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Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Performance Center
The Standard of Excellence
The Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center opened in August 2019. The world-class 107,650 square foot, $79.2 million facility is the home for the Fighting Illini football program, including expanded strength and conditioning and sports medicine space, coaches' offices, position meeting rooms, player development areas, locker rooms, and other areas for recruiting and prospect hosting.
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What's Inside?
- State-of-the-art 11,000 square foot sports medicine suite to rival any in the nation
- Levenick Auditorium with dramatic views of the practice fields, Memorial Stadium, and State Farm Center
- Nutrition center and additional fueling stations throughout the facility
- Grand lobby showcasing Illinois football history
- Strength and conditioning complex totaling 15,000 square feet
- Majestic head coach's suite, featuring a two-sided fireplace, sitting area, and private balcony
- Position meeting rooms, staff meeting spaces, and coaches' offices
- Outdoor sitting area and balcony overlooking practice fields
- Recruiting lounge
- Expansive team locker room totaling 10,000 square feet
- Players' lounge, complete with bowling alley, game room, and barber shop
- Rooftop terrace featuring outdoor kitchen and recreational activities, including miniature golf
- NFL alumni locker room
The H.D. Smith Foundation, led by Dale and Chris Smith, donated $20 million to the University of Illinois Foundation, with $15 million dedicated to the performance center. In recognition of the gift, the building will forever be named the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center.
Driving the project's need was to update Illinois' outdated football facilities. Today's program bears little resemblance to that which existed 30 years ago, when the previous football operations complex was constructed. The new, world-class Smith Football Center demonstrates an institutional commitment to building, supporting, and sustaining a winning football program.
