Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium was built in 1923 as a memorial to Illinois men and
women who gave their lives for their country during World War I. Their
names appear on 200 columns that support the east and west sides of the
stadium.
Donations of approximately $1.7 million by more than 200,000
students, alumni and other friends of the University made the
construction possible. The Athletic Association (now known as the
Division of Intercollegiate Athletics) later allocated $509,805 to the
project for the construction of the south stands and other stadium additions.
The stadium opened Nov. 3, 1923, when Illinois defeated Chicago,
7-0, in a Homecoming victory. The stadium was dedicated officially Oct.
18, 1924, a day that Illinois not only defeated Michigan, 39-14, for a
Homecoming victory, but Harold "Red" Grange accounted for six touchdowns
in what remains as the single greatest performance in Memorial Stadium
history. In the first 12 minutes of that game, Grange ran for a total of
265 yards and scored four times. He had his hands on the ball only six
times and left the field before the end of the first quarter.
In the third quarter, Grange returned and ran 13 yards for his
fifth touchdown, and in the final period he passed to Marion Leonard for
his sixth score of the day. In 42 minutes of playing time, Grange gained
a total of 402 yards, carried the ball 21 times and also completed six
passes for 64 yards. Legendary coach Amos Alonzo Stagg called it "the
most spectacular single-handed performance ever delivered in a major game."
The 1994 season represented the 70th anniversary of Memorial
Stadium's dedication and the historic Illinois-Michigan game. To
celebrate the event, Red Grange's wife, Mrs. Margaret Grange, attended
the Fighting Illini's Oct. 22 game against Michigan. She helped dedicate
The Grange Rock which sits at the north end of Zuppke Field as a tribute
to her husband. The rock came from the same Indiana Stone quarry that
produced the granite columns of the stadium.
Permanent seating capacity of Memorial Stadium is 70,904
including the bleachers at the north end of the playing field.
During the 1980s, Memorial
Stadium saw 27 consecutive sell-outs. The single-game attendance record
is 78,297 for a 1984 victory over Missouri.
Approximately 71 percent of Memorial Stadium seats are between
the goal posts with 18,000 in each stand, 10,000 in each balcony and
12,246 in the south stand horseshoe.
Installation of the first artificial turf and a new lighting
system was made possible through a 1974 Golden Anniversary campaign
drive. The lights have made games and practices, as well as
intramural competition possible after sunset. Even though the field is
lit only from the towers on the four corners of Memorial Stadium, the
light intensity is easily sufficient for major network telecasts of night
games.
Other stadium improvements include the 1967 installation of a
press box, located at the top of the west balcony; construction of the
Ray Eliot Varsity Room, a training table and trophy
display area at the southeast corner of the stadium that was built with
funds donated by friends of the Athletic Association; a million-dollar
stadium renovation project in 1972, which included the addition of
aluminum seating and other improvements; and a 1977 renovation of the
varsity locker rooms and trainer facilities.
In April 1985, $7 million worth of improvements began. Out of
this project came installation of new artificial turf and expansion of
the football headquarters in the northeast corner of the stadium. The
current artificial surface has the largest vertical drainage system of
any synthetic surface in the United States and is the largest collegiate
synthetic playing surface in the nation. The portion of it between the
goal lines was replaced in the fall of 1989 after vandals burned a
40-yard swath in the middle of the field in the early-morning hours of
Sept. 24. Employees from AstroTurf Industries began removing the
destroyed pad and turf on the 26th, and worked around the clock to
install a new surface in time for Illinois' scheduled Oct. 7 game against
Ohio State.
Memorial Stadium's most recent renovations occurred between
November 1991 and August 1992. The $18 million project included the
replacement of all the concrete bleachers in both upper decks, as well as
the replacement of the top 25 rows of the main stands. The stadium's
electrical and drainage systems were also brought up to code and new
restroom facilities, for both men and women, were installed in the corner
towers and great halls. The project was financed through the issuance of
revenue bonds by the UI Auxiliary Facilities System.
Before the start of the 1994 season, a new color matrix
scoreboard was added to the north end of Zuppke Field. Measuring 23x34
feet, the large message board is capable of displaying color and animated
messages.
The Memorial Stadium practice dome, more commonly known as "The
Bubble," was inflated for the first time in December 1985, and the
Fighting Illini's new locker room facilities opened before the 1986 season.
