I'd be curious what that purpose is ... I have never seen anyone IN that space for any essential purpose, so I can only imagine it has something to do with like wheeling out equipment from underneath the Horseshoe. And, if that is the case, simply store that equipment elsewhere, because the SEZ detracts so much visually from our great stadium!
The track used to circle the football field and the south end of the track ran beneath the elevated south stands. Of course they moved the track to its own stadium many, many years ago.
Yeah, I knew that was the original explanation for the distance. I just find it odd they had no problem putting some extra seats in that black and white photo - clearly a long time ago - but now it’s not feasible?
Most recent changes in capacity have been to reduce seats. I don't see them increasing capacity unless they start selling out. I'd expect the south end to be rebuilt before that happens.
Nah, he spilled the beans and then had to try to scrape them up. Something will happen next year.
My next door neighbor (live in Georgia now) Had an opportunity to drive by Memorial Stadium. He was impressed by the grandeur of the exterior. Good thing he didn't see it inside.
And I think that's why I allow this to upset me so much ... if we redid the SEZ to architecturally match the east and west sides, Memorial Stadium would stand as an absolute cathedral to all college football fans. Instead, we have a stadium that is arguably HALF iconic, historic, beautiful and grand, and HALF disjointed, unfinished, bland and weird. The potential is there and BEGGING to be realized, and I am optimistic it will as we continue to improve as a program.
I have to say, it only enforces my opinion that any future renovations must remove ALL West Main capacity that currently sits underneath the upper deck overhang (and put up a brick wall to match the back of East Main, instead shifting that capacity to the SEZ/Horseshoe to make it look a lot better.
The west side tends to be less exposed to the elements if you’re in the lower section. I prefer it (also prefer being behind the Illini bench).
West side shaded and cooler for early season, east side sunny and warmer for late season.
I must be a real weirdo. I loved the shoe for the Minnesota. I’ve been in the student section (rose bowl year), I’ve been east (the next year), I’ve been west (Maryland last year), and I’ve been shoe (Minnesota this year). Of them I’ll I’d rate the west the worst and maybe the shoe number 2? I loved it there.
Beer was pretty easy to get on the East during the Minny game, and bathrooms were not a problem either. Crowd was very into it on both sides (it seemed), so should be no worries there!I asked this in the Purdue thread, but maybe it is better here. The wife and I are trying to decide which side to sit on (West Main or East Main ... balconies and the Horseshoe are out), and I had two main questions:
1) Is access to and/or the quality of concessions and bathrooms really that much better on the West side? I thought I had heard that. We'll want to be ordering plenty of beer. On that last note...
2) Don't mean to offend anyone at all, but is the West Main perhaps a tad more "boring" due to what I presume to be more expensive seats and perhaps more of a "donor crowd"? This is my wife's first-ever trip to Memorial Stadium, and I want the atmosphere to stack up to other places she's been like Kinnick Stadium. We are not obnoxious or loud at all, but I certainly wouldn't want her to hear anyone telling her to sit down on a big 3rd and 10 or something.
Thanks in advance, and I absolutely cannot wait!
I still think there are some very good seats under the EB overhang--even with the column obstructions. Perhaps even the last row in the upper corners is better than most of horseshoe. I prefer being on the sidelines vs endzones, however the height of the seats in the NEZ makes them superior to the horseshoe also.I asked this in the Purdue thread, but maybe it is better here. The wife and I are trying to decide which side to sit on (West Main or East Main ... balconies and the Horseshoe are out), and I had two main questions:
1) Is access to and/or the quality of concessions and bathrooms really that much better on the West side? I thought I had heard that. We'll want to be ordering plenty of beer. On that last note...
2) Don't mean to offend anyone at all, but is the West Main perhaps a tad more "boring" due to what I presume to be more expensive seats and perhaps more of a "donor crowd"? This is my wife's first-ever trip to Memorial Stadium, and I want the atmosphere to stack up to other places she's been like Kinnick Stadium. We are not obnoxious or loud at all, but I certainly wouldn't want her to hear anyone telling her to sit down on a big 3rd and 10 or something.
Thanks in advance, and I absolutely cannot wait!
www.seats3d.com
However, I have faith that Illini Nation will be out in full force for a game that should be for the division!We prefer the east balcony, sections 204-206, in the first few rows. They give a nice view of the entire field from a close-up yet overhead perspective. We snagged row 4 for Purdue. Services and amenities are sub-par but the view is great.
I prefer the 224 - 226 east balcony also but my son and nephew like between the 30-yard lines in the east main stands. The east balcony is terrible when it comes to concessions.
