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Visited today my daughter's school band participated in band day. The stadium itself was great, it was crowded but there was space between myself and others around me. This is a cashless stadium which I love, you order ur food and pay at a kiosk and within a few minutes your food is packaged and ready to go. There was a lot of Illini school spirit in the stadium. I did take off a star for parking, why do we have to walk 10-15 minutes away for parking and the lot nearest the stadium was pretty empty.
This is a biased review. Both my kids are/were students. I don't like the color orange but will wear it proudly when I'm here, which today is Dads weekend. It starts with a flyby of an F-15 fighter jet followed by 3 parachutists. One of them has a giant American flag dangling and they all land pretty much on the fifty yard line. Anything that follows is pretty much gray. One the second possession against Minnesota they Scored a touchdown run - GRAVY.
The stadium is historic and interesting, but the fans embrace of their history of racist stereotyping makes the place less than pleasant to visit. The games are poorly attended so it's hard to understand why the largely empty closer parking lots won't allow in paying customers. The more distant also not filled lots still charge the same amount as the closer restricted half empty lots at $20 per, which is a little insulting. Just a tad more distant in the business area you can find $10 parking. Since the games are so poorly attended getting in and out is much faster than in other Big10 stadiums. On my last visit the student section didn't have enough students to fill an intro chemistry class lecture hall, they were heavily outnumbered by the marching band. The marching band is quite good and I would have enjoyed both the half time and post game show if only they could let go of their links to the racist mascot. Stanford and Marquette did, but of course those two are elite academic programs so maybe that's part of the problem here, hard to say. The racism isn't as overt as it once was so it's tolerable even if you're AmerIndian or educated. Security is quite good, the police are obviously very professional and deployed to prevent problems. Ushers are competent and helpful, entry was quick but part of this is that the incoming crowd is so sparse. Food service is lackadaisical, the food quality and choices average and more or less typically overpriced. Given that I was the only one in line and ordering food 5 minutes to game time I was a bit nonplussed that I had to wait for fries. On a cold day the hot chocolate was nice and hot but about half strength, more like hot water with a good hint of the taste of cocoa. Usually I like eating in a college football stadium as part of the game day experience but I think in the case of U of I, from now on I'm going to have lunch or late breakfast before coming in. All in all I don't see a reason to come here for a game unless you get the tickets for free or your alma mater is visiting.
A wonderful venue for college football. Historic. Great sight lines. Modernized. It is a disgrace the football program is a rudderless ship and has been for half a Century. This is a wonderful spot to spend an Autumn afternoon. This is the team of Central Illinois as the Chicago alumni are apathetic.
Best place to watch a game is only two hours away in good ole Champaign, plenty of reasonable parking, good food and mild weather until the last game. We have season tickets for a mere 77.00- quite the deal! But if you get them, make sure you pony up the extra money for the installed seat cushions. It keeps you warmer and marks your seat. Too bad there isn't a bit more Oskee Wow Wow on the team this year and at halftime - bring back the Chief!
I said to myself that if the Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers, I would purchase a ticket and make the drive from Chicago to watch them against the Michigan State Spartans. And what a college football game it was with the Fighting Illini defeating the Cornhuskers 31-24 in overtime, which ended up being my go ahead on purchasing a ticket. I walked to Memorial Stadium which sat no more than a mile away from my hotel, the Homewood Suites by Hilton Champaign-Urbana. I recommend Homewood Suites for hotel stay if you are visiting for any Fighting Illini sporting events because of its distance. As a die-hard Fighting Illini football fan along with it being my very first home game attended; it felt surreal walking through Grange Grove gate of Memorial Stadium and right by the statue of the Galloping Ghost! It will be a memory that I forever cherish! It was easy navigating around Memorial Stadium to locate my seat. I loved where it was located, even though it was hard at times to see over the standing fans most of the time. Off to the side, I did have a good visual of the video display when I could not see over standing fans. I always love that the video display shows the results of other games being played. Prior to heading out for the Fighting Illini football game I was tuned into the Colorado Buffaloes vs Utah Utes football game. And the video display gave me the chance to see the updated score of that game. The stadium atmosphere at Memorial Stadium was fantastic! It was much different attending rather than watching on television because I was able to chant either "I-L-L or I-N-I" and boo the opposing team which was Michigan State. And my seat was located near the end zone where the cannons were fired post the Fighting Illini entering the field, as well as after each scoring point. I never got the chance to see the Fighting Illini marching band perform until now. Their performance was a sight to see during half-time and it made the time go by faster. In between timeouts and play calling, there were acknowledgements of the accomplishments of student athletes and anyone part of the University of Illinois. Selfie cam kept everyone in attendance involved and tuned in to the video display. Seems like the best way to get captured is to wear something out of the normal, or simply just standing out maybe. I left within the final minutes of the fourth quarter, just to avoid the cluster of fans leaving after the game, plus I was hungry and cold. Since it was my first Fighting Illini game at Memorial Stadium I did not want to leave prematurely as I am known for, even with the Fighting Illini leading in points. After this game, I am very open to making my way down from Chicago, just to see my beloved Fighting Illini again at Memorial Stadium in Champaign being that this experience was enjoyable. ~ Good vibes coming your way ~ Thomas G read more
