The upcoming football season will no doubt be a memorable one at Memorial Stadium. To insure a successful season, we would like to request that all patrons be cooperative and patient with stadium and event personnel and be respectful to all other football fans. We hope that your experiences at Memorial Stadium this season will be as memorable as always.
University of Illinois
Division of Intercollegiate Athletics
Information to Assist You With Your Visit to Memorial Stadium
2005 PDF version
Directions...
From the North... Take I-57 to University Ave. (East).
Turn right (South) onto Mattis Avenue. Follow Mattis Ave. to Kirby Avenue. Turn left (East) on Kirby Ave. and continue
to football parking lots. Note: An alternate, less congested route is available by continuing South on Mattis to
Windsor Road. Turn Left onto Windsor Rd. and continue East, then turn Left on either First St. or Lincoln Ave. to reach
football parking lots.
From the South... Take I-57 to Monticello Road Exit. Turn right (East) onto Monticello Rd. and follow until it ends. Turn left
(North) onto route 45/Neil St. toward Champaign. Turn right on Windsor Rd. and Left onto either First St. or Lincoln Ave.
to reach football parking lots.
From the East or West on I-74... Take I-74 East or West
to the Lincoln Avenue exit. Take Lincoln Avenue South to Florida Ave. Turn right (West) onto Florida Ave. and continue
West to football parking lots.
From the West on I-72... I-72 becomes University Avenue
in Champaign. Follow directions outlined above in directions from the North.
Game Day Traffic Reports... are given on WDWS 1400 AM
and WHMS 97.5 FM. Traffic reports begin three hours prior to kick-off and are updated every thirty minutes.
Disabled Services...
Gates... Access to disabled seating is through gates
located at the South end of the Stadium, Gate 31 on the East side and Gate 32 on the West side.
Golf Cart Shuttle Services... are available to patrons that need assistance between the parking lots and the stadium on game days. The shuttle service will begin two hours prior to kick-off and will run continuously up to 15 minutes before kick-off. Shuttle service will resume at the end of each game as soon as pedestrian traffic allows. Patrons who would like to utilize this service prior to kick-off should wait at one of the following locations: East entrance of the Terrace Lot (I Fund Gold and Orange) and Lot A (E-14), Kirby Avenue entrances to Lot K and Lot C, and the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance to Lot E (E-15). Shuttle service will also be provided to patrons parked in the handicapped parking spaces in the Northwest, Southwest, Northeast and Southeast Assembly Hall lots. Patrons parked in these spaces should remain by their vehicles and wait for the golf cart to approach them. The pre-game dropoff and post-game pick-up locations at the stadium are the West side of the stadium between Gates 16 and 18 and the east side of the stadium between Gates 15 and 17.
Hearing Assistance Devices... are designed to enhance the
public address announcements made in Memorial Stadium. These devices can be checked out on game day at the East and West Guest Service Centers located next to Gate 15 on the East side of the stadium and Gate 16 on the West side of the stadium. A valid photo ID is required for deposit.
Parking...Handicapped parking spaces, including van
accessible spaces, are provided in the four quadrants of the Assembly Hall, South of Memorial Stadium.
Seating... is located in the South Horseshoe with chairs
available for able-bodied companions.
TTY Phones are located at the phone banks in the East and West Great Halls.
Wheelchairs are available for customer assistance and are located at the East and West Guest Service Centers located next to Gate 15 on the East side of the stadium and Gate 16 on the West side of the stadium.
Emergencies...
Public address announcements are not made under most
instances; however, please contact the Guest Service Center if you need to contact someone in the event of an
extraordinary circumstance.
West Guest Service Center: 217-244-6523
East Guest Service Center: 217-244-6946
Facility Information...
Baby Changing Stations... are located in men's and
women's restrooms throughout Memorial Stadium. Look for restrooms identified by a baby changing station sign on the door.
Concessions... stands are located throughout Memorial
Stadium.
Entrances... Open one and one-half hours prior to the scheduled kick-off time. Please see Map 3 for entrances and seating informaition.
Press Box... is utilized by working personnel and is
accessible from the West side of Memorial Stadium between Gates 16 and 18. Working press may submit requests for credentials
to the Athletic Media Relations Department at 217-333-1391.
Restrooms... are located throughout Memorial Stadium.
Portable restrooms are located throughout the parking lots and on the exterior concourse.
Scoreboard... In July 2002, a new state-of-the-art
scoreboard was installed in Memorial Stadium. The new board includes a video display screen (22'-8" x 29'-5") capable of
showing instant replays and other live features within the stadium. In addition to the main scoreboard area, there are
four 17-foot high illuminated photo panels featuring legendary Fighting Illini football players. The total size of the new
scoreboard structure is 48' x 174'.
