Illinois to install record-setting video display at football stadium
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CHAMPAIGN — Illinois will be No. 1 in at least one college football category in 2026.
The school plans to install a 17,315 square-foot video display in Gies Memorial Stadium in time for the 2026 football season, according to a release Tuesday from Daktronics, which will design and manufacture the display.
Illinois says it will be the largest main video display in a stadium used primarily for college football — 60 percent larger than the second-biggest at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Illinois project includes 16 LED displays that combine for more than 26,750 square feet and 30 million pixels, says Daktronics.
Daktronics says the Memorial Stadium board would be fifth-largest in professional football and among the 30 largest video displays in the world. The display is the equivalent of 1,621 60-inch televisions.
The school did not reveal the cost of the display, which will be built in the south end zone and will measure about 69 feet high by 250 feet wide. Earlier this year, alumnus Larry Gies made a $100 million donation to Illinois athletics, and the school renamed the stadium in his honor.
Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman said at the time a portion of Gies’ gift would be used for a video board.
“We will use it to support the football program with a focus on this stadium,” Whitman said. “… some of the things that we’ve talked about: the new video board package, which includes not just the premier board in the south, but I think another 17 or 18 boards spread out throughout the stadium, a new sound system, new lights.
“Beyond that we’ve engaged an architecture firm that will help us evaluate different optionality here within the stadium, consider what is the best use of Larry’s resources. How do we benefit not only this building, but ultimately our fans and our program?”
Largest video displays in college football
Here are the top 10 main video displays in 2026 in square feet, according to Daktronics.
- Illinois 17,315
- Auburn 10,690
- Purdue 8,461
- Oregon 8,208
- Michigan 8,165
- Wisconsin 7,941
- Utah 7,808
- Oklahoma 7,803
- Mississippi State 7,777
- Texas A&M 7,635
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois football to install record size video display at Gies Memorial Stadium
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