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Illinois football transformation on and off the field continues with big announcement

When you head to Memorial Stadium this fall or drive by on Kirby, things will look quite different.
ByKamden Wollard|
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The sun shines through the colonnades at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign prior to the NCAA football game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Oct. 11, 2025.
The sun shines through the colonnades at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign prior to the NCAA football game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Oct. 11, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There is a plethora of upgrades that Gies Memorial Stadium could use to elevate it into one of the top college football environments in the country.

The first of those upgrades was addressed and announced yesterday on social media.

Everyone has been curious about how the $100 million that alumnus Larry Gies donated to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics would be used, and we just got part of that answer.

Gies Memorial Stadium will now feature the largest video display in all of college football. It will measure over 17,000 square feet, making it over 60% larger than the second-biggest, Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.

The full project includes 16 LED displays combining for more than 26,750 square feet and 30 million pixels, according to Illinois' football press release. A breath of fresh air, replacing a video board that has been there since the 2013 season.

So, while the Illini have yet to claim the No. 1 spot in an AP poll in program history, they will now rank No. 1 in something on the gridiron.

The video board at Gies Memorial Stadium is great, but there are more upgrades to be had

Seriously, this upgrade is a welcome addition in my opinion and brings an entirely new vibe to the stadium. You'll be able to watch the cleanest touchdown passes from Katin Houser in stunning Ultra HD.

While I think the video board is awesome and much-needed, I do hold out hope that a portion of Mr. Gies' donation will go toward connecting the student section and transforming Memorial Stadium into a bowl-style venue.

Renovations to the south end zone horseshoe, bringing it closer to the field, should also be high on the priority list. If I had to guess, we'll see work in that area within the next few years.

As the program continues to rise and establish itself as a consistent threat in the Big Ten, the facilities will have to evolve alongside it.

If you want to recruit at the highest level, your facilities need to match. The Smith Football Center was a huge first step, and this continues the work that needs to be done.

This announcement feels like a major step in the right direction.

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