Gies Memorial Stadium
Gies Memorial Stadium is a college football stadium in Champaign, Illinois, home of the Illinois Fighting Illini, who play in the Big Ten of NCAA Division I FBS. It opened in 1923, making it 103 years old in 2026 and seats 60,670 fans. It ranks 12th of 18 in the Big Ten by capacity.
The team plays on artificial turf. Its record crowd is 78,297 vs. Missouri (1984).
Stadium facts
- Location
- Champaign, Illinois
- Home of
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- School
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Subdivision
- Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
- Opened
- 1923
- Capacity
- 60,670
- Playing surface
- Artificial turf
- Former names
- Memorial Stadium (until 2025)
- Record crowd
- 78,297 vs. Missouri (1984)
- Size rank in FBS
- 41st of 138
Famous games at Gies Memorial Stadium
- 1924: Red Grange scored five TDs as Illinois beat Michigan 39-14 in the dedication game
- 1984: Illinois beat Missouri 30-24 before a record crowd
Other teams that played here
- Chicago Bears (NFL), 2002, temporary home
Game day
Tradition. The bell from the battleship USS Illinois is rung whenever the Illini score at home.
Seating & views
Illinois' stadium, renamed Gies Memorial Stadium in 2025, seats 60,670. It began as a U shape with double-decked sidelines: the east stands hold about 18,000 on the main level and 10,000 in the balcony, and the west about 13,000 plus 5,000 in the balcony. A 2008 renovation put a three-level press box and luxury suites on the west side, added permanent north end bleachers and moved the scoreboard to the single-deck south horseshoe. Most students sit at the north end, with overflow at the north end of the east stands, so views of plays at the far end can be limited. Columns on both sides carry names of WWI dead.
Parking & tailgating
Athletics runs most football lots around the stadium, which cost $25 per vehicle and are cashless. Lot 43, managed by the campus Parking Department, can be reserved ahead through ParkMobile, with any remaining spaces sold for $25 at the entrance. The Parking Department posts a football parking map showing which lots are open for games. Check fightingillini.com and parking.illinois.edu before each game for current lots and policies.
Seating and parking sources: parking.illinois.edu, parking.illinois.edu, en.wikipedia.org.
Plan your trip to Gies Memorial Stadium
Stadiums near Gies Memorial Stadium10
- 1FCSO'Brien Field — Eastern Illinois Panthers 44 mi
- 2FCSHancock Stadium — Illinois State Redbirds 47 mi
- 3FCSMemorial Stadium — Indiana State Sycamores 65 mi
- 4FBSRoss–Ade Stadium — Purdue Boilermakers 75 mi
- 5FCSBrown Field — Valparaiso Beacons 113 mi
- 6FBSMerchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium — Indiana Hoosiers 114 mi
- 7FCSSeatGeek Stadium — Chicago State Cougars 115 mi
- 8FCSBud and Jackie Sellick Bowl — Butler Bulldogs 115 mi
- 9FBSBrigham Field at Huskie Stadium — Northern Illinois Huskies 126 mi
- 10FCSHanson Field — Western Illinois Leathernecks 129 mi
Questions about Gies Memorial Stadium
Where do the Illinois Fighting Illini play home games?
The Illinois Fighting Illini play at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
How many people does Gies Memorial Stadium hold?
Gies Memorial Stadium has a capacity of 60,670.
When did Gies Memorial Stadium open?
Gies Memorial Stadium opened in 1923.
What is the attendance record at Gies Memorial Stadium?
The record crowd at Gies Memorial Stadium is 78,297 vs. Missouri (1984).
Does Gies Memorial Stadium have grass or turf?
Gies Memorial Stadium has an artificial turf field.
What other college football stadiums are near Gies Memorial Stadium?
O'Brien Field in Charleston is about 44 miles away. See the full list of nearby stadiums on this page.
Facts are for the 2026 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your stadium? Get the “Listed on All Football Stadiums” badge for your website.