SportsQuest
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Week 10, Fri, Nov 6, 7:00 PM local on FOX

Nebraska Cornhuskersat Illinois Fighting Illini

Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign. Fly into ORD.

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What we know about Gies Memorial Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide
  • Campustown. 15 to 20 min. Walk south about three quarters of a mile. Closest place to stay, with the student bars and cheap food of Green Street on the doorstep.
  • Downtown Champaign. 25 min. Walk about 1.2 miles, or ride the MTD game-day Tran-Sport route. Older bars and restaurants such as the Esquire Lounge, and the Illinois Terminal for Amtrak and Peoria Charter buses.
  • Main Quad and Urbana side of campus. 20 to 25 min. Walk about a mile southwest. Quieter, by the Alma Mater statue and Krannert Center. The Illini Union, at the north end of the Quad, has a hotel inside.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Campustown, the bar and food strip on Green Street, sits about three quarters of a mile north of the stadium. Kams and The Red Lion are both on East Green Street.

Getting in from the airport

From a specialist guide
CMI Willard Airport sits about five miles south of downtown Champaign, with American Eagle flights to Chicago O'Hare and Dallas Fort Worth. For more flights, use Chicago O'Hare, about 135 miles north.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
MTD Tran-Sport game-day route to Gies Memorial Stadium. Athletics lot shuttles. Stadium; pickup points are the white squares on the game-day parking map. Peoria Charter bus from O'Hare. Armory stop, 505 E. Armory Ave., or the Illinois Terminal downtown. Amtrak Illini or Saluki to Illinois Terminal, downtown Champaign.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Grange Grove, on the west side of the stadium, is the main tailgate. There are no free walk-up spots: reserve a bring-your-own space, a full-service tent or a group tent through RevelXP before Tuesday of game week. It is open 7 AM to 10 PM on game day, with setup from 5 to 7 PM the night before. Tents up to 10 by 10 feet only, no vehicles, no open fires and no smoking. Lots open at 7 AM. One parking pass equals one space: tailgate right in front of or behind your car, and keep the driving aisles clear. No saving spaces with cones, ropes or flags. Fires and hot coals must stay in a grill, attended, at least 25 feet from people, tents and buildings. Keep a fire extinguisher at any tailgate with a live grill, and take used charcoal home. Ground fires are banned. RVs and motorhomes park in Lot 33 for $150 on game day. It opens at 6 PM the night before for overnight stays; Lot 33 is the only overnight option. Lot 44 is set aside for large group tailgates, by reservation only. Groups of 50 or more buy tickets first; tent size goes up with the number of tickets. RevelXP sells turnkey tailgates in Grange Grove, from 10 people with one 10 by 10 tent, a table, chairs and an iced cooler, up to 40-person packages with catering add-ons.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: One clear bag per person: a clear tote up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a clear drawstring bag up to 12 x 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear storage bag, plus a small clutch up to 4.5 x 7 inches. All backpacks are banned. Diaper bags (with a child) and medical bags are allowed after inspection.
  • Cashless: Every concession stand is cashless. Alcohol sales stop at the start of the fourth quarter.
  • Re-entry and items: No re-entry once your ticket is scanned. No umbrellas, strollers, flags, signs, noisemakers or coolers. Sealed water bottles up to 20 ounces and empty bottles are fine, and there is no storage at the gates.
  • Game-day cash lots: Lots shown in orange on the parking map sell spaces on game day for $30. Teal lots sell spaces in advance for $30. Navy lots are pass only. Cars with trailers park in Lots 47 and 49 for $50.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
The Fourth Street gate is exit only after the game. Illinois posts a postgame traffic flow map on its gameday page. If you parked in Lots 46, 47, 49, Vet Med or Research Park, the athletics shuttles run back to those lots after the game.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't bring a backpack: all backpacks are banned regardless of size, and there is no storage at the gates. Don't drive in without checking your lot's assigned route; from 2026 every lot has one, starting about 3.5 hours before kickoff.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • Kams

    102 E Green Street, Champaign, IL 61820

    Kams calls itself the Home of the Drinking Illini. It sits on East Green Street in the middle of Campustown.

    Away fans: student crowd in orange and blue; go early and expect a line.

  • The Red Lion

    211 East Green Street, Champaign, IL 61820

    Big college bar on East Green Street, a short walk from the stadium.

    Away fans: student bar; busy on game nights.

  • Joe's Brewery

    706 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820

    College bar with drink specials, live music and themed nights. It opened at 10:30 AM for the Illinois and Ohio State game.

    Away fans: students; it opens early on big Illini game days.

  • Esquire Lounge

    106 N Walnut St, Champaign, IL 61820

    Downtown Champaign bar serving since 1975, known for its pineapple margarita, with TVs, live music and simple bar food.

    Away fans: mixed, older crowd; easier for visiting fans than the student bars.

Sidequests in Champaign

In the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Outing40 points

    Walk the Main Quad from the Illini Union

    The Illini Union opened in 1941 at the Quad's north end. Walk the Quad the day before kickoff.

    Free. The day before

  2. Photo50 points

    Photo with the Alma Mater

    Lorado Taft's bronze opens her arms at Green and Wright, since 1929. Climb up and sit on the throne, it's tradition.

    Free. The day before

  3. Landmark40 points

    Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

    Max Abramovitz built this arts center in 1969, four theaters deep. The lobby floor is teak from Thailand, the stone Carrara marble. Catch a show Friday night.

    Free. The day before

  4. Eat75 points

    Deep dish at Papa Del's

    Thick-crust pizza about a mile from the stadium. Try the Original Sicilian Pan or the cheddar-mozzarella Super Stuffed.

    $$. 19 hours before kickoff

  5. Tailgate100 points

    Tailgate in Grange Grove

    Park west of the stadium, gates open at 7 AM. Book your spot by Tuesday of game week, no walk-ups.

    $$. 4 hours before kickoff

  6. Landmark50 points

    The memorial columns

    Names of Illinois students killed in World War I line the columns. Red Grange scored five touchdowns here at the 1924 dedication.

    Free. 1 hour 40 minutes before kickoff

  7. Drink65 points

    A drink at Kams

    Self-styled Home of the Drinking Illini, on Green Street. About 0.8 mile north of the stadium.

    $. 3 hours 30 minutes after kickoff

  8. Drink50 points

    Pineapple margarita at the Esquire

    Downtown Champaign bar since 1975. Order the pineapple margarita, crowd's calmer than Green Street.

    $. 4 hours after kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of Gies Memorial Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

Main level, end zoneMain level, corner, home sideMain level, home sidelineMain level, corner, home sideMain level, end zoneMain level, corner, visitor sideMain level, visitor sidelineMain level, corner, visitor sideBalcony and Colonnades Club, end zoneBalcony and Colonnades Club, corner, home sideBalcony and Colonnades Club, home sidelineBalcony and Colonnades Club, corner, home sideBalcony and Colonnades Club, end zoneBalcony and Colonnades Club, corner, visitor sideBalcony and Colonnades Club, visitor sidelineBalcony and Colonnades Club, corner, visitor sideWest suites, end zoneWest suites, corner, home sideWest suites, home sidelineWest suites, corner, home sideWest suites, end zoneWest suites, corner, visitor sideWest suites, visitor sidelineWest suites, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
Main level101 to 137Balcony and Colonnades Club201 to 231, plus Colonnades Club 301 to 314West suites600, 700 and 800 level suites, plus the 77 Club 611 to 616Tap any part of the stadium to see its view.