Smoking Policy... Memorial Stadium is a non-smoking facility. Pass-outs will not be given to individuals to leave the facility for smoking purposes. Those patrons that wish to smoke during games are asked to do so in the designated smoking areas. Designated smoking areas include the column vestibules located at the top of each stadium tower as well as the grass area behind the horseshoe seating.
Fan Activities...
Illini Walk... Greet the players as they arrive at Memorial Stadium. Two hours prior to game
time, the Fighting Illini Football players and coaches walk from First St. to the Football Complex along Irwin Drive, just
North of Memorial Stadium between the Stadium and the IMPE Building.
Street Fest... Two hours prior to game time, visit the Illini Football experience at Street
Fest, located at the North end of Lot A along Kirby Avenue between Oak and First Streets, for live music, food vendors,
interactive games and more.
Tents and Tailgating...
Groups can reserve tent space in the exclusive tent areas along Kirby Avenue and First Street by registering with the group
ticket sales office at 217-244-0016. Registered groups must purchase 100 tickets or more (discounts are offered for large
groups), and order tents, food and beverages through approved vendors.
Individual tailgating is allowed but must adhere to the policies listed in the parking section of this guide.
Guest Services...
ATMs are located in both the East and West Great Halls
of the stadium.
Charcoal... Please dispose of hot used charcoal in the
specified disposal containers located throughout the parking lots.
Guest Service Centers... are located by Gate 15 on the East side of the stadium and Gate 16 on the West side of the stadium and are open for customer assistance on game day.
Lost and Found... inquiries can be made at the
East and West Guest Service Centers located next to Gate 15 on the East side of the stadium and Gate 16 on the West side of the stadium. These windows remain open until 15 minutes
after the game. Once the booths have closed, inquiries can be directed to the Athletic Ticket Office,
100 Assembly Hall, 1800 South First Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820, or by phone at (217) 333-3470, or by e-mail at athleticeventstaff@uiuc.edu.
Merchandise... Fighting Illini merchandise is available
for sale in the East and West Great Halls of Memorial Stadium, as well as selected locations outside the stadium.
Pay Phones... are located along the inner walls of the
East and West Great Halls of Memorial Stadium and the balcony level of each tunnel ramp. TTY phone systems are installed
at each of the East and West Great Hall phone banks.
Programs... are for sale at stands located inside the
East and West Great Halls of Memorial Stadium. The cost is $3 each.
Seatback Cushions... are available on a season or game-by-game basis. Cursomer service booths will be set up in both the East and West Great Halls. To place an order, you can call 1-800-845-1641 or go online at www.illinicushion.com.
Medical Services...
Ambulance... services are on site during all home football games. Patrons needing an ambulance should seek the nearest usher, event management staff member, or police officer for assistance.
First Aid Rooms... at Memorial Stadium are located under the main stands sections K and I on the East side, and sections KK and II on the West side.
IEMS (Illini Emergency Medical Services)... technicians are located throughout the stadium in portals marked with red railings. These portals are found in Sections C, I, and O in the East Main Stands, G and M in the East Balcony, CC,II, and OO in the West Main Stands, GG and MM in the West Balcony, and X and XX in the Horseshoe.
Parking...
Fees... Parking fees at Illinois Football games are
$15 per automobile, $30 per recreational vehicle/motor home, $35 per school bus, and $45 per chartered coach.
Hours... Parking lots are open to patrons starting at
7:00 a.m. and remain open until 10:00 p.m.* on game days. No overnight parking is allowed.
*NOTE: This excludes any night games that Illinois might have in which parking lots will close 1 hour after
the completion of the game.
Parking Lots... are clearly marked as you approach Memorial Stadium. Please see Map 2 for more information.
Priority Parking... is offered to all I-Fund donors. For more information, please call (217) 333-6595.
Prohibited Items... The following items or actions are not permitted
in parking lots:
Open fires
Weapons, fireworks
Saving parking places
Disorderly conduct
Advertising banners or displays
Picketing or political campaigning
Tethered blimps, balloons, and other oversized inflatables
Tailgating... Individuals in general parking lot areas
may not anchor tents for personal use. Personal tailgating tents and awnings must be 10' x 10' or smaller, and must fit
within the boundary of one designated parking space.
Prohibited or Restricted Items...
Alcoholic Beverages... are strictly prohibited from being
carried into Memorial Stadium. Patrons seen consuming alcohol during Illinois Football games will be asked to leave the
Stadium. No refunds will be granted for such cases.
