Memorial Stadium Renovation
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Couldn't agree more. It should be bulldozed.
Didn't Guenther completely ignore player facility upgrades in the MS renovation? That's where we need to focus.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
NEZ at the very least should have the ticket prices of the horseshoe (which is ALWAYS full) and possibly incentivize family tickets. The fact that the students were moved there says a LOT about RG, sadly.
illinifan4249
- Space Coast, FL
For purely viewing the game and interacting with the Band the North End Zone is pretty nice. However it suffers in the fact that it is isolated from the rest of the fan base. I would turn it into family seating using the decks they have there for games and concessions.
Dan
Admin
There's the football weight room under the nez.
It's the most isolated 4,800 seats in all of college football
I feel it can be said that having 100,000 fans is better than 55000 fans without saying that Illinois needs to be thinking about adding more seats to a stadium we very rarely sell out to begin with. Obviously there are going to be tangible noise and energy benefits to a rabid home crowd that is nearly double the size. Not to mention the pride of having a program with that much committed interest in witnessing the experience live.
At the same time I do think it's putting the cart way before the horse to worry about capacity at this point when there are so many other critical areas that need attention.
At the same time I do think it's putting the cart way before the horse to worry about capacity at this point when there are so many other critical areas that need attention.
I think redoing the horseshoe and decreasing capacity is the wrong decision no matter when its done. Still think this accomplishes what we need without having to remove seats.
http://imgur.com/a/M77h8
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JDHalfrack
- Springfield, IL
I'd just kill to get a screen on the north side of the stadium too...
I hate sitting in the horseshoe and having to turn my head 85 degrees behind me to see plays on the far side of the field.
I hate sitting in the horseshoe and having to turn my head 85 degrees behind me to see plays on the far side of the field.
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illini39
- Barrington, IL
Has this ever been discussed
How about a walk over bridge that could be very ornate and tied into the overall feel of the Grange Grove fencing and gate design that would connect the Stadium to the SFC parking area. It could expand the front entrance area of the south end zone.
How about a walk over bridge that could be very ornate and tied into the overall feel of the Grange Grove fencing and gate design that would connect the Stadium to the SFC parking area. It could expand the front entrance area of the south end zone.
The more I think about this, the less sense it makes. What's on the other side? Who walks over this bridge?
There really is plenty of room on the north side of the street to build whatever you want.
Shane Walsh
aka "Captain Oblivious"
- Cynthiana, Kentucky
This is my major hang up with changes to Florida also. Where is the need?
Granted, you could create something phenomenal if money is no object.
Picture this, Florida goes underground between First and Fourth. There are underground access lanes for underground access to parking lots for both Memorial Stadium and Assembly Hall. The drives would connect to and expand truck loading bays at the NE corner of AH.
There would also be ramps down to multi level underground parking garages for the other three quadrants and perhaps under the current surface lot west of AH. Think Monroe Street garages in Chicago.
The bridge over Florida could be turned into a plaza of sorts, with seating and all the other special touches for the front of the new south end zone.
Take the surface lot west of AH and turn it into a multi sport athlete village and dorms of sorts. They would have all their own amenities and support including practice fields, courts, paintball, or whatever else it takes to get the big names here.
If you are going to dream, dream big!
I love the grandiose idea, but I don't think this is even remotely realistic. These types of huge infrastructure changes would probably have to be paid for by the city and/or state, and in the current funding climate it's likely to be a non-starter - especially given this is really just a cosmetic change, there's not a true "need" to tunnel under the current street.
So your last piece here is worth discussing. Several years ago on one of the message boards (maybe Scout back in the day?) someone who was an architect actually had an incredible, detailed post talking about a future (at that time) Assembly Hall renovation, and talked about the need to "dream big" and include things like an outdoor amphitheatre and a huge upgrade to the E-14 lot you mentioned. That idea has always stuck with me, and it'd be great to see it explored. The idea was to build a multi-level parking structure on that lot, with first floor restaurants, bars, and retail shops. Make it more of an urban feel instead of a giant concrete lot, and provide more activities within walking distance of the two stadiums on game days. I wish I would've saved the original post, it was really well done.
Adding parking is always a sensitive subject on college campuses.
illini39
- Barrington, IL
Well there's fans, parking, tailgating and will have more activity when the new practice facility is built. A lot of fans cross that street when touring the facilities and that would also make it easier for them. Just a thought and a way to spruce up the area more.
Just got an e-mail regarding the renovations...
South to be completed by start of 2019 season.
East to be completed in 2020.
South to be completed by start of 2019 season.
East to be completed in 2020.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Just got this email from my buddy Josh Whitman
The rebuild steps it up another gear
http://illinois.edu/emailer/newsletter/106440.html
The rebuild steps it up another gear
http://illinois.edu/emailer/newsletter/106440.html
Dan
Admin
Illinois Renaissance continues at Memorial Stadium
http://www.fightingillini.com/news/...enaissance-continues-at-memorial-stadium.aspx
http://www.fightingillini.com/news/...enaissance-continues-at-memorial-stadium.aspx
[YOUTUBE]ohRpgauZzic[/YOUTUBE]
Has the hall of fame been excised from the project in favor of more square footage for player and staff facilities?
I will be a very happy camper if that's the case. All of the focus of these promotional materials is on giving Lovie what he needs to succeed which is :thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
I will be a very happy camper if that's the case. All of the focus of these promotional materials is on giving Lovie what he needs to succeed which is :thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
If you click through one of those links they mention that the plan is to keep capacity over 60k.
And going forward from there, as I said, adding seating capacity is cheap and easy. You could put 20k in the NEZ if you don't have enough seats and probably do it in one offseason. Cross that bridge when you get to it.
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Dan
Admin
Made it into the FAQ
Are there plans for a Dick Butkus Statue?
There has been great interest from our fans in a statue honoring Dick Butkus. Plans continue to evolve, making it premature to comment on anything definitive at this time.
http://uillinois_microsites.sidearmsports.com/illinoisrenaissance/
Are there plans for a Dick Butkus Statue?
There has been great interest from our fans in a statue honoring Dick Butkus. Plans continue to evolve, making it premature to comment on anything definitive at this time.
http://uillinois_microsites.sidearmsports.com/illinoisrenaissance/
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