CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The University of Illinois is installing the largest main video display in college football, partnering with Daktronics to transform the game-day experience at Memorial Stadium ahead of the 2026 season.
The new south end zone videoboard will span more than 17,300 square feet, making it the biggest of its kind in college football. In total, the project includes 16 LED displays throughout the stadium, combining for more than 26,750 square feet of digital display space and approximately 30 million pixels.
Illinois’ new main display will measure about 69 feet high by 250 feet wide and feature high-resolution imagery designed to showcase live video, instant replays, graphics, animations, statistics and sponsorship content. The videoboard would rank as the fifth-largest display in professional football and is comparable in size to the main outfield display at Citi Field in New York.
The installation also includes additional ribbon boards in the north end zone and along both sidelines, field-level displays, eight bleacher-mounted displays, and two large displays on the exterior of the main board facing outside the stadium. The exterior displays are intended to engage fans before and after games with hype videos, scores, promotions and university messaging.
Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman said the investment reflects the program’s commitment to enhancing the fan experience while continuing to build a competitive football program. University officials noted that Memorial Stadium has seen increased attendance and enthusiasm under head coach Bret Bielema.
Daktronics Vice President of Live Events Jay Parker said the project highlights the scale and tradition of college football while creating new opportunities for storytelling and fan engagement in Champaign.
In addition to the physical displays, Daktronics is providing a complete Show Control system, including Camino software, allowing for advanced real-time graphics, data integration and dynamic content production. The university will also receive a custom content package produced by Daktronics Creative Services.
The project places Illinois at the top of the list for video display size in college football, surpassing Auburn, Purdue, Oregon and Michigan. Construction is scheduled for completion before the start of the 2026 college football season.
