Chambana Sun

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The fan experience at Fighting Illini football games will see many upgrades this season as Illinois celebrates Memorial Stadium's 100th Anniversary. Below is a list of 10 enhancements fans can look out for when they enter Memorial Stadium for the season opener against Eastern Illinois in 10 days:

• Air Raid Siren: New for 2024, an Illini celebrity will sound the Illini air raid siren right before kickoff to energize the crowd. Former Illini basketball star and recent NBA Draft Pick Terrence Shannon Jr. is scheduled to be the first Illini celebrity sounder for the home opener against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 29.

• All-Inclusive 77 Club and Suites: Memorial Stadium suite owners and 77 Club ticket holders will experience no additional charges for food and beverages on gameday with a move to an all-inclusive model. Illinois will be one of the first collegiate venues to offer this type of premium amenity.

• ICON On-Field Experience: The ICON Pregame Party, popular in the State Farm Center Beer Cave, is coming to Memorial Stadium this season. ICON members at The Quad level and above ($1,000+) will be invited to field level in the south end zone during pregame warmups.

• I FUND, Season Ticket Holder, and ICON Concessions Discount: Fans who purchased or renewed their football season tickets by April 1 will receive a 10% discount on concessions at all home games during the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary season. I FUND members will receive an additional 5% savings for a total of 15% off at concession stands. ICON members will also receive a 15% discount.

• Illini Hour is Back: The popular Illini Hour returns to Memorial Stadium in 2024. From 90 minutes to 30 minutes before kickoff, hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages (excluding souvenir cups), Carbliss and Nutrl seltzers are priced at $3 each, while 24-ounce domestic beers are $7.

• Local Food Vendors: Popular local spots Smith Burger, Big Grove, and Watsons will have stands throughout Memorial Stadium in 2024.

• Throwback Helmets: The Illinois football team will wear four throwback helmets during the Memorial Stadium's centennial season. Designs include hand-painted leather helmets from the Red Grange era, four-star helmets from Dick Butkus' era, arched Illini helmets from the '70s and '80s, and underlined Illinois helmets worn from 1989-2012.

• 100th Anniversary Museum: A free pop-up museum celebrating Memorial Stadium's history will be installed inside the Great West Hall. It will feature imagery and artifacts from significant moments in stadium history.

• Commemorative Cups: Each game, concession stands will sell commemorative cups specific to the era of that game's helmet design. Fans are encouraged to collect all seven cups available throughout the anniversary season.

• $4 Hot Dogs: Hot dogs at concession stands have been reduced to $4 after being priced at $6 last season.

Further details on these enhancements were announced earlier in August by Illinois Athletics.

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