Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007)

Dan · Sep 10, 2007, 03:07 AM

<< Prev August 27, 2007 (19 pics) | Stadium Pics Archive | Next Sept 29, 2007 (61 pics) >>

Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction

Illinois 21 - Western Illinois 0

September 8, 2007

In this edition: a look at the stadium on gameday. The new North End Zone filled with students, the gutted West Side, the full Horseshoe,
the new scoreboard location, and more...

Photos by Dan O'Brien

(NOTE - for in-game player photos and a recap of the game, go to the WIU article with Cary Frye's photos)

A little wet during the tailgating.

The North End Zone exterior

The two gates for the North End Zone.

The unfinished large space underneath the North End Zone stands.

The field is visible from outside the stadium via the windows next to the Zuppke Wall.

New parking for the opponent's buses.

The East Side exterior

The West Side exterior and construction area

Although outside the stadium, this area (unlike the East Side) is within the ticket gates.

Since the West Great Hall is in the process of reconstruction due to the work on the clubs, suites,
and new press area (set to open in 2008), all concessions and amenities on this side are located outside the stadium.

The only working restrooms on the West Side.

The West Great Hall

The entire balcony and almost half of the rows in the Main on the West Side are closed for seating during the 2007 season.

Above row 40 is an 8-ft wooden partition to separate the construction of the Colonnades Club, which will be located under the balcony.

The partition, as myself and many others have noted, very much needs to be painted.

The Horseshoe and scoreboard

The Horseshoe on the south end is sold out for the 2007 season, thanks in part to the special "construction price" of $60 for a season ticket
in the section.

The scoreboard was moved from the north to the south Horseshoe this season.

Since the last photo update, speakers have been added to the top of the scoreboard, they are very loud.

The scoreboard is much more elevated than its former position, thus there are a few more rows under the East Balcony that
are out of its view. There are a handful of rows in the Horseshoe "extensions" that are behind the scoreboard.

The East Side

The visitors section has been moved directly across the field from its former location to the East Side sections S and T.

Game Time

The team runs by the Grange Rock past the North End Zone onto the field.

The coin toss.

Kickoff.

The tacky ads hanging on the Horseshoe are new this season.

The Western Illinois band performs at halftime.

Block-I needs a bit of work on their card stunts.

The Marching Illini performs the 3-in-1 for the first time without Chief Illiniwek. The crowd was extremely vocal for the Chief.

Underneath the East Balcony.

The extra student section in the East Main.

The view from the East Balcony.

From the student section in section A.

Moving around to the Horseshoe...

Additional steel columns have been added to the Colonnades Club since the last photo update.

The North End Zone erupts when Rashard Mendenhall scores on a 16 yd TD run in the 4th quarter.

Kinda muddy across the street.

Related: in-game player photos and a recap of the WIU game >>

<< Prev August 27, 2007 (19 pics) | Stadium Pics Archive | Next Sept 29, 2007 (61 pics) >>

*illini4everjp* · Sep 10, 2007, 01:34 PM

Awesome pics and the NEZ looks great!

*KBLEE* · Sep 10, 2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illini4everjp

Awesome pics and the NEZ looks great!

Yes - very nice. And, I was actually able to find myself in one of the pics.

msp illini · Sep 10, 2007, 01:48 PM

Great pics, Dan! I love seeing all that orange!

*Champaignillini* · Sep 10, 2007, 05:47 PM

Awesome pics. Thanks Dan.

*mdeming* · Sep 10, 2007, 10:07 PM

The location of the band seats and the stairs between them and the student seats... apparently we'll never have to worry about students pulling down a goal post.

*danielb927* · Sep 10, 2007, 10:58 PM

man if we beat wisconsin or penn state this year IM pullin down the goalpoasts whos with me!

*Illest* · Sep 11, 2007, 11:27 PM

Great pictures, Dan -- as always!

morganic · Sep 12, 2007, 03:05 PM

Nice pics. Yeah, those card stunts do need some work, hopefully we will be better for the PSU game.

ChefOrangewek · Sep 13, 2007, 08:53 PM

The North endzone looks much better than I expected. I think part of the reason is that they painted the stairwell railings black.

They should maintain this theme and paint the rest of the railings black in other parts of the stadium including the horseshoe.

