The future of Fighting Illini football looks a bit brighter with Lovie Smith at the helm. And now, Smith will get to enjoy some new digs.
Fighting Illini Athletics has released the renderings of the new Football Performance Center, which will house the teams locker, meeting, and weight rooms.
The specs on the new facility: 107,650 square foot space clocking in at $79.2 million dollars. It will be connected to both Memorial Stadium and the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility, adjacent to the practice fields on the east side.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2018 and should be ready for the 2019 football season.
The DIA also released renderings of a second phase of renovations for Memorial Stadium. Including a renovation of the East Grandstand and a complete rebuilding of the South endzone.
Those renovations will be undertaken after the Football Performance Center is completed, and have a separate cost. There is no timetable for the stadium renovations.
Fans wishing to contribute to the project and find out more can go to the Illinois Renaissance website.
