Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Illinois Moves Forward with College Sports’ Largest Digital Scoreboard

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/15/26

Key Takeaways

  • The University of Illinois is upgrading Gies Memorial Stadium with the largest digital scoreboard in college sports, featuring a 69-by-250-foot LED display set to debut before the 2026 football season.
  • The new Daktronics-built scoreboard will deliver nearly double the resolution of the existing display and be supported by comprehensive audio, broadcast, and infrastructure upgrades led by Anthony James Partners.
  • PAdditional stadium enhancements include 16 more LED displays throughout the venue, reinforcing a broader push to modernize the fan experience with next-generation visual and audio technology.

The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., recently announced a series of upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium that will include the largest scoreboard in college sports, according to a news release. The university is collaborating with Anthony James Partners (AJP) for the project, which will include planning design, support, and construction services. The project also entails stadium audio and broadcast system upgrades.

The new scoreboard will measure 69 feet high by 250 feet wide, measuring in at more than 17,300 square feet of LED surface. Its 10mm pixel pitch and 16.1-million total pixels create a 195% increase in resolution from the existing technology. Completion is scheduled before the beginning of the 2026 college football season. According to the news release, it will replace the stadium’s existing South End Zone display.

“This project exemplifies AJP’s commitment to combining innovative design with next-generation audio technology,” said Jack Covert, Anthony James Partners’ Vice President of Audio Engineering. “Gies Memorial Stadium’s new system will deliver the clarity, power, and excitement today’s fans expect from a premier college football venue.”

Stadium-wide improvements also include 16 additional LED displays totaling more than 26,700 square feet scattered across the stadium. Alongside the upgraded technology, the stadium will undergo structural and infrastructure coordination to accommodate the main scoreboard’s size.

The university chose Daktronics to provide the LED display after a “competitive procurement process,” the news release reports.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Construction Begins on New University Research Vessel

    Boat-building company All American Marine recently announced that it has begun construction on a new catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) in Port Aransas, Texas, according to a news release.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • Lawrence Group Announces Three New Hires

    Integrated planning and design firm Lawrence Group, based in St. Louis, Mo., recently welcomed three new staff members, according to a news release.