Memorial Stadium Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos (Feb 26, 2007)

Dan · Feb 26, 2007, 06:15 PM

Stadium Pics Archive | Next Mar 6, 2007 (8 pics) >>

Monday, February 26, 2007

Work on the north end zone has been going on for a few months now; these two cranes rose over the past few days and they have begun to do visible demolition work on the West Side. Official site >>

North end zone:

Stadium Pics Archive | Next Mar 6, 2007 (8 pics) >>

*IlliniSteve* · Feb 26, 2007, 06:34 PM

Nice pics, Dan. Thanks.

twincityillini · Feb 26, 2007, 07:55 PM

Thanks Dan, I've been wondering how the construction has been going. I saw the cranes "parked" on the west side last week but I couldn't see what exactly was going on. Now I see that they're preparing MS for the Dan O'Brien-IllinoisLoyalty luxury suite.

I don't see how they are going to have the spring game there in April, I wonder where they might hold the scrimmage? It's only 2 short months away and I can't wait!!

GO ILLINI!!!

fightingillini fan 4-ever · Feb 26, 2007, 08:04 PM

Thanks Dan,GO ILLINI!!!!!!!

illinifan87 · Feb 26, 2007, 10:10 PM

You tresspasser!!!!! I'm calling the cops Dan!!

Nice pics though. Can't wait for the renny to get done.

*illini4everjp* · Feb 26, 2007, 10:21 PM

Thanks Dan, for some reason I am finding the renovation of Memorial Stadium really fascinating.

Dan · Feb 26, 2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twincityillini

Now I see that they're preparing MS for the Dan O'Brien-IllinoisLoyalty luxury suite.

That's right, members with 1000+ posts get the free pass

Quote:

Originally Posted by illinifan87

You tresspasser!!!!!

Not too sure how many people know this, but Memorial Stadium is open during the day. Walk in thru the East Side, walk around, run the ramps, throw the football around in the field, just try to stay out of the hard hat areas.

illinifan87 · Feb 26, 2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

That's right, members with 1000+ posts get the free pass
Not too sure how many people know this, but Memorial Stadium is open during the day. Walk in thru the East Side, walk around, run the ramps, throw the football around in the field, just try to stay out of the hard hat areas.

Really?

That's pretty cool.

JCIllini10 · Feb 26, 2007, 11:19 PM

Dan, I read your post and got really excited. So you are telling me if my buddies and I were bored some day we could walk down to Memorial Stadium, go onto the actual turf, and throw around the football? I just want to make sure I understand completely so I don't go try that and get myself into trouble.

Dan · Feb 26, 2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCIllini10

Dan, I read your post and got really excited. So you are telling me if my buddies and I were bored some day we could walk down to Memorial Stadium, go onto the actual turf, and throw around the football? I just want to make sure I understand completely so I don't go try that and get myself into trouble.

That's right, as long as the doors are open enjoy the stadium.

*illini4everjp* · Feb 27, 2007, 11:17 AM

I know the North endzone is supposed to be completed before the season but now (from the cranes) it looks like they have started on the west stadium. How much of that side is supposed to be completely before the fall? This is what the picture on the website looks like, seem to me that its a lot of work to get done.

Eddie509 · Feb 27, 2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

That's right, members with 1000+ posts get the free pass
Not too sure how many people know this, but Memorial Stadium is open during the day. Walk in thru the East Side, walk around, run the ramps, throw the football around in the field, just try to stay out of the hard hat areas.

Yeah I did that after the Northwestern game last Sunday....it was a good time...the whole field was covered in snow so it made it extra fun. But I don't know if you guys have heard that the new seats that are being put up, they want to move the BLock I over there. Their reasoning was that our noise can only be heard from one side of the stadium. Thus by having us at the endzone, the noise will resonate throughout the whole stadium. The Block I isn't too happy over this since we go from having one of the best seats in the house to one of the worst.

