Illinois Renaissance: The Renovation of Memorial Stadium

November 7, 2005 10:40 PM

Update - go here for the latest Memorial Stadium construction photos.

The athletic department has begun to promote its ambitious $100 million Memorial Stadium renovation fundraising campaign with an impressive brochure and new website. The brochure—sent out to donors this week—provides an overview of the upgrades to the beloved 82-year-old stadium:

Luxury suites on the west side
Enlarged press box
Permanent seating in the north end zone
Improved site-lines due to a lowered playing field
Re-built south horseshoe
Wider aisles
Upgrades to concession stands, restrooms, and both Great Halls

The campaign will be financed entirely by donations, sale of luxury seating, and sale of naming opportunities within the stadium (but not the stadium name itself). The west side (both main stands and balcony) will loose a substantial amount of existing seating to make way for the multiple levels of clubs, suites, and press areas. The university has yet to determine the process by which existing season ticket holders in the affected areas will be relocated.

How will the renovations affect capacity?

Official capacity for Memorial Stadium is 69,249 (although 72k can be squeezed in on special occasions). The upgrades will reduce capacity a bit, probably to the 65,000 range.

Renovation schedule

The renovations are tentatively slated to commence immediately after the 2006 season, with the extensive west side work (and everything else) completed by the beginning of the 2008 season.

See you soon at the Colonnades Club!

Illinois Renaissance | the Renovation of Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (official site)
[www.athletics.uiuc.edu]

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Filed under: Illini Football, Memorial Stadium Renovation