Sep 10, 2007, 03:07 AM	#1
Dan Admin Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 8,974	<< Prev August 27, 2007 (19 pics) \| Stadium Pics Archive \| Next Sept 29, 2007 (61 pics) >> Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction Illinois 21 - Western Illinois 0 September 8, 2007 In this edition: a look at the stadium on gameday. The new North End Zone filled with students, the gutted West Side, the full Horseshoe, the new scoreboard location, and more... Photos by Dan O'Brien (NOTE - for in-game player photos and a recap of the game, go to the WIU article with Cary Frye's photos) A little wet during the tailgating. The North End Zone exterior The two gates for the North End Zone. The unfinished large space underneath the North End Zone stands. The field is visible from outside the stadium via the windows next to the Zuppke Wall. New parking for the opponent's buses. The East Side exterior The West Side exterior and construction area Although outside the stadium, this area (unlike the East Side) is within the ticket gates. Since the West Great Hall is in the process of reconstruction due to the work on the clubs, suites, and new press area (set to open in 2008), all concessions and amenities on this side are located outside the stadium. The only working restrooms on the West Side. The West Great Hall The entire balcony and almost half of the rows in the Main on the West Side are closed for seating during the 2007 season. Above row 40 is an 8-ft wooden partition to separate the construction of the Colonnades Club, which will be located under the balcony. The partition, as myself and many others have noted, very much needs to be painted. The Horseshoe and scoreboard The Horseshoe on the south end is sold out for the 2007 season, thanks in part to the special "construction price" of $60 for a season ticket in the section. The scoreboard was moved from the north to the south Horseshoe this season. Since the last photo update, speakers have been added to the top of the scoreboard, they are very loud. The scoreboard is much more elevated than its former position, thus there are a few more rows under the East Balcony that are out of its view. There are a handful of rows in the Horseshoe "extensions" that are behind the scoreboard. The East Side The visitors section has been moved directly across the field from its former location to the East Side sections S and T. Game Time The team runs by the Grange Rock past the North End Zone onto the field. The coin toss. Kickoff. The tacky ads hanging on the Horseshoe are new this season. The Western Illinois band performs at halftime. Block-I needs a bit of work on their card stunts. The Marching Illini performs the 3-in-1 for the first time without Chief Illiniwek. The crowd was extremely vocal for the Chief. Underneath the East Balcony. The extra student section in the East Main. The view from the East Balcony. From the student section in section A. Moving around to the Horseshoe... Additional steel columns have been added to the Colonnades Club since the last photo update. The North End Zone erupts when Rashard Mendenhall scores on a 16 yd TD run in the 4th quarter. Kinda muddy across the street. Related: in-game player photos and a recap of the WIU game >> << Prev August 27, 2007 (19 pics) \| Stadium Pics Archive \| Next Sept 29, 2007 (61 pics) >> __________________ IllinoisLoyalty \| Illini Basketball \| Illini Football \| Twitter \| Facebook Last edited by Dan; Oct 1, 2007 at 01:32 AM.

Sep 10, 2007, 01:34 PM	#2
illini4everjp Illini Foot Soldier Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17,297	Re: Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007) Awesome pics and the NEZ looks great! __________________

Sep 10, 2007, 01:48 PM	#4
msp illini Location: Chambana Posts: 761	Re: Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007) Great pics, Dan! I love seeing all that orange!

Sep 10, 2007, 05:47 PM	#5
Champaignillini Posts: 1,619	Re: Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007) Awesome pics. Thanks Dan. __________________ Formerly known as illinigrad

Sep 10, 2007, 10:07 PM	#6
mdeming belIeve Posts: 1,369	Re: Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007) The location of the band seats and the stairs between them and the student seats... apparently we'll never have to worry about students pulling down a goal post.

Sep 10, 2007, 10:58 PM	#7
danielb927 Overall Hoss of 116 and Krush Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 1,691	Re: Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007) man if we beat wisconsin or penn state this year IM pullin down the goalpoasts whos with me!

Sep 11, 2007, 11:27 PM	#8
Illest Location: Boston Posts: 4,989	Re: Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007) Great pictures, Dan -- as always!

Sep 12, 2007, 03:05 PM	#9
morganic Location: Urbana, IL Posts: 9	Re: Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007) Nice pics. Yeah, those card stunts do need some work, hopefully we will be better for the PSU game.

Sep 13, 2007, 08:53 PM	#10
ChefOrangewek Posts: 65	Re: Memorial Stadium Photos - Gameday & Construction - vs. Western Illinois (Sept 8, 2007) The North endzone looks much better than I expected. I think part of the reason is that they painted the stairwell railings black. They should maintain this theme and paint the rest of the railings black in other parts of the stadium including the horseshoe.