*illini4everjp* · Feb 27, 2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie509

Yeah I did that after the Northwestern game last Sunday....it was a good time...the whole field was covered in snow so it made it extra fun. But I don't know if you guys have heard that the new seats that are being put up, they want to move the BLock I over there. Their reasoning was that our noise can only be heard from one side of the stadium. Thus by having us at the endzone, the noise will resonate throughout the whole stadium. The Block I isn't too happy over this since we go from having one of the best seats in the house to one of the worst.

I also heard that the new student section is going to have a separate entrance than the rest of the stadium, making it inaccesible to the grandstands. Any truth to that? If so than I think its completely insane and unfair.

Eddie509 · Feb 27, 2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illini4everjp

I also heard that the new student section is going to have a separate entrance than the rest of the stadium, making it inaccesible to the grandstands. Any truth to that? If so than I think its completely insane and unfair.

Yeah I havent heard that exactly but if it is true, then its is horrible. The school is trying to give us discounts on our season tickets, etc....in order to have us move there. But nothing is official yet. Guess its a waiting game just as its a waiting game with the construction.

bonick03 · Feb 27, 2007, 01:15 PM

Thanks for the info, Dan! I had no idea it was legal to run on the field during the day. That's so cool. To quote Jimmy Fallon from Fever Pitch, "What was the grass like in center field? Was it spongy?"

Related story: I went to the Illini-Michigan basketball game in Ann Arbor in 2002(?) and after the game (we won, of course) I ran down the football stands (the two stadiums are right next to each other and because of some construction, they divereted the exiting fans through the east end of the football stadium) and dunked a snowball over the goal posts. On my way back, I traced with my boots a huge block 'I' into the snow at the 50 yard line. Needless to say, the image didn't last long as a bunch of disapointed Michigan fans erased my 'I' a few minutes later.

But from what I understand, that was not legal, as they don't allow fans on their field because of potential damage to the grass (it was real then). Stupid Michigan. . .

*illini4everjp* · Feb 27, 2007, 01:34 PM

I snuck in at night once. It was pretty awesome. Played about 5 minutes of catch before security made us leave.

Dan · Feb 27, 2007, 03:52 PM

Yes, the North End Zone will be completed in time for the start of the 2007 season, and will be the new Block I / student section, and separate from the rest of the stadium.

The bad news is the seats won't be as good.

The good news is it should be a pretty sweet and fun area for the students. I'm going to try and sneak in there at least once!

As for the West Side, that is slated to be completed for the 2008 season. The West Balcony and some of the West Main will be closed off from fans for the 2007 season.

Capacity for the 2007 season I estimate will be in the mid 50,000s. When the renovations are complete in 2008, they say capacity will be ~ 65k.

If you're excited about football buy your tickets early this year due to the reduced capacity, especially for the Penn St., Wisconsin, and Michigan games.

*AK Illini* · Feb 28, 2007, 10:59 AM

a little off topic but do you when tickets go on sale for non-students? thanks for anyone who can answer.

....ahh the feeling of being excited about Illinois football.

Dan · Mar 13, 2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK Illini

a little off topic but do you when tickets go on sale for non-students? thanks for anyone who can answer.

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/Forum...ead.php?t=2493

Feb 26, 2007, 06:15 PM	#1
Dan Admin Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 8,974	Stadium Pics Archive \| Next Mar 6, 2007 (8 pics) >> Monday, February 26, 2007 Work on the north end zone has been going on for a few months now; these two cranes rose over the past few days and they have begun to do visible demolition work on the West Side. Official site >> North end zone: Stadium Pics Archive \| Next Mar 6, 2007 (8 pics) >> __________________ IllinoisLoyalty \| Illini Basketball \| Illini Football \| Twitter \| Facebook Last edited by Dan; Aug 28, 2007 at 01:11 AM.

Feb 26, 2007, 06:34 PM	#2
IlliniSteve Location: Edwardsville, IL Posts: 4,331	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos Nice pics, Dan. Thanks.

