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Illinois
Football News
5-11-06
Memorial Stadium Renovation Receives Board of Trustees Approval
Approval Allows Improvement of 83-year-old Historic Facility
CHICAGO, Ill. The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate
Athletics announces the Board of Trustees approval for the $116 million
renovation project of historic Memorial Stadium. The 83-year-old facility
will undergo its first major construction since its inaugural season in
1923.
The renovation project is slated to begin following the completion of the
2006 football season and IHSA championship football games. Construction will
occur on the north, west and east sides of the stadium, with permanent
seating on the north end being completed for the 2007 season. The remaining
areas, which include the east and west side, should wrap up in time for the
2008 season.
Among the renovation on the west side is the addition of luxury suites,
indoor and outdoor club areas and a refurbishment of the concourses. An
outdoor club space, the Colonnades Club, will be added under the west
balcony and will allow for indoor game day hospitality, as well as outdoor
chair back seats for contest viewing. In the west balcony, a three-level
structure will be built to house two floors of suites and an indoor club
space as well as a new press box for media seating and game day operations.
The indoor club, which seats 200, has been named ³77 Club² to honor the
retired number of Illinois gridiron legend Harold ³Red² Grange.
The entire project will be conducted to keep the stadium in a functioning
capacity for the Illinois football team during the time of construction.
The funding comes in large part from the sales of suites, club seats and
naming rights, which covers nearly 85 percent of the total cost. The
remaining 15 percent will be funded by a ticket surcharge, beginning in
2006.
Sales began in mid-November of 2005 and have been successful in filling 45
of its 48 available suites, 186-of-200 ³77 Club² seats and nearly 60 percent
of the ³Colonnades Club² area, in just a five-month span.
The full funding of the project allows the DIA to meet five major goals:
To build a modern facility, while maintaining the historic nature of the
World War I-dedicated building. All design plans for the stadium have gone
to great lengths to keep the full exterior of the facility in its current
state.
To enhance the game day experience for all spectators. The project
includes the addition and improvements to restrooms, concessions, access to
seats and disability seating.
To take care of all deferred maintenance. Due to the age of the facility,
this project will allow the DIA to modernize, bring up to code and meet
required building standards. The stadium will upgrade electrical, plumbing
and structural needs.
To create a destination. With the addition of the 77 Club and Colonnades
Club space, Memorial Stadium will now be a facility used on a year-round
basis. The design makes areas a perfect choice for banquets, receptions,
conferences and meetings.
To assist in recruiting efforts of the highest level of student-athlete.
The commitment to this project will allow Illinoisı coaches to continue to
recruit the elite student-athletes and compete at the highest level.
The architectural firm HNTB of Kansas City, Mo., was selected to design the
renovation and Hunt Construction Managers will handle the construction. HNTB
is credited with many of the most recent athletic facility renovations,
including Purdueıs Ross-Ade Stadium, Ohio Stateıs Ohio Stadium, Iowaıs
Kinnick Stadium and Denverıs Invesco Field. Hunt has been in collaboration
on many of the same facilities, as well as Detroitıs Ford Field, St. Louisı
new Busch Stadium, and Citizenıs Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Memorial Stadium Renovation Fun Facts
The renovation will:
- double the amount of point of sale concessions
- improve ADA seating by more than 360 percent
- increase menıs and womenıs restrooms by 50 percent
- add heat in the Great East Hall
- feature expanded concourses for more easy access
- install an enhanced sound system |
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