Memorial Stadium

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#51      
Fuze
The current scoreboard is from 2013 so I wouldn't call it "new" by any means, and definitely at the age that most schools would look to replace it. Michigan replaced theirs in the last couple of years and documented the removal of the old boards and installation of the new ones, and IIRC it only took them a couple weeks in the summer (and they have two boards, granted smaller but still probably more time that we'd need), so I can't imagine this is something they need to get started immediately, especially during spring ball when the team wants access to the stadium. If the work is a scoreboard, it'll probably be in June, around the same time as the turf installation before the 2022 season.

As for how it could affect SEZ renovations, I'm pretty sure these scoreboards can be moved around relatively easily, so if in the next decade or so we finally get that SEZ renovation we long for, you can still move it and place it on top of the new structure. That's what most schools seem to do when renovating their stadiums near their scoreboard, and I believe it's what we did in 2007 (moved it from the NEZ to the SEZ), and based on the 2017 SEZ renderings, that appeared to be our plan then as well.

As for the crappy 1LL1NO1S that will probably end up on it, that portion on the current scoreboard was added retroactively after the rebrand (rebrand wasn't until the next year), so I imagine those letters can be replaced fairly easily. I read yesterday or Sunday somewhere on here (I think Basketball Uniforms, but don't quote me on that) that Whitman has alluded to a slight rebrand in the near future. If that's the case, I imagine we either are prepared to just swap out the lettering or leave it blank for a year or two like we did the first year with the current scoreboard.
 
#52      
fuddrules
Fuze said:
The current scoreboard is from 2013 so I wouldn't call it "new" by any means, and definitely at the age that most schools would look to replace it. Michigan replaced theirs in the last couple of years and documented the removal of the old boards and installation of the new ones, and IIRC it only took them a couple weeks in the summer (and they have two boards, granted smaller but still probably more time that we'd need), so I can't imagine this is something they need to get started immediately, especially during spring ball when the team wants access to the stadium. If the work is a scoreboard, it'll probably be in June, around the same time as the turf installation before the 2022 season.

As for how it could affect SEZ renovations, I'm pretty sure these scoreboards can be moved around relatively easily, so if in the next decade or so we finally get that SEZ renovation we long for, you can still move it and place it on top of the new structure. That's what most schools seem to do when renovating their stadiums near their scoreboard, and I believe it's what we did in 2007 (moved it from the NEZ to the SEZ), and based on the 2017 SEZ renderings, that appeared to be our plan then as well.

As for the crappy 1LL1NO1S that will probably end up on it, that portion on the current scoreboard was added retroactively after the rebrand (rebrand wasn't until the next year), so I imagine those letters can be replaced fairly easily. I read yesterday or Sunday somewhere on here (I think Basketball Uniforms, but don't quote me on that) that Whitman has alluded to a slight rebrand in the near future. If that's the case, I imagine we either are prepared to just swap out the lettering or leave it blank for a year or two like we did the first year with the current scoreboard.
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Could be but that 2013 scoreboard was reported on in September of 2012.

dailyillini.com

Football scoreboard to be replaced - The Daily Illini

A new scoreboard is set to be installed in Memorial Stadium.
dailyillini.com dailyillini.com
 
#55      
cuillini
Here are three items I would like to see happen.

1. Install a working wifi system.
2. Get rid of the bench seats. We deserve real stadium seats.
3. Install handrails to make stepping up the aisles more manageable.
 
#56      
Mr. Tibbs
cuillini said:
Here are three items I would like to see happen.

1. Install a working wifi system.
2. Get rid of the bench seats. We deserve real stadium seats.
3. Install handrails to make stepping up the aisles more manageable.
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just know individual seats will cost about 10-12% of capacity . they really can’t do that without a plan to increase capacity first . to keep up with the upper 50% tier in the B1G, they need to end up , at the end of the day , at about 70,000 AFTER taking in to account todays a$$ width with seats
 
#57      
Illini IndyCar Fan
cuillini said:
Here are three items I would like to see happen.

1. Install a working wifi system.
2. Get rid of the bench seats. We deserve real stadium seats.
3. Install handrails to make stepping up the aisles more manageable.
Click to expand...
This was part of my hope with Illini ERA. Or at least cut out a few numbered seats from each row so everyone has more room. The better experience would be worth the decrease in capacity.

Guess I'll have to wait a few years for the next time they have the opportunity.
 
#58      
Todd99
Has anybody found out what is going on with the trees being cut down?
 
#60      
Todd99
Cracks Me Up Steve Harvey GIF by ABC Network
 
#63      
CHEEF
cuillini said:
Here are three items I would like to see happen.

1. Install a working wifi system.
2. Get rid of the bench seats. We deserve real stadium seats.
3. Install handrails to make stepping up the aisles more manageable.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what ruins the atmosphere in college stadiums both football and basketball. We already struggle creating an electric atmosphere for a home field advantage, there is no reason to neuter ourselves by losing capacity and density. I’d argue the renovations at State Farm hurt the orange krush as well with gaping aisles
 
#64      
Fighter of the Nightman
Mr. Tibbs said:
just know individual seats will cost about 10-12% of capacity . they really can’t do that without a plan to increase capacity first . to keep up with the upper 50% tier in the B1G, they need to end up , at the end of the day , at about 70,000 AFTER taking in to account todays a$$ width with seats
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Wouldn't we also be like the only stadium in the Big Ten besides USC with individual seats? It is kind of difficult to tell online, but it looks like Minnesota and Oregon have SOME sections with real seats, but the vast majority of college football stadiums still have benches if you are not in some premium section. I think we could do a lot to improve Memorial Stadium's aesthetics before that type of seating overhaul, but that is just my personal opinion.
 