Feb 26, 2007, 07:55 PM	#3
twincityillini Location: Normal, IL Posts: 538	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos Thanks Dan, I've been wondering how the construction has been going. I saw the cranes "parked" on the west side last week but I couldn't see what exactly was going on. Now I see that they're preparing MS for the Dan O'Brien-IllinoisLoyalty luxury suite. I don't see how they are going to have the spring game there in April, I wonder where they might hold the scrimmage? It's only 2 short months away and I can't wait!! GO ILLINI!!! __________________

Feb 26, 2007, 08:04 PM	#4
fightingillini fan 4-ever Banned Posts: 11,969	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos Thanks Dan,GO ILLINI!!!!!!!

Feb 26, 2007, 10:10 PM	#5
illinifan87 Recruiting Guru Jr. Location: Twin Cities Posts: 3,656	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos You tresspasser!!!!! I'm calling the cops Dan!! Nice pics though. Can't wait for the renny to get done.

Feb 26, 2007, 10:21 PM	#6
illini4everjp Illini Foot Soldier Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17,297	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos Thanks Dan, for some reason I am finding the renovation of Memorial Stadium really fascinating. __________________

Feb 26, 2007, 11:19 PM	#9
JCIllini10 Posts: 1	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos Dan, I read your post and got really excited. So you are telling me if my buddies and I were bored some day we could walk down to Memorial Stadium, go onto the actual turf, and throw around the football? I just want to make sure I understand completely so I don't go try that and get myself into trouble.

Feb 27, 2007, 11:17 AM	#11
illini4everjp Illini Foot Soldier Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17,297	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos I know the North endzone is supposed to be completed before the season but now (from the cranes) it looks like they have started on the west stadium. How much of that side is supposed to be completely before the fall? This is what the picture on the website looks like, seem to me that its a lot of work to get done. __________________

Feb 27, 2007, 01:15 PM	#15
bonick03 Chief Optimism Officer Location: Chicago Posts: 3,199	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos Thanks for the info, Dan! I had no idea it was legal to run on the field during the day. That's so cool. To quote Jimmy Fallon from Fever Pitch, "What was the grass like in center field? Was it spongy?" Related story: I went to the Illini-Michigan basketball game in Ann Arbor in 2002(?) and after the game (we won, of course) I ran down the football stands (the two stadiums are right next to each other and because of some construction, they divereted the exiting fans through the east end of the football stadium) and dunked a snowball over the goal posts. On my way back, I traced with my boots a huge block 'I' into the snow at the 50 yard line. Needless to say, the image didn't last long as a bunch of disapointed Michigan fans erased my 'I' a few minutes later. But from what I understand, that was not legal, as they don't allow fans on their field because of potential damage to the grass (it was real then). Stupid Michigan. . .

Feb 27, 2007, 01:34 PM	#16
illini4everjp Illini Foot Soldier Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17,297	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos I snuck in at night once. It was pretty awesome. Played about 5 minutes of catch before security made us leave. __________________

Feb 27, 2007, 03:52 PM	#17
Dan Admin Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 8,974	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos Yes, the North End Zone will be completed in time for the start of the 2007 season, and will be the new Block I / student section, and separate from the rest of the stadium. The bad news is the seats won't be as good. The good news is it should be a pretty sweet and fun area for the students. I'm going to try and sneak in there at least once! As for the West Side, that is slated to be completed for the 2008 season. The West Balcony and some of the West Main will be closed off from fans for the 2007 season. Capacity for the 2007 season I estimate will be in the mid 50,000s. When the renovations are complete in 2008, they say capacity will be ~ 65k. If you're excited about football buy your tickets early this year due to the reduced capacity, especially for the Penn St., Wisconsin, and Michigan games. __________________ IllinoisLoyalty \| Illini Basketball \| Illini Football \| Twitter \| Facebook

Feb 28, 2007, 10:59 AM	#18
AK Illini UofI Basketball..off the chain Location: Chicago Posts: 4,830	Re: Illinois Renaissance Construction Photos a little off topic but do you when tickets go on sale for non-students? thanks for anyone who can answer. ....ahh the feeling of being excited about Illinois football. __________________ For every 3 animals Josh eats, I'm going to eat 4.