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In December, Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson sent a message to IU football fans: The “next phase” of renovations to Memorial Stadium is imminent. Dolson asked fans to complete a survey, offering feedback on various options for upgrades.
As long as he’s asking, I’d like to put in my own two cents. I believe IU should consider expanding the stadium’s overall capacity, invest in a general revamp of stadium technology and add the luxury seating options they are already discussing. If IU intends to continue performing at an elite level, it’s time to make sure the facilities match the level of play.
Dolson sent out a similar survey in 2023, which represented the first wave of renovations to modernize the stadium originally built in 1960. In his most recent email, he detailed the enhancements from that round of renovations, including new premium seating and suites on the east side of the field as well as new concessions. The turf of the playing surface was also replaced preceding the 2025-26 season. This latest survey turns its attention to the west side of the stadium.
The new survey included questions about different kinds of seating, such as luxury suites, club seats and boxes. The addition of new types of seating follows a trend in stadium renovation — one that schools including Penn State and Ole Miss have hopped onto in recent years. Even James Madison University, Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti’s former school — a relatively small one, given their stadium has a capacity of a little over 24,000 while IU’s holds over 53,000 and Penn State’s holds over 106,000 — has added suites and premium seats.
The reality is, suites are a huge source of revenue. During the 2024-25 football season, it cost anywhere from $16,000 to $65,000 to land a suite at Auburn University. Ole Miss’s suites will go for $5 million apiece next season. With new NCAA name, image and likeness rules, universities suddenly need to find new sources of income to pay players and incentivize those in the transfer portal to commit.
There is also perceived prestige that comes with purchasing a suite. Suites are exclusive, private and provide amenities that make the fans who purchase them feel especially catered to. Increasingly expensive suites can put stadiums on the map and lure in wealthier fans.
Memorial Stadium already has some premium seating options. But IU is looking to add more. This is a smart move. Teams in the modern age of college football need money. Premium seating options are a good source of it. In the long run, this benefits the team more than it hurts the fan experience. It is also worth it to keep up with the other elite level teams that are adding these kinds of seating options to their own stadiums.
And while luxury seating is a good start, it is also important to look at other changes, ones that would affect the daily experience of all fans attending the games.
In August 2025, IU announced a new partnership with Merchants Bank that included a “$50 million commitment over 20 years.” This partnership means IU now has the funds to complete even more renovations to Memorial Stadium to improve the fan experience.
So, what makes a good college football stadium?
The key is “atmosphere,” according to many ranking lists.
At The Athletic, most of the stadiums ranked in the top 10 by staff boast huge capacities and are known for their electric crowds. Louisiana State University, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State hold some of the top-ranked stadiums, and all have capacities over 80,000. At 53,000 seats, Memorial Stadium just doesn’t stack up.
That’s not for a lack of fans. IU’s student section sold out in 2025, and general ticket sales grew by 50%. It’s evident from the amount of people who showed up for the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and National Championship game that the excitement about football exists for IU fans.
We just need somewhere to put those fans. With more game attendees, we can continue to grow our new reputation: one of prestige and of huge, energetic crowds. That buzzing energy is what makes football fun to watch in person.
While we’re talking about adding more seats, let’s also talk about accommodating all those people more easily. Penn State, in that massive renovation project that included new suites, added 4,000 square feet of space, which allowed for the construction of additional escalators and entry points, as well as expanded concourses. Illinois invested in a new wireless internet system for the 2025-26 season, and plans to improve the videoboards, sound system and LED lights for next fall.
These are upgrades that don’t seem as flashy as brand-new luxury suites but have an enormous impact on the experience of watching games. Clear views of replays on the videoboard and sound that reaches every part of the stadium are both expected nowadays. It’s true that fans might not be conscious of all the perks of a more modern stadium experience. However, they certainly notice when outdated stadium technology interferes with their ability to enjoy a game.
Cignetti said before the historic 2025-26 season that “down the road, that stadium's got to look a lot different than it looks right now.” Cignetti said he plans on “strengthening the brand” of IU football, which includes a modern stadium. He went on to say that IU’s off-field resources have to match the top-tier competitors the Hoosiers will face from now on.
Using other elite football programs as models is key. Now that IU has the success on the field, we must have the stadium to match. Our players and fans deserve nothing less.
Sasha Burton is a sophomore studying elementary education with minors in Spanish and English.
