is, then.

[Sure Shot]

Originally Posted by mattcoldagelli

I'm not sure what your definition of "simple" is, then.

+1

The circle Chief isn't simple at all, which is why it doesn't look as good in a small format.

Blown up to size it's glorious, but in 2012 you want a logo to be consumable in a lot of different shapes and sizes.

I look forward to seeing what MT and Nike have cooked up.

[illini1]

I don't think it would be the same as the logo on the basketball court. I'm assuming if Nike is involved they would want it to be at least a little different so they can have exclusive rights to use it.

[illini1]

Originally Posted by mattcoldagelli

I read that as the Illinois outline is a part of the new branding initiative.

The article actually says the block I will be part of the new branding initiative. It doesn't mention the state outline.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by Thacher_H_Guild

New logo sounds cool. Can't wait to see a pic.

Great idea. I'm dying to see how it is implemented.

[pizzaman]

I read the title about new turf and my first thought was, "well, I hope they get some rain." Then my brain began to work and I realized it's not real organic grass anymore, just can't seem to get the images I retain from about 1971 out of my head.

[IlliniWolf]

Any word on what the end zones will look like?

[GilThorpe]

Originally Posted by jackman404

Is there still any discussion of lowering the field a couple feet so we can sell the first 3 rows of seats on the sidelines? That stupid tarp they put over them looks awful.

this is a completely different issue and putting new "carpet" over the existing base there is a fairly quick job. like 2 or 3 days at most if done round the clock.

lowering the field involves 2-3 months or more of work. That would be something to discuss 5 years or so from now, about when we will need new turf again.

[Crow]

Originally Posted by IlliniWolf

Any word on what the end zones will look like?

I hope they are just green with ILLINOIS inside. I'm not a fan of the endzones that are painted orange, red, blue, etc, because it always looks like cheap astroturf. If you're going to go to the trouble of creating turf that looks and feels just like grass, why go with an astroturf paintjob? And no, I don't like the smurfturf look, either.

[IlliniBacker]

Originally Posted by Crow

I hope they are just green with ILLINOIS inside. I'm not a fan of the endzones that are painted orange, red, blue, etc, because it always looks like cheap astroturf. If you're going to go to the trouble of creating turf that looks and feels just like grass, why go with an astroturf paintjob? And no, I don't like the smurfturf look, either.

Agree that green endzones would be a nice look. I've always wondered if it would look cool if Illinois knocked off the Tennesee checkerboard endzones with orange & blue

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

[illini1]

@IllinoisFootball just tweeted the the new field design would be released tomorrow. https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/s...32065346813952

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by GilThorpe

this is a completely different issue and putting new "carpet" over the existing base there is a fairly quick job. like 2 or 3 days at most if done round the clock.

lowering the field involves 2-3 months or more of work. That would be something to discuss 5 years or so from now, about when we will need new turf again.

The field was not lowered because of sight line problems. Why would this ever be revisited?