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.
Landon Stark, Google Maps
Downtown ChampaignVisiting fans pick this
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.
Pete Romano, Google Maps
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.
Map of the area
Tap a pin to see the place.
Getting to Gies Memorial Stadium
From O'Hare
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.
On game day
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.
Parking and tailgating at Gies Memorial Stadium
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.
Game day at Gies Memorial Stadium
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.
Food and drink at Gies Memorial Stadium
Bars near the stadium
Checked at the source
KAMS, Google Maps
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.
EL PARAISO STAR A, Google Maps
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, Google Maps
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.
Ruth Sharp, Google Maps
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.
Things to do around Gies Memorial Stadium
Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.
Outing40 points
Walk the Main Quad from the Illini Union
The Illini Union, dedicated in 1941, marks the north end of the Main Quad. Walk the Quad through the heart of campus the day before the game.
Free. The day before
Photo50 points
Photo with the Alma Mater
Lorado Taft's bronze statue, dedicated in 1929 at Green and Wright Streets, greets visitors with open arms. Climbing up to sit on the throne is a campus tradition.
Free. The day before
Landmark40 points
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Max Abramovitz designed this 1969 arts center, which holds four theaters, a teak lobby floor from Thailand and marble from Carrara. Check for a show on Friday night.
Free. The day before
Eat75 points
Deep dish at Papa Del's
Champaign's thick-crust pizza spot serves the Original Sicilian Pan and the cheddar and mozzarella Super Stuffed pie, about a mile from the stadium.
$$. 19 hours before kickoff
Tailgate100 points
Tailgate in Grange Grove
The main Illini tailgate is on the west side of the stadium and opens at 7 AM. You need to reserve a space before Tuesday of game week, since there are no free walk-up spots.
$$. 4 hours before kickoff
Landmark50 points
The memorial columns
The stadium honors Illinois students who died in World War I, with their names carved on the columns around its facade. Red Grange scored five touchdowns against Michigan at its dedication in 1924.
Free. 1 hour 40 minutes before kickoff
Drink65 points
A drink at Kams
Self-styled Home of the Drinking Illini, it sits on Green Street in Campustown, about 0.8 mile north of the stadium.
$. 3 hours 30 minutes after kickoff
Drink50 points
Pineapple margarita at the Esquire
This downtown Champaign bar has been open since 1975 and is known for its pineapple margarita and a calmer crowd than Green Street.
$. 4 hours after kickoff
Seats and views at Gies Memorial Stadium
Where each part of the stadium sits, and what you see from it.
Main level101 to 137Balcony and Colonnades Club201 to 231West suites600, 700 and 800 level suitesTap any part of the stadium to see its view.
