Thursday Night Football Parking Advisory
September 1, 2026 | Football
News
With the Illinois football team set to host UAB on Thursday night at Gies Memorial Stadium, several updates to parking and tailgating are noted below. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. CT. For information on Gies Memorial Stadium, please visit the Gameday Guide.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING
Patrons looking for accessible parking starting at 7 a.m. CT may park in the ADA parking spaces located in the four quadrants of State Farm Center. The fee for all ADA parking is $30, unless a patron has an I FUND parking pass. An accessible license plate or accessible placard is required to park in these spaces.
GAME DAY PURCHASE
Patrons looking for single-game parking will have an option starting at 7 a.m. CT on Thursday. The large grass lot located in Research Park off of Oak Street will be available for single-game parking starting at 7 a.m. CT. Starting at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 3, the paved lots in Research Park and Veterinary Medicine will be available for single-game parking. Parking fees for these lots are $30 per automobile.
CASHLESS PARKING
All game day parking operations are now cashless and passes can be purchased with a debit or credit card. Digital tickets and parking passes can easily be accessed using the new and improved Fighting Illini mobile app. For more information on the Fighting Illini app, click here.
GRANGE GROVE
Vehicles are not allowed inside Grange Grove. Grange Grove will open from 5-7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for fans to set up any tailgate items. Grange Grove will open at 7 a.m. CT on game day and will remain open until one hour after the conclusion of the game. Reservations are required and can be requested at https://revelxp.com/illinois.
MOTOR HOME PARKING
Lot 33 will be available for motor home parking starting at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Beginning at 7 a.m. CT on game day, RVs will be required to pay the $150 to stay in the lot or relocate to their respective game day pass lot.
PASS LOTS
Game day pass holders in Lots 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 42, 45, 46 and 47 will be able to park in their respective lots starting at 7 a.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Game day pass holders in Lots 37 (ARC), 43 (Parking Structure) and Lot 49 (FAR) will not be able to park in their respective lots until 4 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 3 due to University of Illinois employee parking. If fans would like to arrive earlier than 4 p.m. CT to begin tailgating, passes will be accepted in any game day purchase lot open that day.
NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS
The University of Illinois Division of Public Safety and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) implemented a lot-specific traffic-routing system for the 2026 Illinois football season.
The new routes are designed to ease traffic as much as possible, but fans are encouraged to arrive earlier than usual and review their designated game day parking route on the Illinois Football 2026 Parking Updates website in advance. The routes begin 3 1/2 hours before kickoff of all Fighting Illini home football games.
STREET CLOSURES
To accommodate normal work week traffic, street closure times will vary for the Illinois vs. UAB football game:
» Kirby Avenue will remain closed between First Street and Fourth Street. The street will be reopened after the game on Thursday night.
» First Street between Kirby Avenue and Irwin Drive will close starting at 2 p.m. CT.
» Peabody Drive between First Street and Fourth Street will close starting at 2 p.m. CT.
» Fourth Street will be closed between Kirby Avenue and Peabody Drive starting at 2 p.m. CT
» Kirby Avenue will be closed between Neil Street and Goodwin Avenue starting 4 p.m. CT.
» St. Mary's Road will be closed between Neil Street and Fourth Street starting at 4 p.m. CT.
» Pennsylvania Avenue between Fourth Street and Sixth Street will close starting at 4 p.m. CT (access to the Lot 15 parking structure will be maintained).
