Memorial Stadium Renovation Photos (July 28, 2008)

[Dan]

July 28, 2008

Multi-panorama edition..click on panos for an even larger image experience

40 days until the home opener Sept 6 vs EIU

The continuing look at the progress of the new West Side suites/press area at Memorial Stadium. The new FieldTurf installation is almost complete, new light towers on the West Side and updated lights on the East Side, West Side suites/press exterior nearly complete.


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The West Side




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Closer look at the West Side, from top to bottom, the tri-level suites/press area..


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..West Balcony..


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..and Colonnades Club leve..


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The center "I" is being installed on the new FieldTurf, along with the end zone logos.




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East Colonnades




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Up to the East Balcony




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The lights on the east towers are being replaced.






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View from the top corner of the east balcony.




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View from the first row corner of the east balcony.


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Center balcony


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Back down the main level




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(Don't forget) the East Side


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West Side up close








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North end zone




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South horseshoe




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Grange Rock




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Special delivery




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Newly paved Florida Ave; south horseshoe exterior




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West Side exterior




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Press/suites level




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Colonnades level








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[oskeeorange]

Wow, Dan, those pics are amazing! The stadium looks great. I really love the field.

[DrewD007]

Looking good.

[i bleed orange]

Once again, some spectacular views. Thanks Dan. I need to get a bigger screen to get the full experience of those pano's!

[cubskillcards]

Great pictures...looks like its all coming together! I am really impressed with the field!

[danielb927]

The panoramas rock! I'm so excited to see it finished on the 6th.

[The Great One]

Awesome pics! The west side looks amazing. The east side looks so bare, have they given any thought to installing the digital scrolling scoreboards on the facade of the upper deck? All of the NFL stadiums have these. This could generate some additional revenue and give the fans in the horseshoe a view of a scoreboard.

[cubskillcards]

Originally Posted by The Great One

Awesome pics! The west side looks amazing. The east side looks so bare, have they given any thought to installing the digital scrolling scoreboards on the facade of the upper deck? All of the NFL stadiums have these. This could generate some additional revenue and give the fans in the horseshoe a view of a scoreboard.

If I remember right...although I could be wrong because it was a while ago. I think the Bears put those up when they played here.

[UofIdiehardfrombirth]

wow new turf looks great. cant wait till opener!!

[illynifan34]

I've sat in this exact seat, for the Wisconsin game this year!!

[danielb927]

You do get a good view of how the plays develop from up there, I remember that from always moving up to the top row of the west sides when we went to games before the horseshoe season ticket deal started. You can see us if you look really hard on the picture of the stadium west side that's on wikipedia! That was the OSU at Illini game of 2006.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by The Great One

..have they given any thought to installing the digital scrolling scoreboards on the facade of the upper deck?

I don't know, but it would be nice for MS considering the number of seats that cannot see the scoreboard. And it would look very, very cool. Then again, a bunch of seats in East Main under the balcony wouldn't be able to see it anyway so maybe it wouldn't be worth it.

Originally Posted by cubskillcards

If I remember right...although I could be wrong because it was a while ago. I think the Bears put those up when they played here.

The Bears used that space for static ads... no LED ribbon displays.

Originally Posted by illynifan34

I've sat in this exact seat, for the Wisconsin game this year!!

[fightingillini fan 4-ever]

Amazing pics. Thanks Dan

GO ILLINI!!!!!

[illiniorange]

Are they bringing any Limestone accents up into the new superstructure to tie it in with the rest of MS?

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by Dan

Judging by your response, I can say that you were pleasantly surprised, or astonished, or just really excited.

[Dan]

That's just quite a seat, so very very high, plus you get the lovely view of campus, and I'm sure it's fun when the fireworks go off from the tower during touchdowns

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by Dan

That's just quite a seat, so very very high, plus you get the lovely view of campus, and I'm sure it's fun when the fireworks go off from the tower during touchdowns

Fun or loud, or if you're me, both. It was really a great seat for free!! I worked in the parking lots and some guy who worked with me had two tickets to sit in a section that his company had bought a bunch of tickets for. Well, my buddy and I, who worked with me, took them and we tried to get into the original section, however we don't get to leave until the first quarter is over, so we said screw it and walked up there and stood in the corner with some other people who didn't like their seats. It was great, the views all around are awesome. I'd give my left arm to be in that seat for every game this year....

[bluechip66]

man it looks like they r going to have alot of suites it is looking good though

[Quinn393]

Does anyone know if they are still on schedule to finish by the home opener??

[Dan]

Originally Posted by bluechip66

man it looks like they r going to have alot of suites it is looking good though

45 suites.

Originally Posted by Quinn393

Does anyone know if they are still on schedule to finish by the home opener??

Yes...so they say!

[Trojanathlete32]

sorry to say but they wont even come close to finishing this before the season opener. the suites are far from done with drywall and walls not even put up yet. They are telling everyone its going to be done so people/ buisnesses dont back out of there contracts for the suites. the truf was suppose to be the very last thing they did but they had to bump that up to get ready for the opener. They were even scheduled to tear out the bleachers in the student section and replace the seats there but timing is again the issue there. Also one major set back was in the presidents suite. He came in and thought that his suite was way to small so they knocked down the walls of the 2 neighboring suites to expand his. Alot of work to be done and sorry to say but knowing how winters are here.... we wont be celebrating completion of this till next year

[danielb927]

I was over there today, I didn't know the stadium was open on Saturdays but the gate wasn't closed! I'm excited for the season. They have put new numbering on the seats (in the horseshoe at least), must be in preparation for changing the section labeling system.

[illynifan34]

Originally Posted by Trojanathlete32

sorry to say but they wont even come close to finishing this before the season opener. the suites are far from done with drywall and walls not even put up yet. They are telling everyone its going to be done so people/ buisnesses dont back out of there contracts for the suites. the truf was suppose to be the very last thing they did but they had to bump that up to get ready for the opener. They were even scheduled to tear out the bleachers in the student section and replace the seats there but timing is again the issue there. Also one major set back was in the presidents suite. He came in and thought that his suite was way to small so they knocked down the walls of the 2 neighboring suites to expand his. Alot of work to be done and sorry to say but knowing how winters are here.... we wont be celebrating completion of this till next year

And your source is....

[danielb927]

Originally Posted by Trojanathlete32

sorry to say but they wont even come close to finishing this before the season opener. the suites are far from done with drywall and walls not even put up yet. They are telling everyone its going to be done so people/ buisnesses dont back out of there contracts for the suites. the truf was suppose to be the very last thing they did but they had to bump that up to get ready for the opener. They were even scheduled to tear out the bleachers in the student section and replace the seats there but timing is again the issue there. Also one major set back was in the presidents suite. He came in and thought that his suite was way to small so they knocked down the walls of the 2 neighboring suites to expand his. Alot of work to be done and sorry to say but knowing how winters are here.... we wont be celebrating completion of this till next year

Originally Posted by Dan

A look inside the suites, by Ireland405 (who works on the site) on the IB-





http://forums.illiniboard.com/boards...ball;pid=90214

Looks like some walls and drywall have been up since April to me, cabinets and chairs as well....

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Originally Posted by danielb927

Looks like some walls and drywall have been up since April to me, cabinets and chairs as well....

IIRC that was a "mock up" done in one suite and one suite only. I'll be very, very surprised if the facilities are not in usable condition for the opener, even if everything isn't completely "finished".