Leading LED video displays specialist Daktronics has been tasked with designing, manufacturing and installing the largest main video display in college football, totaling 17,300+ square feet.
The project, which includes 16 LED displays that combine for more than 26,750 square feet and 30 million pixels, will be carried out at the behest of Fighting Illini, the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The screen will be installed at Gies Memorial Stadium on campus at the University of Illinois in Champaign and completed ahead of the 2026 college football season.
“We are excited to partner with Daktronics to bring the largest videoboard in college football to Gies Memorial Stadium,” said director of athletics Josh Whitman. “We are thrilled to make this major investment in our historic stadium – one of the sport’s great venues – as we continue our efforts to enhance the experience for our fans, student-athletes, and others, all with an eye toward building a championship program.”
Main video display details
The new south end zone display will measure approximately 69 feet high by 250 feet wide and will feature a 10-millimeter pixel spacing for high-resolution imagery and improved contrast. The size of the display will allow for larger-than-life content, including live video, instant replays, graphics, animations, game statistics and sponsorship messages.
The display features 16 million pixels and would be the fifth-largest display in professional football. It is roughly the same size as the main outfield display at Citi Field in New York and 3.4 times the size of the main display at Soldier Field in Chicago. For reference, it would take 1,621 60-inch televisions to cover the entire display.
“We’re excited to partner with the University of Illinois on this project to bring the largest display in college football to life,” said Daktronics VP of Live Events, Jay Parker. “College football is a tradition that brings people together and creates unforgettable moments. This project reflects the passion and scale of college football, and we’re proud to help make those memories even more impactful in Champaign, Illinois.”
