UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Whitman said Tuesday he’s getting close to announcing facility upgrades and without naming the project, he’s talking about a remake of the Memorial Stadium’s south end zone, the horseshoe area that will finally finish off a renovation project that began after the completion of the 2006 season. That renovation gave us the new “press box” that houses luxury suites and premium seating, plus other amenities including a new video scoreboard and student seating section. But plans have been proceeding to move the horseshoe seating closer to the field and to build a multi-story structure between Kirby Ave., and the south football seats. The original design, undertaken by former AD Mike Thomas, would have included new coaching and recruiting offices, a team dining area, medical and training facilities and a new weight room. It was a massive project that would expand both up and down — digging beneath ground one or two stories while building skyward another three or four. Thomas said the project would cost in excess of $100 million. Whitman’s design has yet to reach the public. -Mark Tupper, pantagraph.com– Read More