Adopted from:
Rebecca Bigelow
F&S Dispatch, 2021
When the Marching Illini step off for their new tunnel entrance at the start of pregame, Illinois football fans feel the excitement build in Memorial Stadium. The sights and sounds of the band, the cheerleaders, the team, even the fans themselves, all play an integral role in the enjoyment of a football game. But the unsung heroes of the day are those working behind the scenes—the ones who make sure everything runs smoothly.
F&S is an MVP of game day operations – none more important than the 2024 game versus Michigan, a 100-year rededication celebration of Memorial Stadium.
By the time the sun rises on a football Saturday, some of the work is already done. Dan Hiser, automotive subforeperson, explains that a “transportation driver and laborer service all the surrounding sewer lines in preparation for high volume, [and] two transportation drivers service all of the waste containers in and around stadium lots prior to game day.”
Meanwhile, construction laborers also contribute by providing barricades and signs as needed. In addition to making sure the crowds are corralled and have unfettered access to restroom facilities, F&S also makes sure that they can stay cool. Refrigeration Mechanics Foreperson Casey Pellum says his shop works throughout the week of the game “to check coolers and ice machines to make sure they are in good working order.” This is all completed before the Grange Grove tailgating even really gets rolling.
The work continues into game day. Sports fans using elevators at Memorial Stadium needn’t worry about being stuck. Vince Schaub, elevator mechanics foreperson, notes “we have a person there at the stadium four hours before the game and an hour after.” Being onsite means in the rare instance that an elevator breaks down, someone is right there to fix it.
Plumber Josh Hale works all the football home games. He arrives a couple of hours before the game and stays about the same length after the game ends, ready to fix any leaks or problems that crop up. Plumbers may have additional work as well. For example, they work with the water station staff to dye the Hallene Gateway fountain orange for Homecoming week—a tradition that began in 2017 to welcome Illini alums at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center.
For game days, electricians and high voltage electricians provide temporary power to tailgate events, and in the case of Homecoming, they also supply sound support for departmental events. Also on standby during football games are a transportation driver and laborer. If the crowds’ bathroom use causes a sewer line to back up, they run the line to open it again. Transportation is on call with the operating engineers as well to “tail-gate rock as needed” in all the lots around the stadium in the event of rain, Hiser said. In this process, the truck bed is elevated and the rear gate is chained to allow a small opening. The driver moves forward, spreading an even rock layer; the rock helps cars find traction on soggy lanes.
Whether the Illini win or lose, F&S still has more work to do after the game. Four transportation drivers, in conjunction with stadium staff, remove trash inside the stadium, outside the stadium, and in all the tailgate lots. Grounds staff also run a Sunday garbage collection route after game days. And lest you think all that trash goes to the landfill, F&S is greener than that: the Waste Transfer Station reopens on Sunday, with help from the Developmental Services Center, to sort all the valuable recycling from the trash.
The work may not end there, however. If there’s a home game the following weekend, F&S staff just rinse and repeat. While fans are singing “Hail to the Orange, Hail to the Blue” in the stadium, most are likely oblivious to the amount of work that goes on before, during, and after to make their game day experience uneventful off the field. But those in the know can be certain that F&S has racked up another victory with their contributions to game day operations.
Go Illini, go!
Summer Construction 2024
FIRST FLOOR EAST JOINT EXPANSION REPLACEMENT AND EAST RAMP PAINTING
This project included the prep and painting of exposed structural steel on the east side of Memorial Stadium, including all steel associated with interior ramps between grandstand and the east main concourse and all exposed steel under the upper east balcony.
In addition, this project removed the existing expansion joints in the precast concrete stands of the east side grandstand and balcony and installed new expansion joint material. This process required temporary removal and reinstallation of the metal bench seating to facilitate access to the expansion joints.
SOUTH RESTROOM AND CONCOURSE RENOVATIONS
Facility improvements at Memorial Stadium renovated restrooms, including partitions, fixtures, selected plumbing, finishes, and other related upgrades, on the south side of the facility. The project included renovating the concourse areas on the south side of the stadium, including lighting, painting, graphics, and other related improvements. Horseshoe renovations feature updated restrooms and provide the game day patrons a modernized and improved experience in the south concourse.
HVAC REPLACEMENT AT FICE AND NE TOWER ROOF REPLACEMENT
The HVAC system on the northeast side of Memorial Stadium was replaced to improve climate control and energy management in associated spaces. The roof in the area above occupied academic and office space on the second floor of Fighting Illini Center for Excellence (FICE) was also be removed and replaced with a new system. The existing copings, flashings, and insulation were removed and replaced. A new lightning protection system was installed as a part of this work.
EXTERIOR STONE AND MASONRY CLEANING
This project cleaned Memorial Stadium’s stone to restore it to its original color. The work helped restore the outside of the facility ahead of the 100-year anniversary celebration.
WEST PARAPET REPLACEMENT
This project removed and replaced the existing west brick and stone parapet wall on the sixth floor of Memorial Stadium. The work included the salvaging and cleaning of the existing stone and the installation of matching brick with appropriate through wall flashings and control joints.
UPPER EAST RESTROOM PARTITIONS AND FLOOR
The east balcony restrooms at Memorial Stadium were enhanced with new partitions, plumbing fixtures, and epoxy flooring.
For the Fans!
A couple of pipefitters and plumbing projects improved Memorial Stadium in 2023.
On the east side: the upper stands received new plumbing lines, new restroom sinks and stalls, and improved hot water systems. A couple of bright orange water stations dot the east, too, perfect for refillable containers.
Plumbers foreperson Matt Faulkner detailed the changes:
“A lot of the fixtures were mismatched from installations made through the years – we used what we could over the years. This time though, we were able to replace all of the toilets, flushometers, lavatories and faucets throughout the lower east side.”
“There will be water usage savings,” Faulkner said. “Some of the older toilets were 3.5 gallons per flush, but we reduced all of the toilets to 1.28 gallons per flush. We installed water heaters for each of the restrooms on the lower east side. The new Chicago faucets are metered, which means they shut off after a certain amount of time, usually less than a minute. This will help with maintenance also, less inventory to carry, more efficient repairs.”
When you’re at a game and you think you should leave (2023), you’ll find:
74 New Toilets
74 New Toilet Flush Valves
74 New Toilet Seats
56 New Urinals
56 New Urinal Flush Valves
20 New Lavatories
20 New Chicago Metered Faucets
20 Point of Use Mixing Valves
8 New 30-Gallon Water Heaters
2 New Drinking Fountain Water Stations