|
With the 2006 football season and IHSA Championships completed, work on the much-anticipated renovations for Memorial Stadium have begun. Read more about what will be taking place this week, see new drawings of the stadium, chat with project coordinator Warren Hood and learn more about the Memorial Stadium live video cam.
WHAT YOU CAN SEE THIS WEEK: Currently, work is being done on both the West and North ends of the Stadium, removing bleacher seating. The North bleachers will be completely removed in the next two days, while the main stands underneath the West overhang and in the West balcony began removal last week. Slated to begin this week will be the removal of the Grange Rock and Zuppke Wall as well as the video board and scoreboard in the North end.
ONLINE CHAT: Associate Athletic Director Warren Hood, who is serving as project coordinator for the Memorial Stadium renovations, will be hosting an online chat on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. CT Log on to www.fightingillini.com or www.CoachRonZook.com and submit questions in advance.
NEW PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Illinois' Renaissance website has been updated with approved photo renderings of the internal aspects of the West side, including the 77 Club, the Colonnades Club and luxury box seating. (Please note that all drawings are still subject to change.)
LIVE STADIUM CAM: The UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) has set up a live video camera in Memorial Stadium to enable fans to watch the renovation progress from their computers. To access the live cam, log on to www.athletics.uiuc.edu/renaissance.
STADIUM BENCH SALES: The DIA has seen a large interest in the sales of the Memorial Stadium seat benches. In just two weeks of sales, more than 400 orders have been placed for these authentic, game-used seats. All proceeds support the renovation efforts. Call 217-333-2474 or log on to www.fightingillini.com for more information.
|
 |
| Moderator: Illini Fans,
Thanks for joining us for today's online chat. With contstuction beginning on the much-anticipated Memorial Stadium renovations, we felt it would be a great opportunity to get some of those questions answered. We apologize for the delay, but as is often the case in college athletics, Warren Hood is still wrapping up a meeting here in the building. Thanks for your patience, he should be joining us shortly. |
|
| Randy (Wheeling): When the HNTB brochure was made public I was giddy with excitement. However, slowly but surely, the features that REALLY had me excited like lowering the field, making it more intimate by closing in the North Endzone with a beautiful seating area that flowed nicely, and especially the Hall of Fame and permanent horseshoe have slowly been rolled back. What is the justification for rolling back so many of the benefits and beautification features of the HNTB design that would have been enjoyed by the common fan or student? In the current design, only the press and big money seem to have benefitted. Let me also opine that moving the Block I to the endzone and away from the visiting bench is a travesty. |
 |
|
Warren Hood: There will be many features that the general public will enjoy. The Hall of Fame you mention is still part of the project. Throughout the Great West and East Halls we will showcase the history of Illinois football with tributes to former players, coaches, teams. The amount of space we will have available to display our history will be terrific. The new north stands will be very close to the field and will be significant in size. There will be additional phases in the future that will complete the stadium. |
|
|
| Bret Weeks (Urbana): Is the proposed student section move to the north end zone permanent? It would be a big sacrifice of our most vociferous fans from a place where they could make noise and intimidate opponents and create a great environment for recruiting visits to a place where they are isolated from the rest of the crowd and the game. |
|
|
Warren Hood: The new student section will encompass the new north stands along with several sections in the east main stands. The energy of the students will know be felt by both sides of the stadium as opposed to just the west side. The model we are trying to emulate is similar to Wisconsin and Iowa. We met with numerous student groups prior to this decision and the feedback was positive. |
|
|
| Bret Weeks (Urbana): What happened to the plan to lower the field? I heard the sightline explanation, but that doesn't match up with reality. I've attended over 100 games at Memorial Stadium and sat in numerous areas. After I heard the sightline argument, I went through every corner of the stadium at the last game. It doesn't add up. Is the field not being lowered for another reason. |
|
|
Warren Hood: The sightline explanation is reality. There is absolutely no other reason. |
|
|
| John (Atlanta): Will the scoreboard be placed permanently in the south end? |
|
|
Warren Hood: Yes, we are moving the scoreboard that is currently in the north end zone to the south end. |
|
|
| Randy (Rantoul): As a member of the Marching Illini I have the following question:
With the new seating in the north end slated for Block I and the Marching Illini, do you think this will go over well with the nation's oldest (and best!)student section having sat at the 40 yard line since 1924? |
|
|
Warren Hood: The marching band currently sits on bleachers in the south endzone. The new location in the north stands has been designed for the band. The Block I representatives we met were excited about the opportunity to be able to enlarge their numbers and also that there halftime card performance would be viewed by the entire stadium not just the west side fans. |
|
|
| Brian Rusthoven (Clarendon Hills): why can't the north end zone be done in a way much closer to the orignal drawings --- right now it looks TOTALLY cheaped out |
|
|
Warren Hood: I believe the people posting that are concerned with the look of the north must be looking at the 3-D computer model. Believe me the north stands will look very similar to the original drawings. |
|
|
| Kyle (Elgin): I have read of a new entrance for the student section in the North. Will this section be separated from the rest of the stadium completely? Will students be able to see elements of the new West and East Hall under the renovation plans with their tickets for the North Endzone? |
|
|
Warren Hood: Next year students will access the north stands from Irwin Drive and through the normal entrances on the east side of the stadium. In 2008 there will be six gated entrances around the stadium and students will be able to enter through any of these areas. |
|
|
| Kyle (Elgin): Is the renovation on schedule? When are the major stages currently scheduled to be completed? |
|
|
Warren Hood: The renovation is on schedule. The north will be completed by next year and the west and east by fall 2008. |
|
|
| Kyle (Elgin): With the move of the Video Scoreboard to the South Horseshoe, what are the revised plans for renovation of the horseshoe? |
|
|
Warren Hood: We have preliminary plans for the horseshoe however we are waiting on funding to be secured. |
|
|
| Matt Message (Gurnee): Are they realy changing the name of the staduim |
|
|
Warren Hood: There is no plan to change the name of the stadium. Memorial Stadium and Zuppke Field will remain. |
|
|
| Gregg (Pittsburgh): What will be the seating capacity of MS when all renovations are complete? |
|
|
Warren Hood: After phase 1 (west, north and east) it will be 65,000. We have the ability to expand to 85,000 in future phases if warranted. |
|
|
| Collin (Libertyville): With the scoreboard being moved to the south part of the stadium, is there any plan to put up an extra scoreboard for those in the Horseshoe? |
|
|
Warren Hood: It is not part of the current scope of our project, however there is a plan to place a new videoboard on the north stands. |
|
|
| Montgomery Burns (Springfield): Will ticket prices increase again next season to cover parts of this renovation? |
|
|
Warren Hood: There was a $5 surcharge per ticket this year for season and single game ticket holders to support the renovation. Ticket prices for next year have not been established at this point. |
|
|
| Jim(Jerseyville): To continue with the North end zone questions, will the North stand be brick enclosed. |
|
|
Warren Hood: There is brick on both the front and back walls of the north stands as well as the concourse area. |
|
|
| Tim Davlin (Springfield): The $114 million does not include the Horseshoe? |
|
|
Warren Hood: That is correct. The horseshoe will be an additional $30-50 million. |
|
|
|
Warren Hood: Thank you for your questions. We are very excited to have started construction this week. I hope you will continue to follow our progress. Thank you for your interest and support of our athletic program. |
|
|
|
