The Claim That “Memorial Stadium Remains Central” Is Not True
150 Comments
M
mary hay
22 days ago
Memorial Stadium was so named in honor of soldiers from WW I in 1924
and not for some living millionaire who likes his name on everything like the Trumpet
M
Michelle Arnold
1 month ago
Memorial Stadium was built to memorialize our fallen soldiers, not some narcissist named Gies. If he donated money, he should get a snack stand or something named after him, not the whole building. Memorial Stadium should not be named after any particular person or family. The Gies name is already on the College of Business. Why do they need the stadium too? If they thought this would inspire admiration for the Gies family, they couldn't be more wrong.
C
Cheryl Fletcher
1 month ago
Memorial Stadium is just that. Not something that can be sold.
S
SCOTTY Dossett
1 month ago
No sell out of veterans
R
Richard Grodsky
1 month ago
Another diminishment of a tradition and monument dedicated to our local, State and National memory.
R
Rodney Bennett
1 month ago
I strongly advocate for maintaining the original name of Memorial Stadium, rather than succumbing to the renaming trends seen during the Biden administration. A historical landmark of this magnitude should never be rebranded for commercial convenience, or one family's interest regardless of the financial incentives involved.
R
Ron McCutchan
2 months ago
While Larry Gies's generosity as an alumnus is admirable, the name change obscures the original intention to remember honor those alumns who were not as fortunate.
J
JON MCCUTCHAN
2 months ago
Some things you just don't do, and this is one of them. Dedicated as a memorial to Universtiy students who perished in WW1, the stadium should not be bought and renamed, the University should know better, and should have told Gies it was not for sale.
E
Elizabeth Davis
2 months ago
Because the stadium was not built to honor Geis, but rather to honor our brave men in the military.
S
Supporter
2 months ago
So tired of this buying and slapping their name on everything by millionaires and/or corporations. Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium should never have been renamed with this affront to public education.
L
Larry Ebersol
2 months ago
Honor the spirit of the original intent of the memorial
A
Ashu Ratnakar
3 months ago
Name belongs to the veterans who died fighting in World War I
K
Keith Stone
3 months ago
Memorial Stadium is to honor our vets NOT some millionaires EGO
K
Karen Dymit
3 months ago
The University can put up a plaque visible to those entering Memorial Stadium for his generous contribution for the stadium but his name should not in any way overshadow the names of the war dead we honor since the stadium was originally built. Their sacrifice was far greater than his donation could ever be. The University can and should fix this.
A
Alan Schramm
3 months ago
Illini '66 I'm a Vietnam USMC aviator veteran with 29 men I served with posted on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. Three of those were Illini. Steve Broquist, David Skibbe and Bruce Capel, their names and sacrifices engraved at Memorial Stadium. Bruce played for the Illini in their 1964 Rose Bowl win. War memorials commemorate the sacrifices made by warriors in service to their country and serve to educate future generations about the cost of war and the value of peace. Tango sends.
K
Kyle Smith
3 months ago
This incredible historied stadium is a Memorial to Alumni that gave their lives in WW1, not a memorial to Gies
A
Anonymous
5 months ago
I am ashamed of how the Admin of the Athletic Association was so disrespectful to the Veterans of WWI who sacrificed for us. Shame. Find some other way to recognize the Geis' money to AA.
Money talks...everyone and everything else walks.
G
Glenn Long
5 months ago
As an alum and Vietnam era veteran, I’m appalled that a memorial can be bought. Don’t really know which is worse, the greed of the University powers to accept the money, or the huge ego of Geiss. The woke already did away with our other proud tradition, Chief Illiniwek. What’s next, University of Geiss!
C
Connie Stewart Jagels
5 months ago
I am UIUC alum MSW 2000. Lifeling Illini fan. Attended games here for years. I know commercial donations fund things, but changing the name detracts from its tribute to those fallen Illini. Gies Memorial Stadium should revert to its original name Memorisl Stadium
E
Erik Henriksen
6 months ago
Shame on the Gies family for requesting this name change and more shame on the U of I for changing the name. Give the money back and restore the proper name. I grew up three blocks away and hold a MS in Journalism 1998. I am also an Avery Brundage Scholar.
Erik Henriksen-Mahomet.
Memorial Stadium was so named in honor of soldiers from WW I in 1924 and not for some living millionaire who likes his name on everything like the Trumpet
Memorial Stadium was built to memorialize our fallen soldiers, not some narcissist named Gies. If he donated money, he should get a snack stand or something named after him, not the whole building. Memorial Stadium should not be named after any particular person or family. The Gies name is already on the College of Business. Why do they need the stadium too? If they thought this would inspire admiration for the Gies family, they couldn't be more wrong.
Memorial Stadium is just that. Not something that can be sold.
No sell out of veterans
Another diminishment of a tradition and monument dedicated to our local, State and National memory.
I strongly advocate for maintaining the original name of Memorial Stadium, rather than succumbing to the renaming trends seen during the Biden administration. A historical landmark of this magnitude should never be rebranded for commercial convenience, or one family's interest regardless of the financial incentives involved.
While Larry Gies's generosity as an alumnus is admirable, the name change obscures the original intention to remember honor those alumns who were not as fortunate.
Some things you just don't do, and this is one of them. Dedicated as a memorial to Universtiy students who perished in WW1, the stadium should not be bought and renamed, the University should know better, and should have told Gies it was not for sale.
Because the stadium was not built to honor Geis, but rather to honor our brave men in the military.
So tired of this buying and slapping their name on everything by millionaires and/or corporations. Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium should never have been renamed with this affront to public education.
Honor the spirit of the original intent of the memorial
Name belongs to the veterans who died fighting in World War I
Memorial Stadium is to honor our vets NOT some millionaires EGO
The University can put up a plaque visible to those entering Memorial Stadium for his generous contribution for the stadium but his name should not in any way overshadow the names of the war dead we honor since the stadium was originally built. Their sacrifice was far greater than his donation could ever be. The University can and should fix this.
Illini '66 I'm a Vietnam USMC aviator veteran with 29 men I served with posted on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. Three of those were Illini. Steve Broquist, David Skibbe and Bruce Capel, their names and sacrifices engraved at Memorial Stadium. Bruce played for the Illini in their 1964 Rose Bowl win. War memorials commemorate the sacrifices made by warriors in service to their country and serve to educate future generations about the cost of war and the value of peace. Tango sends.
This incredible historied stadium is a Memorial to Alumni that gave their lives in WW1, not a memorial to Gies
I am ashamed of how the Admin of the Athletic Association was so disrespectful to the Veterans of WWI who sacrificed for us. Shame. Find some other way to recognize the Geis' money to AA. Money talks...everyone and everything else walks.
As an alum and Vietnam era veteran, I’m appalled that a memorial can be bought. Don’t really know which is worse, the greed of the University powers to accept the money, or the huge ego of Geiss. The woke already did away with our other proud tradition, Chief Illiniwek. What’s next, University of Geiss!
I am UIUC alum MSW 2000. Lifeling Illini fan. Attended games here for years. I know commercial donations fund things, but changing the name detracts from its tribute to those fallen Illini. Gies Memorial Stadium should revert to its original name Memorisl Stadium
Shame on the Gies family for requesting this name change and more shame on the U of I for changing the name. Give the money back and restore the proper name. I grew up three blocks away and hold a MS in Journalism 1998. I am also an Avery Brundage Scholar. Erik Henriksen-Mahomet.