Backpacks and Bags... are not allowed in Memorial Stadium. Small purses and fanny packs are allowed but are subject to being searched by University personnel.
Banners & Signs... are not allowed in Memorial Stadium.
Cameras... are restricted in Memorial Stadium: large
lens cameras with a stand or tripod are not permitted. Video cameras are not permitted. Personal snapshot pocket cameras
are allowed in the stadium, however, in no instance may photography interfere with access ways, seat aisles, or other
guests' enjoyment of the game.
NOTE: Secondary use of any pictures, audio description, film, tape or drawing of the game are the exclusive rights
of the NCAA.
Coolers and Containers... are not allowed in Memorial
Stadium. (This includes cans, glass bottles, thermos bottles, wine skins, bota bags, and glass of any kind.)
Diaper bags... are allowed in Memorial Stadium but are
subject to being searched by University personnel.
Food and Drink... Food items contained in clear plastic bags may be carried into Memorial Stadium. Sealed plastic bottles of water, 20 ounces and smaller, may also be carried into the stadium.
Other Items... prohibited from Memorial Stadium include
fireworks, noisemakers (whistles or horns), smoking, strollers, tri-pods, umbrellas, video cameras and weapons of any kind (including pocket knives).
Ticket Information...
Entrance Information... For direct and efficient access to
your seat, please enter the stadium through the gate number printed on your ticket.
Game Day Ticket Sales... are located on the West side of Memorial Stadium between Gates 16 and 18 and on the East side of Memorial Stadium between Gates 15 and 17.
Infants and toddlers... ages two and under, are allowed to
enter the stadium at a discounted ticket price. For $5, fans can purchase an infant ticket but the infant must sit in the lap
of an adult during the game. Tickets can be purchased on the West side of Memorial Stadium between Gates 16 and 18, on the East side of Memorial Stadium between Gates 15 and 17, or at Will Call, located at the Athletic Ticket Office on the West side of the Assembly Hall.
Office Information... The Athletic Ticket Office is open
weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located in the North Assembly Hall Box Office.
Priority Seating...is available to all I-Fund members. For more information, please call 217-333-6595.
Re-Entry... Patrons are not allowed to leave Memorial Stadium during the game and re-enter with
a torn ticket. A full ticket is required for entrance.
Ticket Replacement Policy... Tickets purchased in advance
of game day that are lost, stolen, or destroyed can be replaced at full face value plus a service fee of $5. Tickets
purchased at the window or through a second party may not be replaced. Replacement tickets will have precedence over the
original tickets. Replacement tickets can be obtained at the Athletic Ticket Office, located in the North Box Office of
the Assembly Hall.
Tickets... may be purchased with cash, check, Discover, MasterCard, Visa or American Express over the telephone at (217) 333-3470 or 1-866-ILLINI-1, or on line at www.fightingillini.com.
NOTE: The Big Ten Conference specifies that every person attending a football game must have a valid ticket to enter the stadium, including infants.
Will Call...
General Public Tickets... are to be picked up at the
Athletic Ticket Office, located on the West side of the Assembly Hall. Will Call opens at 9 a.m. for morning or early afternoon games and Noon for evening or night games. In order to obtain tickets at Will Call, a valid photo ID that matches the name on the order must be presented at the time of pickup. Refunds are not issued for unclaimed tickets left at Will Call.
Press Will Call... is located at the press elevator located between Gates 16 and 18 on the West side of Memorial Stadium. A valid photo ID will be required when picking up press credentials.
University of Illinois player guest tickets... are located
at Gate 15 on the East side of Memorial Stadium. All recipients will be required to show a valid photo ID.
Visiting player guest tickets... are located at Gate 14 on the West side of Memorial Stadium. All recipients will be required to show a valid photo ID.
Recruit and High School Coaches tickets... are located at Gate 15 on the East side of Memorial Stadium. All recipients will be required to show a valid ID.
The University of Illinois would like Illinois football to be an enjoyable experience for all who attend our events. We take
great pride in the conduct of our student-athletes and our fans. Coaches instruct their athletes to treat opponents and
officials with respect. We also request that you, the fans, display a high degree of respect and sportsmanship at all times.
If a patron displays conduct which endangers or disrupts players, coaches, officials, or other patrons, please report offenders
to the nearest event management staff member or a police officer. The University of Illinois reserves the right to remove
disruptive individuals from Memorial Stadium. No refunds will be granted in such cases. Thank you for your support of
Illinois Athletics. We hope you enjoy your visit to the University of Illinois campus and your experience at Memorial
Stadium.
