About Illinois Facilities
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics maintains 12 facilities, while utilizing 18 total facilities, for practice, competition and the administration of 19 Fighting Illini varsity sports. The facilities DIA maintains include: the Armory, Atkins Tennis Center, the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building, the Demirjian Golf Facility, Eichelberger Field at Martin Stadium, George Huff Hall, Illinois Field, Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium, the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility, the Irwin Academic Center, Memorial Stadium, and the Richard T. Ubben Basketball Complex. While utilizing: the Arboretum, Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), the State Farm Center, H. E. Kenney Gym, Stone Creek Golf Course and the University of Illinois Orange and Blue Golf Courses
In 2008, the University of Illinois unveiled a completed Memorial Stadium renovation project that encompassed two years of work and over $116 million. The renovations to the North Endzone were completed in August of 2007 and the West structure, along with refurbishing of the East Great Hall.
In the fall of 2004, DIA broke ground on a state-of-the-art indoor golf practice facility. During the summer of 2004, Huff Hall, the home for Illinois men's basketball and the famed IHSA "March Madness" state basketball tournament from 1925-63, underwent renovations that remodeled the locker, squad, weight and training rooms. Over $1.5 million in construction has occurred in the building that has served as home for the Fighting Illini gymnastics, volleyball and wrestling teams since 1990.
In 2003, the indoor facility for track and field, the Armory, underwent a $1.2 million renovation to improve the infrastructure of the track and floor.
In 2002, a total refurbishing of the football complex took place in time to host the NFL’s Chicago Bears for the 2002 season. The first floor was reconstructed to expand and upgrade the Illini locker rooms, create permanent meeting room space and a more conducive sports medicine facility. Also added to the stadium in 2002 was a state-of-the-art video scoreboard as well as photo panels that adorn the North end zone.
Completed in 2000 was the construction of the $12.5 million Irwin Indoor Practice Facility, located just east of the football complex and locker room.
The Richard T. Ubben Basketball Complex, opened in the fall of 1998, features practice courts, locker rooms, coaches’ offices and meeting rooms for both men’s and women’s basketball teams. The Ubben Basketball Complex also contains training, equipment and strength and conditioning facilities shared by the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The State Farm Center, utilized for competitions by the men's and women's basketball squads, has undergone more than $11 million in facility upgrades in recent years, including new locker rooms, training rooms, meeting and dining areas, storage and other improvements designed to showcase Illinois Basketball.
In 1998, the Irwin Academic Center opened on campus, providing University of Illinois student-athletes with state-of-the-art computer study areas, conference rooms, career planning and placement and other academic programs all under one roof. The Irwin Center is utilized by over 600 student-athletes on an annual basis.
In 1996, more than 100 members of the DIA staff moved into the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building, located on the east-west axis between the Atkins Tennis Center and the State Farm Center. The facility houses DIA coaches, administration and staff, including the I Fund, the Varsity "I" Association, accounting and personnel, athletic public relations, marketing and compliance.
In 1992, the DIA completed an $18 million renovation project on Memorial Stadium, replacing the main and balcony stands on the east and west sides of the Stadium.
It has been a busy two decades for facility construction at Illinois as the Atkins Tennis Center opened in 1991, featuring six indoor and eight outdoor lighted courts, along with a pro shop and balcony viewing areas. The Atkins Tennis Center has hosted the Big Ten Championships, the NCAA Regionals and numerous professional tournaments and is also a resource for the entire Champaign-Urbana tennis community.
Illinois Field, the home of the Fighting Illini baseball team, and the Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium have also seen construction upgrades, adding lights to both facilities and expanding the track stadium to accommodate Illinois women's soccer matches.
In 2008, the University of Illinois unveiled a completed Memorial Stadium renovation project that encompassed two years of work and over $116 million. The renovations to the North Endzone were completed in August of 2007 and the West structure, along with refurbishing of the East Great Hall. Among the renovation on the west side was the addition of luxury suites, indoor and outdoor club areas and a refurbishment of the concourses.
The Fighting Illini tennis teams welcomed a new addition to the Illinois family in the 2008-09 season. The Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex, made possible by the gracious donation of UI alumnus Shahid Khan and his wife, Ann complements the Atkins Tennis Center and enhances our amenities, placing the Illinois tennis facilities among the best in the country.
