Cities and towns across Illinois swell with college pride and team spirit. Illinois has two Big Ten universities and several others that have made their mark on their communities. Here are five college towns where planners can host their next meeting or event.

Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana is the consummate Big Ten college town with youthful energy and an amazing culinary scene. When school is in session at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the population of both cities jumps by about 61,000 people.

Situated in the middle of cornfields, Champaign-Urbana is known for its nature trails and agricultural experiences. It has 4,500 hotel rooms and over 240,000 square feet of meeting space. For fun, groups can explore the free museums on campus, attend a college sporting event or explore the downtown areas in both cities.

Meeting groups can host events in the Illini Union or at the 125-room I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center, just south of campus, which offers over 70,000 square feet of event space.

A Holiday Inn next to Memorial Stadium and the State Farm Center is within walking distance of the university. It has 187 rooms and 11,000 square feet of event space. The Hilton Garden Inn has 197 rooms and 18,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Colonnades Club at Memorial Stadium is a luxury suite that spans the third floor of the stadium’s west side. It can be used for private banquets.

experiencecu.org

DeKalb

Groups hosting events in DeKalb are welcomed to the city with Northern Illinois University Huskie pride, and the school’s red and black colors and mascot’s paw prints are displayed prominently.

“We pride ourselves on our ‘communiversity,’” said Katherine McLaughlin, executive director for Experience DeKalb County. “We are proud of the Huskies.”

The university has several spots where groups can host events, including the Holmes Student Center, which features a ballroom that can seat 768 as well as smaller spaces for breakout sessions. There is a 90-room hotel, and the Huskie Den in the basement can host groups of 300. It offers bowling, pool, gaming and a stage for karaoke.

The Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center has several event spaces that can accommodate groups of up to 300. The NIU Convocation Center is a multipurpose arena that has 10,000 seats and can host large receptions or events on the basketball court. Groups meeting in DeKalb can incorporate school spirit by attending university sporting events or by organizing a volunteer project in the area.

Off-site venues include Fatty’s Pub & Grill, which has a large event space; the Ellwood House Museum, which offers several event venues for up to 80 guests; the historic Egyptian Theatre; the DeKalb County Farm Bureau; and Roberts Family Farm in Sandwich. DeKalb County has 775 hotel rooms.

dekalbcountycvb.com

Bloomington-Normal

Strategically located two hours from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis, Bloomington-Normal is home to Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University. It also sits along Route 66, which attracts road-trippers from around the world.

The ISU campus sits directly next to uptown Normal’s vibrant business district, where visitors will find many restaurants, shops and the Normal Theater. Meeting groups can host events at the Bone Student Center, which has a ballroom that can seat 1,000 and plenty of breakout rooms. Hancock Stadium features a reception location that overlooks the ISU campus and football field. The Alumni Center has multiple meeting rooms that can host smaller groups.

The Center for the Performing Arts on campus can accommodate groups of 700 in the auditorium. The Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center is the largest hotel in the city with 228 guest rooms. It has 14 meeting rooms and 23,000 square feet of event space. The 114-room Hyatt Place Bloomington/Normal across the street serves as overflow lodging.

ISU is also home to a collegiate circus that dates to the 1800s and serves as a pipeline to Disney and Cirque du Soleil. Meeting groups can incorporate a circus performance into their events.

visitbn.org

Evanston

The home of Northwestern University, Evanston has seen some major changes in the past couple of years, both on campus and in the city. The university opened Ryan Field, its brand-new $875 million football stadium, in October. The facility offers plenty of space for non-athletic events, including eight private, in-bowl hospitality spaces for 25 to 250 people, private clubs, terraces, press-level party decks and tailgating tents. The football stadium is adjacent to Welsh-Ryan Arena, which hosts Northwestern’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams and also has space for meetings or events.

The Harley Clark Mansion is undergoing a renovation that will be completed in 2027 or early 2028. The mansion sits on Lake Michigan and will be able to host events. The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in nearby Skokie is completing a major renovation and will reopen in November. The renovation will add new meeting and event spaces.

Chicago Botanic Garden is a beautiful spot for events, and Puttshack Skokie serves as a fun off-site location for team-building activities. It offers an interactive, tech-infused miniature golf experience with craft cocktails and shareable bites.

Graduate by Hilton Evanston is decked out in Northwestern purple and white and has 119 guest rooms and a Tea Room for up to 10 people. A private dining room can hold up to 35. There are 4,500 hotel rooms in the area, many with large event spaces.

visitchicagonorthshore.com

Macomb

The downtown square in Macomb looks like it’s frozen in time. The home of Western Illinois University, the small town bridges the gap between the past and the future with its Mayberry-esque vibe and the influx of students.

“There’s a lot of town and gown here,” said Jock Hedblade, executive director of the Macomb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, also known as Visit Unforgettable Forgottonia. “There’s a lot of support from the city itself for the university.”

Event planners can host events on the WIU campus. The newest space, the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts, opened in September. It has a theater, auditoriums, workspaces and classrooms that can be rented for events. The University Union has 20 rooms available for rent for groups of 10 to 1,200, including the Grand Ballroom. The University Union Hotel has 27 guest rooms and two suites. There are just under 400 hotel rooms in the city.

Park Place of Macomb is an event space inside a former JCPenney department store that can host gatherings for up to 300 guests. Tellers is an elevated event venue in nearby Bushnell that has 4,000 square feet of event space.

visitforgottonia.com