Gies Memorial Stadium

[Orange_Blue]

^ The grand and imposing architecture of the east and west sides just makes this visual problem worse. If there weren't two tall, beautiful, double-deck structures on the left and right of that photo, the Horseshoe would just look like sort of a smaller part of the stands ... but in reality, it looks so tiny and inherently incomplete in comparison.

We've beaten this horse to death, but I just don't get it. The DIA seems intent on (A) not doing anything overly transformative to the Horseshoe and (B) refusing to spend a dime on it unless it was going to be transformative ... so we are just stuck with the Horseshoe indefinitely as we continue to throw millions at things like a bigger scoreboard and more ribbon boards? Lol, sorry, but how does a $100 million donation specifically earmarked to improve the stadium not even touch the one part of the stadium that objectively needs fixed?

On Jeremy Warner's podcast, he mentioned it would take several hundred million dollars to renovate the stadium and DIA has decided to spend on roster/coaching upgrades (ironically, my thought was what you would say about that!). I was thinking that seemed really high, but a quick google search showed the Northwestern Stadium cost $870 mil for the 35k seat stadium.

 

[BZuppke]

On Jeremy Warner's podcast, he mentioned it would take several hundred million dollars to renovate the stadium and DIA has decided to spend on roster/coaching upgrades (ironically, my thought was what you would say about that!). I was thinking that seemed really high, but a quick google search showed the Northwestern Stadium cost $870 mil for the 35k seat stadium.

So what do you do long term? It will need upgrades for safety eventually and costs aren’t going down.

 

[altgeld88]

Ironic he just posted this video yesterday…Memorial Stadium talk at 15:10, with a funny little bit on the wasted space at 16:00

Thanks; enjoyed that. It's nice to see an opposing fan truly appreciate the absolute gem that is GMS.

Also nice to see someone who shares my view that Michigan Stadium is just a huge, uninspiring bowl. The hideous Frankenstein monster that is Beaver Stadium is an order of magnitude better than The Big House.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

On Jeremy Warner's podcast, he mentioned it would take several hundred million dollars to renovate the stadium and DIA has decided to spend on roster/coaching upgrades (ironically, my thought was what you would say about that!). I was thinking that seemed really high, but a quick google search showed the Northwestern Stadium cost $870 mil for the 35k seat stadium.

I get that we need to focus on other things, I just wish they would articulate a vision. If Josh said the goal is the renovation floated in 2016 but we can’t make any progress with the SEZ until $X million dollars are secured … fine! But IF there isn’t some long term vision for the SEZ, then some of this $100 million should go toward relatively inexpensive fixes like filling in the stands so they go closer to the field.

In other words, the “do nothing to the Horseshoe until we can REALLY renovate it” only makes sense if there is some long term plan to renovate it. And when I hear the DIA talk about it, they seem 110% fine with the SEZ as is, which would be really disappointing if true.

 

[Illinisam]

I get that we need to focus on other things, I just wish they would articulate a vision. If Josh said the goal is the renovation floated in 2016 but we can’t make any progress with the SEZ until $X million dollars are secured … fine! But IF there isn’t some long term vision for the SEZ, then some of this $100 million should go toward relatively inexpensive fixes like filling in the stands so they go closer to the field.

In other words, the “do nothing to the Horseshoe until we can REALLY renovate it” only makes sense if there is some long term plan to renovate it. And when I hear the DIA talk about it, they seem 110% fine with the SEZ as is, which would be really disappointing if true.

I’ve wondered lately what $100 million could have bought if all of it was just used on the SEZ? I like the new scoreboard and the ribbon boards and even the new lights, whatever they will look like, but if that money was just spent on extending seats down closer to the endzone as part of a first phase of a renovated SEZ what would that look like? Josh mentioned they have used an architectural firm for ideas but is there an overall plan, a concept for the south endzone or are these improvements just for the whole stadium right now? Are those previous renderings for the SEZ still on the table or is that overall design no longer valid? I still think a football HOF should be in the SEZ with a grand focal point. Any ideas what Josh said about a new Southeast renovated entrance and what that might look like?

 

[Saturdaze]

I get that we need to focus on other things, I just wish they would articulate a vision. If Josh said the goal is the renovation floated in 2016 but we can’t make any progress with the SEZ until $X million dollars are secured … fine! But IF there isn’t some long term vision for the SEZ, then some of this $100 million should go toward relatively inexpensive fixes like filling in the stands so they go closer to the field.

