Memorial Stadium is a football stadium located in Champaign, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois. The stadium is dedicated as a memorial to the Illinois men and women who died in World War I. The primary use of the stadium is to host the University's football intercollegiate athletics team. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... The Athens Olympic Stadium Typical stadium seating consists of terraces, such as shown here at Sarajevos Stadium Kosevo. ... A view of Champaign from above ( see wider view). ... University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, also known as UIUC and the U of I (the officially preferred abbreviation), is the largest campus in the University of Illinois system. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ...

Construction

Memorial Stadium was completed in 1923 at a cost of US$ 1.7 million. The original construction was financed with donations from University students, alumni, and others. At the time, the stadium consisted of double-decked stands on the east and west sidelines. The single-decked horseshoe around the south end zone was later completed, and temporary bleachers stand in the north end zone. The arena was heavily renovated between 1985-1994. 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

Dedication

The stadium is dedicated to the men and women of the state of Illinois that gave their lives serving in World War I. The east and west sides of the stadium have 200 columns that display the names of these men and women. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

The stadium was officially dedicated on October 18, 1924, on which the University football team played a homecoming game against the University of Michigan. That day, Red Grange scored five touchdowns in one of the greatest single-game performances in football history. October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in Leap years). ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Homecoming has several meanings, including: A homecoming game and/or dance is, at many American and Canadian universities and high schools, the first and most important such event. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a public coeducational university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... Time Magazine, October 5, 1925 Harold Edward Grange, better known as Red Grange (June 13, 1903 - January 28, 1991), was a college football player. ... A touchdown is the primary method of scoring in American and Canadian football, in which the ball carrier causes the football to break the plane of the end zone, thus earning 6 points for his team (in both codes). ...

Capacity

The seating capacity of the stadium's permanent seating, including the north end zone bleachers, is 70,904. The east and west grandstands each hold 18,000 patrons on the first level, and 10,000 in each balcony. The south end zone "horseshoe" holds 12,246.

The stadium's highest single event attendance was 78,297, for a football game against the University of Missouri in 1984. The University of Missouri System is one of two public state university systems. ...

Tributes

• The football playing surface within the stadium is named Zuppke Field, in honor of Robert Zuppke, the University of Illinois head football coach from 1913 to 1941.

• The north end of Zuppke Field hosts The Grange Rock, a tribute to Red Grange. The tribute was dedicated on October 22, 1994, with Mrs. Margaret Grange, Red Grange's wife, in attendance. The rock came from the same Indiana quarry that produced the stadium's columns.

• The Ray Eliot Varsity Room is named for Ray Eliot, the University of Illinois head football coach from 1942 to 1959.

Robert Zuppke (died 1957) was the head football coach at the University of Illinois from 1913 until 1941. ... Time Magazine, October 5, 1925 Harold Edward Grange, better known as Red Grange (June 13, 1903 - January 28, 1991), was a college football player. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... State nickname: The Hoosier State Other U.S. States Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Governor Mitch Daniels Official languages English Area 94,321 km² (38th)  - Land 92,897 km²  - Water 1,424 km² (1. ... A small cinder quarry A dimension stone quarry A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. ...

Other Uses

• In 2002, the stadium also hosted the NFL's Chicago Bears while Soldier Field was being renovated.
• During the winter months, an inflatable practice dome known as "the bubble" used to be inflated over the field, to allow for semi-indoor practice facilities. This practice stopped in 2001, when the Irwin Indoor Football Pracice Facility was built to the Northeast of the Stadium.

2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... NFL logo The National Football League (NFL) is the largest and most popular professional American football league in the world, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities. ... Conference NFC Division North Founded 1920 Home Field Soldier Field City Chicago Colors Navy blue, orange, and white Head Coach Lovie Smith All-Time Record (W-L-T) (At Start of 2005 Season) 660-489-42 The Chicago Bears are a National Football League team based in Chicago. ... Categories: Buildings and structures stubs | Stadiums | Football venues | Chicago sports ...

External Links

• Memorial Stadium page at the University of Illinois Athletics site (http://fightingillini.collegesports.com/trads/ill-trads-memorial.htm)