#65      
Mr. Tibbs
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Wouldn't we also be like the only stadium in the Big Ten besides USC with individual seats? It is kind of difficult to tell online, but it looks like Minnesota and Oregon have SOME sections with real seats, but the vast majority of college football stadiums still have benches if you are not in some premium section. I think we could do a lot to improve Memorial Stadium's aesthetics before that type of seating overhaul, but that is just my personal opinion.
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it was someone else's idea , not mine
my comment was more about needing to increase seat width, as if we start getting more sellouts, todays typical male a$$ does not fit into the width allocated 70 years ago

whenever it does happen, they need to increase capacity first, just so they can then re-allocate seat width to just stay even at 60,000 . and it we are to compete going forward in the upper tier of the league, we need to sell out at 72,000- 75,000
 
#66      
Fighter of the Nightman
Mr. Tibbs said:
it was someone else's idea , not mine
my comment was more about needing to increase seat width, as if we start getting more sellouts, todays typical male a$$ does not fit into the width allocated 70 years ago

whenever it does happen, they need to increase capacity first, just so they can then re-allocate seat width to just stay even at 60,000 . and it we are to compete going forward in the upper tier of the league, we need to sell out at 72,000- 75,000
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Yeah, to be clear I was not typing that as if I disagreed with you, haha. I was more raising the additional point that it would be a currently-abnormal venture for us to replace all of our bleacher seating.
 
#67      
Dkayak
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Yeah, to be clear I was not typing that as if I disagreed with you, haha. I was more raising the additional point that it would be a currently-abnormal venture for us to replace all of our bleacher seating.
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It might be impossible to replace bleacher seating with individual seats with the fore-aft pitch already set in concrete.
 
#68      
Fighter of the Nightman
Random post on a slow Good Friday! Related to the eventual remodeling of our South End Zone (i.e., the Horseshoe), I thought it would be interesting to look at some "stand-alone" end zones in the Big Ten ... or at least end zone seating setups that are not completely connected either physically or architecturally with the rest of the stadium's design.

Indiana
depositphotos_270973864-stock-photo-aerial-views-of-memorial-stadium.jpg


Iowa
70910511-cf23-4c01-8313-f1f846558873-large16x9_Kinnickrenovationviewfromsouthendzone.PNG


Purdue
20-seating-section.webp


Washington
1920x0.jpg


Wisconsin
Camp-Randall-Stadium-South-End-Zone-8.jpg


I feel like I would want something in between what Iowa and Wisconsin did. Iowa's is the best overall, but I like how Wisconsin's went through pains to make it thematically fit the rest of the stadium. For us, that could look something like heavily incorporating brick and/or column-themed architecture into the look of the new SEZ structure. FWIW, that new north end zone in Iowa actually seats about the SAME number of people as the Horseshoe ... that's how poorly spread out and designed the spacing of the Horseshoe is, lol. I would say something like Purdue did should be the bare minimum and really wouldn't cost that much. We definitely need something more substantial than what Indiana did. It's also worth noting that Washington's is artificially small in stature to preserve one of the best views in college football.
 
#69      
Defrost
I like how Wisconsin has theirs a bit better but agree, something of a blend between theirs and Iowa would be a huge upgrade for us. Hope it gets started soon!
 
#73      
Fighter of the Nightman
Battle89 said:
Feels like @Fighter of the Nightman reruns today, I know you've posted most if not all of those pics before. ;)

Iowa endzone wins, looks even better in person IMO. And Washington? At Illinois we cut down trees, not preserve them.
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I can't even keep track of how many times I have literally posted the exact same thing about the Horseshoe, haha ... desperate to see some actual improvements.
 
#74      
Mr. Tibbs
Fighter of the Nightman said:
I can't even keep track of how many times I have literally posted the exact same thing about the Horseshoe, haha ... desperate to see some actual improvements.
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I hope I’m wrong , but I think we are a few years or so away from this being a thing.

If it was closer, they would have said something to go along with this tree removal / expanding parking lots / scoreboard modifications (if that’s even a thing .

read Robert’s article from yesterday . it might be as basic as parking lots & orange lighting .
 
#75      
Fighter of the Nightman
Mr. Tibbs said:
I hope I’m wrong , but I think we are a few years or so away from this being a thing.

If it was closer, they would have said something to go along with this tree removal / expanding parking lots / scoreboard modifications (if that’s even a thing .

read Robert’s article from yesterday . it might be as basic as parking lots & orange lighting .
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Oh, I’m under no impression that it’s imminent … I’m just bummed out about that fact. And I’m frankly surprised few other people (including apparently Whitman) see it as overly essential. It really bothers me how you could view Memorial Stadium from one angle (e.g., from the outside looking at the columns) and think it’s this massive and grand cathedral of a stadium, while from another angle (e.g., looking straight at the Horseshoe) it looks small and unimpressive. It really does feel like a masterpiece where the artist died 75% of the way through and some bum finished the rest without caring what it looked like, lol.
 
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