Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
^ It's also worth noting that their non-end zone stands are similarly "square" or "straight-on" (i.e., not in a curved bowl shape) like ours, so they're working with a similar framework:
Gies Memorial Stadium
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What about a pedestrain overpass.....Im sure the kids at the college could work one or 2 up... Something nice like they got in Vegas
I like that idea. It has some utilitarian functionality but also could be unique and offer some branding opportunities.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I like that idea! Obviously everything in Vegas is sort of meant to be over the top, but we could build something cool that honors the architecture of Memorial Stadium and really helps to cultivate a "vibe" in the area around Memorial Stadium. Something that is as similar to Memorial Stadium's architecture as this overpass bridge is to Caesar's Palace, for example:
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Funny you say that, because the first thing I noticed in that image (before I read your text) was that the end sections are slightly curved inward. And I thought to myself, 'that's a nice accommodation to the fan's viewing experience'. Not that we would rebuild the sides at GMS.^ It's also worth noting that their non-end zone stands are similarly "square" or "straight-on" (i.e., not in a curved bowl shape) like ours, so they're working with a similar framework:
At one point it was. The bleachers were not always there when the track was there. In 1976 I was in the 8th grade and tg
he outdoor NCAA Track n Field Championships were the with Bruce Jenner reporting! At that time I got his autograph! Don't know where that is.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Not sure when this photo was taken (sometime between the 1920s and 1940s), but that area was indeed totally open at one point! (It also kills me how much better the Horseshoe looks with the seats filled in to ground level, but I digress...)
This is the Memorial Stadium I first experienced when I was a very young Illini fan, and we indeed had put (very few) bleachers there by then.
I would be curious if anyone knew exactly when they added seats there.
Drop the field... it can be done.... open the bidding
I believe in addition to the water table, the angle of the lower stands prevents lowering the field.
I've heard both of these. I believe the later was noted by Warren Hood in a NG article quite a few years ago. It's strange you can't ever get a consistent answer about this.
Edit: Guess it wasn't the NG. It was a Q&A with DIA.
Q3 from David Crow -
Chat with Warren Hood, Project Manager for the Memorial Stadium Renovation Project - University of Illinois Athletics
Warren Hood Chat with Warren Hood, the project manager for the Memorial Stadium Renovation Project. Warren
fightingillini.com
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Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
This is a great question, and I would love to hear the answer. Also, why was that weird gap ever put in the Horseshoe to extend it back up into the air like that?? Looking at this photo, it is clear that the original stands went all the way around the track at field level...
You're telling me we went to all of the trouble to actually add seats that went down to field level but we only did it for the corners and intentionally left a strange gap where the vast majority of the seats start artificially farther back and high up in the air??
Was someone drunk??
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
In the 90's (and I presume in the 80's), those bleachers on the field would only be used if there was a sellout IIRC. I think they literally drug em out only if needed. It's dated but I seem to recall games where the bleachers were not there in the 90's but they were used for big home games (Michigan, OSU) in the early 90's.Not sure when this photo was taken (sometime between the 1920s and 1940s), but that area was indeed totally open at one point! (It also kills me how much better the Horseshoe looks with the seats filled in to ground level, but I digress...)
This is the Memorial Stadium I first experienced when I was a very young Illini fan, and we indeed had put (very few) bleachers there by then.
I would be curious if anyone knew exactly when they added seats there.
I think the need for those died right around the time Tepper put the finishing touches on killing the program. I don't think they used them for the Michigan game in 2000 or any of the 2001 season. I can't bring myself to watch that 2000 game & that was the last "mega game" prior to the renovation. 2001 had some sellouts (PSU & Wisky) but I don't think the bleachers were on the field by then.
If the EZ seats went down to field level, you'd end up with a similar problem as along the sidelines, blocked views. Not as bad as a team standing in front of you but still a variable and partially blocked view.This is a great question, and I would love to hear the answer. Also, why was that weird gap ever put in the Horseshoe to extend it back up into the air like that?? Looking at this photo, it is clear that the original stands went all the way around the track at field level...
You're telling me we went to all of the trouble to actually add seats that went down to field level but we only did it for the corners and intentionally left a strange gap where the vast majority of the seats start artificially farther back and high up in the air??
Was someone drunk??
You could put temp stands there and keep things clear but I don't believe Illinois wants to expand seating. They want to keep a limit on capacity. I don't really blame them.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
I don't know @Fighter of the Nightman . Lots of obstructed horseshoe seats in that rendering, not to mention the safety issues involved in having South Irwin Drive run right through the stands. But let's keep embracing the out-of-the-box thinking!
View attachment 44357
"Don't worry, honey, I practically stole these tickets! It says obstructed view but I'm sure we can make it work"
Has anyone asked coach what enhancements he would like to see? Lovie had thoughts on the Smith Center and kind of drove that project. I would be curious to know Bielema's thoughts and how he would like to see the $100,000,000 spent. A year or two ago he we pretty vocal about getting the students back on the East sideline (we had the opportunity to do this in the offseason with the reseat and it wasn't done). If he's thinking about where the students are sitting, you know he has thoughts on the horseshoe and the stadium as a whole.
I will reiterate this again and again. We can do two things that cost virtually nothing and enhance our home field advantage.
1. Bring students back to the East side
2. Move the visitors up to the East side balcony
I will reiterate this again and again. We can do two things that cost virtually nothing and enhance our home field advantage.
1. Bring students back to the East side
2. Move the visitors up to the East side balcony
pretty sure it was to allow for logistics of moving stuff in and outThis is a great question, and I would love to hear the answer. Also, why was that weird gap ever put in the Horseshoe to extend it back up into the air like that?? Looking at this photo, it is clear that the original stands went all the way around the track at field level...
You're telling me we went to all of the trouble to actually add seats that went down to field level but we only did it for the corners and intentionally left a strange gap where the vast majority of the seats start artificially farther back and high up in the air??
Was someone drunk??
two issues
a. they would most certainly love to sell out 90,000 tickets on a regular basis , but we have a lousy history of selling tickets if the team sucks
b. the capacity as is , is based on a$$ sizes from the 1930's when men were on average 170 lbs. Men are now on avg about 220 lbs. we need wider seats (spaces on the bleachers) to comfortably sit 62,000 a$$es
a. they would most certainly love to sell out 90,000 tickets on a regular basis , but we have a lousy history of selling tickets if the team sucks
b. the capacity as is , is based on a$$ sizes from the 1930's when men were on average 170 lbs. Men are now on avg about 220 lbs. we need wider seats (spaces on the bleachers) to comfortably sit 62,000 a$$es
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
YES X 100 to both. Along with the students bring the band as well. The sound is better when they are in the middle of the crowd.
I was a freshman in 82 and the older kids in the dorm were putting their names in the lottery for bleacher seats in the end zone. They were then scalping the $10 tickets for maybe $25 or more. Not sure if they were season tickets or not because I never got involved in that. Anyway, I have the impression that those bleachers were new in 1982.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
I thought that was why it was done. Just don't remember when it was done. If I had to guess it was when they took the track out but that predates my memory by a few years as well.
Curbelo Fanboy
BERTBALL IS LIFE
Wiki tells me that Memorial Stadium hosted the NCAA track & field championships in 1977 & 1979 so the track was apparently there at least that long. I think it's gone by the 83 Michigan game from youtube viewings of that game.
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