In other words, the “do nothing to the Horseshoe until we can REALLY renovate it” only makes sense if there is some long term plan to renovate it. And when I hear the DIA talk about it, they seem 110% fine with the SEZ as is, which would be really disappointing if true.

They’re probably reluctant to make changes improving or adding seats in the SEZ until the east main is consistently sold out.

I get it that attendance has improved greatly but they still have to use pricing and ticket release gimmicks to sell those seats.

 

[Lee]

There is another project that will be bidding in a few weeks for the South Tunnel and Parking Lots. The project will reconstruct two parking lots located near the southeast and southwest corners of Gies Memorial Stadium. The curved brick retaining wall around the south horseshoe of the stadium exterior will be replaced and a new driveway and south gate will be constructed to the south stadium tunnel. The north sidewalk along Kirby Avenue will be replaced and pavers will be added to the parkway. New accessible entrances and ramps will connect the parking lot improvements to the adjacent lower building areas at the stadium. The southeast vehicular ramp along the east concourse of the stadium will be replaced, and a new loading dock will be retrofit along the west side of the ramp. There will also be improvements to the lighting, landscaping, fencing, storm sewers, and retaining walls within the area.

 

[fuddrules]

There is another project that will be bidding in a few weeks for the South Tunnel and Parking Lots. The project will reconstruct two parking lots located near the southeast and southwest corners of Gies Memorial Stadium. The curved brick retaining wall around the south horseshoe of the stadium exterior will be replaced and a new driveway and south gate will be constructed to the south stadium tunnel. The north sidewalk along Kirby Avenue will be replaced and pavers will be added to the parkway. New accessible entrances and ramps will connect the parking lot improvements to the adjacent lower building areas at the stadium. The southeast vehicular ramp along the east concourse of the stadium will be replaced, and a new loading dock will be retrofit along the west side of the ramp. There will also be improvements to the lighting, landscaping, fencing, storm sewers, and retaining walls within the area.

Fantastic and long overdue. This is some great Stadium real estate that was underdeveloped and an eyesore.

I'm going to guess the west dock is for TV production? That's at least where they have historically set up shop.

 

[fuddrules]

They’re probably reluctant to make changes improving or adding seats in the SEZ until the east main is consistently sold out.

I get it that attendance has improved greatly but they still have to use pricing and ticket release gimmicks to sell those seats.

This along with pushing money to the student athletes.

Unless you have a very competitive team, fans would be able to buy $5 to $10 tickets and then sit in any section they want. Been there, done that.


Edit: To add to a previous post - people have mentioned that south tunnel entrance bottleneck under the SEZ. People traffic flow from east to west under the SEZ was problematic. Hopefully this improves that problem while still being able to view the band when they enter that stadium.

 

[217sports]

^ The grand and imposing architecture of the east and west sides just makes this visual problem worse. If there weren't two tall, beautiful, double-deck structures on the left and right of that photo, the Horseshoe would just look like sort of a smaller part of the stands ... but in reality, it looks so tiny and inherently incomplete in comparison.

We've beaten this horse to death, but I just don't get it. The DIA seems intent on (A) not doing anything overly transformative to the Horseshoe and (B) refusing to spend a dime on it unless it was going to be transformative ... so we are just stuck with the Horseshoe indefinitely as we continue to throw millions at things like a bigger scoreboard and more ribbon boards? Lol, sorry, but how does a $100 million donation specifically earmarked to improve the stadium not even touch the one part of the stadium that objectively needs fixed?

No stadium is going to be absolutely perfect. These days, if they did renovate it would probably mean just more suites and kick out a large group of locals that are in the horseshoe becaues its cheap. $100m doesn't go very far these days especially in an old stadium that needs various upgrades as is (WiFi). Funnel most donations to NIL and keep upgrading the game day experience (tailgating) then most will be happy.

 

[Saturdaze]

This along with pushing money to the student athletes.

Unless you have a very competitive team, fans would be able to buy $5 to $10 tickets and then sit in any section they want. Been there, done that.


Edit: To add to a previous post - people have mentioned that south tunnel entrance bottleneck under the SEZ. People traffic flow from east to west under the SEZ was problematic. Hopefully this improves that problem while still being able to view the band when they enter that stadium.

If someone pays $5-$10 for an ubstructed view and moves down the east main into better empty seats on game day is that the fans fault or the DIA’s fault?

The DIA has overvalued their inventory since at least 2022.

We have to be the only P2 team in the country who sells end zone seats better than seats between the 30s.

https://fightingillini.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:ILLINOIS:F26:FS:&linkID=illinois&dataAccId=863&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_illinois