I spent a decade at U of I for my undergraduate degree and PhD. I went to one football game basically every year. Since I graduated I had not been back for a decade. I decided to take my dad back this year for his birthday. It was a lot of fun. There is nothing like the energy before a Big Ten football game. The tailgating, kids throwing footballs around, and the smells of food on the grill. We got tickets in the upper deck, I prefer this so you can see plays developing. The seats were great. The only downside is that there isn't a hand railing (no idea how they have gotten around this) so you have to be careful when you are carrying tons of food/drinks or if you are older. The Marching Illini do a fantastic job, the stadium is gorgeous, and it just took me back to my time at U of I a decade ago. read more
First time here! This stadium is amazing and here's why: It's clean and beautiful They get you in and out fast! I've been to other stadiums and you wait in que forever to get in and to leave when the game is over. The food vendors were plentiful The bathrooms were extremely clean, large, and centrally located. I sat on the 20 yard line 3 rows up, had a great view of the huge beautiful scoreboard. The staff were all very helpful and friendly I enjoyed the traditional architecture details - especially the brickwork around the top of the structure. The fans of both teams were super respectful and kind to one another, which was really refreshing to see. They were all there for the love of football that we all share. Memorial stadium has a great Big Ten feel, If I get the opportunity I will definitely be back. It was a great experience. read more
2 years ago
Visited today my daughter's school band participated in band day. The stadium itself was great, it was crowded but there was space between myself and others around me. This is a cashless stadium which I love, you order ur food and pay at a kiosk and within a few minutes your food is packaged and ready to go. There was a lot of Illini school spirit in the stadium. I did take off a star for parking, why do we have to walk 10-15 minutes away for parking and the lot nearest the stadium was pretty empty. read more
This is a biased review. Both my kids are/were students. I don't like the color orange but will wear it proudly when I'm here, which today is Dads weekend. It starts with a flyby of an F-15 fighter jet followed by 3 parachutists. One of them has a giant American flag dangling and they all land pretty much on the fifty yard line. Anything that follows is pretty much gray. One the second possession against Minnesota they Scored a touchdown run - GRAVY. read more
4 years ago
The stadium is historic and interesting, but the fans embrace of their history of racist stereotyping makes the place less than pleasant to visit. The games are poorly attended so it's hard to understand why the largely empty closer parking lots won't allow in paying customers. The more distant also not filled lots still charge the same amount as the closer restricted half empty lots at $20 per, which is a little insulting. Just a tad more distant in the business area you can find $10 parking. Since the games are so poorly attended getting in and out is much faster than in other Big10 stadiums. On my last visit the student section didn't have enough students to fill an intro chemistry class lecture hall, they were heavily outnumbered by the marching band. The marching band is quite good and I would have enjoyed both the half time and post game show if only they could let go of their links to the racist mascot. Stanford and Marquette did, but of course those two are elite academic programs so maybe that's part of the problem here, hard to say. The racism isn't as overt as it once was so it's tolerable even if you're AmerIndian or educated. Security is quite good, the police are obviously very professional and deployed to prevent problems. Ushers are competent and helpful, entry was quick but part of this is that the incoming crowd is so sparse. Food service is lackadaisical, the food quality and choices average and more or less typically overpriced. Given that I was the only one in line and ordering food 5 minutes to game time I was a bit nonplussed that I had to wait for fries. On a cold day the hot chocolate was nice and hot but about half strength, more like hot water with a good hint of the taste of cocoa. Usually I like eating in a college football stadium as part of the game day experience but I think in the case of U of I, from now on I'm going to have lunch or late breakfast before coming in. All in all I don't see a reason to come here for a game unless you get the tickets for free or your alma mater is visiting. read more
9 years ago
A wonderful venue for college football. Historic. Great sight lines. Modernized. It is a disgrace the football program is a rudderless ship and has been for half a Century. This is a wonderful spot to spend an Autumn afternoon. This is the team of Central Illinois as the Chicago alumni are apathetic. read more
16 years ago
Best place to watch a game is only two hours away in good ole Champaign, plenty of reasonable parking, good food and mild weather until the last game. We have season tickets for a mere 77.00- quite the deal! But if you get them, make sure you pony up the extra money for the installed seat cushions. It keeps you warmer and marks your seat. Too bad there isn't a bit more Oskee Wow Wow on the team this year and at halftime - bring back the Chief! read more
14 years ago
7 years ago
15 years ago
15 years ago
10 years ago
A couple of weeks ago was my first time attending the stadium for a game. The staff were friendly and helpful with everything that we needed. It was remarkable how into the game the fans got for the Illini vs. Western Michigan game, yet at the same time disappointing to see the fans leave when Illini couldn't pull out a win. I didn't mind parking far away but the food was a bit on the pricy side. The atmosphere is really what matters the most, I think, and the Illini fans rock that out better than anywhere else I have seen. read more
13 years ago
7 years ago
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1402 S 1st St
Champaign, IL 61820
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(217) 333-3630
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