Illinois Renames Football Stadium Gies Memorial After $100M Gift

The University of Illinois announced that its historic Memorial Stadium will be renamed Gies Memorial Stadium following a record $100 million donation from alumnus Larry Gies, the largest gift ever to the school's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Gies, founder and CEO of Madison Industries, dedicated the donation to honor his late father, Larry Gies Sr., a U.S. Army veteran, aiming to preserve the legacy of military service and sacrifice. The gift underscores the university's growing momentum in athletics, with the football team reaching a No. 9 national ranking and winning the Citrus Bowl in 2024, while both men's and women's basketball programs have achieved notable successes. Athletic Director Josh Whitman and coaches Bret Bielema and Brad Underwood praised Gies’s generosity and its positive impact on the athletics program and broader university community. The renaming awaits final approval from the university's Board of Trustees, reflecting a significant moment in the institution's commitment to honoring veterans and advancing its athletic prominence. This donation complements Gies’s prior $150 million gift to the university's College of Business, reinforcing his longstanding support for Illinois.