College Gridirons-Memorial Stadium-Illinois Fighting Illini

Memorial Stadium
Champaign, IL

Home of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini for nearly eighty years, Memorial Stadium was the home of the Chicago Bears for the 2002 NFL season. In 1923, contributions of nearly $1.7 million were made to the University of Illinois in order to build a new stadium, to honor men and women who fought during World War I. The stadium was completed by November 3, 1923 and named Memorial Stadium.

Throughout it�s nearly eight decades of existence Memorial Stadium has underwent numerous improvement and additions. Today, the stadium has a capacity of just over 70,000. The stadium consists of two tiers of bleachers. The lower level forms a horseshoe, and there is an upper deck on both sides of the field. The press box is located on top of the west side upper deck. A huge 23 foot by 34 foot scoreboard is located at the west end of the stadium. Originally, Memorial Stadium had a grass field, but in 1974 the grass was replaced with Astroturf. Today, Memorial Stadium continues to be the home of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. Like many other colleges, Illinois has replaced the Astroturf field with Fieldturf. It was the home of the Chicago Bears for one season in 2002 as Soldier Field was renovated. After the 2006 season, $116 million will be spent renovating Memorial Stadium. To be completed by the 2008 season, this expansion and renovation project will include club seats, a new press box, luxury suites, indoor/outdoor club seating, rebuilt seating in the north endzone, new restrooms and concessions.

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Facts & Figures

-Tenant: Illinois Fighting Illini
-Conference: Big Ten
-Capacity: 70,000
-Surface: Fieldturf
-Opened: November 3, 1923
-Cost: $1.7 Million
-Seating Chart
-Illinois Fighting Illini Sports
-PrimeSeatTickets:
College Bowl Tickets
BCS Championship Tickets
Orange Bowl Tickets
Fighting Illini Football Tickets

ILLINI TIDBITS

2007 SCHEDULE

MEMORIAL STADIUM PICTURES

Famous Players:

Red Grange

George Halas

Dick Butkus

Ray Nitschke

Jeff George

Kevin Hardy

Dana Howard

Simeon Rice

School Traditions: Marching Illini, Chief Illiniweck

-9/1 - MISSOURI
-9/8 - WESTERN ILLINOIS
-9/15 - at Syracuse
-9/22 - at Indiana
-9/29 - PENN STATE
-10/6 - WISCONSIN
-10/13 - at Iowa
-10/20 - MICHIGAN
-10/27 - BALL STATE
-11/3 - at Minnesota
-11/10 - at Ohio State
-11/17 - NORTHWESTERN

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