Gies Memorial Stadium
Are there going to be lights mounted at the south side of the stadium too? I’m only seeing posts on the north. I’m curious more than anything.
Dan
Admin
Illinois Announces 2026 Concessions Enhancements for Gies Memorial Stadium - University of Illinois Athletics
Illinois announced many exciting concessions enhancements coming to Gies Memorial Stadium this fall.
im starting to think the light emanating from the scoreboard is what is lighting the southern half of the field
Austin David Burklund on Instagram: "Where are you eating at inside of Gies Memorial Stadium? #Illini #champaignurbana #illinois #bigten #football"
98 likes, 15 comments - a.b1132 on August 19, 2026: "Where are you eating at inside of Gies Memorial Stadium? #Illini #champaignurbana #illinois #bigten #football".
www.instagram.com
blackdog
- Champaign
All I can picture when they turn that thing on
My wife commented the people in the horseshoe might be glad for the extra shade but it might not feel like a difference with the bright lights on the back of their head
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Question about bringing a stadium seat. Does anyone bring their own and what kind do you use? I looked it up and the site says 16” wide in one spot, but also says 16x9 in another. I can’t even find any that exist that are only 9” deep. I want to bring one with a backrest but need clarity on what fits.
My guess is 16x9” is the size of the bleacher seat itself. We tend to sit with our backs roughly at the rear of the bleacher and hamstrings out in front? I dunno about the rented seats.
Maybe somebody else recalls how the rented padded backrests are positioned with respect to the front/back of the bleacher? Centered? Flush at the rear? And how deep are they? I’d guess at least 12” or so.
I just happen to have this picture of my seatback from last-season when I discovered the cushion was missing. I later found it down around the southeast tower in 209. That's not where I sit. It's also crooked, but IIRC there was some play in it. In any case, the left front bracket is flush with the front of the bleacher, but the left rear is not quite flush.
Attachments
There are the south light posts.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Not sure why this specific angle made me think of this, but I really have ZERO issue with the North End Zone ... it's just a really silly place to put the students. In isolation, though, it seems like a fairly impressive structure, and just compare how well it encloses that side of the stadium vs. the Horseshoe, with the former having literally HALF the capacity!
I've suggested this in the past, but I think it would be a great area for the more economic or affordable tickets or whatever Josh referenced when talking about the Horseshoe. Absent massive renovations, we should rework the Horseshoe to get as close to the field as possible and put the students there ... then have the NEZ be some sort of family area.
Dan
Admin
New Lights: Illinois upgraded to LED lighting, allowing for new light show capabilities and improved lighting throughout the venue.
fightingillini.com
10 Days to Game Day: 10 Enhancements at Gies Memorial Stadium - University of Illinois Athletics
With the Fighting Illini football season only 10 days away, here are 10 game day enhancements fans can expect around Gies Memorial Stadium during the season.
Don't be shocked if this doesn't happen. BB like to use that space for his OL & DL practice area.
>>Two new in-game hosts will bring the hype for every game, engaging with fans throughout the stadium, leading interactive moments, and creating unforgettable experiences from tailgating locations to the final whistle.<<New Lights: Illinois upgraded to LED lighting, allowing for new light show capabilities and improved lighting throughout the venue.
10 Days to Game Day: 10 Enhancements at Gies Memorial Stadium - University of Illinois Athletics
With the Fighting Illini football season only 10 days away, here are 10 game day enhancements fans can expect around Gies Memorial Stadium during the season.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Knock on wood and all, but Bret has been a professional coach and winner for decades now … I’d be shocked if he wouldn’t see the value of a better home field advantage being very much worth the trade off of finding another place for that practice (it’s not like any other serious programs have a massive gap of no stands behind an end zone, lol). What also gives me optimism is Bret did make a comment a couple years ago that he wanted the students closer and out of the NEZ.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
We may get negative feedback here a la the mascot thread, but I'm right with you. Hate this silly crap.>>Two new in-game hosts will bring the hype for every game, engaging with fans throughout the stadium, leading interactive moments, and creating unforgettable experiences from tailgating locations to the final whistle.<<
I'm of the belief that if BB wanted this done, it would have already be done. They've spent millions on upgrades over the past few years, never once has adding capacity or running seats down to ground level in the south endzone been communicated. That project would have fit into any of these annual renovations. It hasn't happened. It seems this is an IllinoisLoyalty pet project without legs or merit. Fun to talk about but not going to happen anytime soon.
Some day when the SEZ gets renovated, it'll probably get done. At this point stadiums are not being expanded during renovations. Even Beaver Stadium will be reduced ever so slightly. On an Illini note: If anyone has noticed at least FI.com, it states the Colonnades, 77 Club and Suites are sold out. I'm not sure I believe that but at least they are far enough along with sales in these areas they can save them for some fans wanting to upgrade for a nice donation.
Your best be is to hope "demand" for luxury seating surges to extremely high levels. At that point they may look to add more luxury seating which would go in the SEZ or east side main helping push along a reno.
It's bad enough having that insufferable guy at the basketball games. Don't ruin football too.
I hope that they are less annoying than the ones that they use at basketball games.