State Farm Center

State Farm Center
"House of 'Paign"
Former names Assembly Hall (1963-2013)
Location 1800 South 1st Street
Champaign, Illinois, United States
Coordinates 40°05′47″N 88°14′09″W / 40.096259°N 88.235956°W / 40.096259; -88.235956Coordinates: 40°05′47″N 88°14′09″W / 40.096259°N 88.235956°W / 40.096259; -88.235956
Owner University of Illinois
Operator University of Illinois
Capacity 15,500 (2015-present)
17,085 (2014-2015)
16,618 (2003-2014)
16,450 (1995-2003)
16,321 (1992-1995)
16,153 (1980-1992)
16,128 (1963-1980)
17,200 (Concerts)
Surface Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground May 25, 1959[1]
Opened March 2, 1963
Construction cost $8.35 million
($64.6 million in 2016 dollars[2])
Architect Harrison & Abramovitz
Structural engineer Ammann & Whitney
General contractor Felmley-Dickerson Co.
Tenants
Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball (1963-Present)
Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball (1974-Present)

State Farm Center (formerly Assembly Hall) is a large dome-shaped indoor arena located in Champaign, Illinois, and is owned and operated by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The State Farm Center hosts games for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball and women's basketball teams, and also doubles as a performance and event center.

Opening

State Farm Center opened as Assembly Hall on March 2, 1963 and continues to attract attention for its design and construction. From 1963–1965 Assembly Hall was the largest dome structure in North America until the opening of the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The roof is supported by 614 miles (988 km) of one-quarter inch steel wire wrapped at the base of the dome under intensive pressure. The architect was Max Abramovitz, a University of Illinois alumnus.

Fighting Illini Basketball

State Farm Center hosts home games of Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball and Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball and has earned a reputation as one of the toughest places to play in college basketball, thanks to the student cheering section, the "Orange Krush," which occupies the floor around the court as well as some seats.

At the annual "Paint the Hall Orange" game, everyone in attendance would wear an orange shirt, resulting in an impressive and intimidating environment. In recent years, however, it has become customary for Illini fans to wear orange at all home games and so the official "PTHO" game was discontinued after the 2007-08 season.

In August 2015, prior to the reopening of the newly renovated State Farm Center, the hardwood floor was dedicated and named Lou Henson Court in honor of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball all-time leader in victories Lou Henson.[3]

Men's basketball records at State Farm Center (Assembly Hall)

Attendance

Season Wins Losses Win pct. Total attendance NCAA rank Sellouts
1962-63 2 0 1.000 32,144 N/A 0
1963-64 7 3 0.700 143,650 N/A 1
1964-65 9 1 0.900 115,256 N/A 2
1965-66 7 3 0.700 79,661 N/A 0
1966-67 8 1 0.889 73,654 N/A 0
1967-68 4 5 0.444 80,203 N/A 0
1968-69 12 0 1.000 165,254 N/A 5
1969-70 7 4 0.636 157,206 1st 5
1970-71 6 5 0.545 177,408 1st 11
1971-72 7 3 0.700 136,972 5th 0
1972-73 10 1 0.909 109,433 NR 0
1973-74 4 7 0.363 72,949 NR 0
1974-75 5 7 0.417 96,773 NR 0
1975-76 11 4 0.733 106,444 NR 1
1976-77 10 4 0.714 106,139 NR 0
1977-78 9 5 0.643 122,071 NR 0
1978-79 7 6 0.538 184,715 8th 5
1979-80 14 5 0.737 271,374 8th 6
1980-81 12 2 0.857 217,330 7th 9
1981-82 12 4 0.750 244,908 8th 6
1982-83 13 2 0.867 194,384 11th 0
1983-84 14 1 0.933 194,145 13th 3
1984-85 15 0 1.000 235,736 6th 7
1985-86 12 3 0.800 200,205 10th 5
1986-87 13 2 0.867 227,641 10th 5
1987-88 13 3 0.813 245,895 12th 7
1988-89 17 0 1.000 262,215 10th 9
1989-90 13 1 0.929 224,443 11th 4
1990-91 12 4 0.750 217,003 16th 1
1991-92 11 5 0.688 207,995 22nd 0
1992-93 12 4 0.750 213,949 22nd 3
1993-94 15 1 0.938 240,301 11th 5
1994-95 11 3 0.786 221,772 10th 5
1995-96 10 6 0.625 236,674 12th 5
1996-97 12 2 0.857 193,364 16th 3
1997-98 13 1 0.929 191,689 19th 5
1998-99 5 8 0.385 171,246 23rd 1
1999-00 12 1 0.923 189,507 15th 3
2000-01 12 0 1.000 185,630 13th 8
2001-02 13 1 0.928 226,480 11th 12
2002-03 14 0 1.000 212,303 13th 8
2003-04 12 1 0.923 208,935 9th 8
2004-05 15 0 1.000 245,807 7th 13
2005-06 15 1 0.938 265,888 9th 16
2006-07 14 3 0.824 282,506 10th 17
2007-08 7 8 0.467 249,270 11th 15
2008-09 14 3 0.824 263,477 13th 5
2009-10 13 5 0.722 267,658 12th 7
2010-11 14 2 0.875 253,623 10th 8
2011-12 13 4 0.765 254,595 14th 1
2012-13 12 4 0.750 237,077 17th 6
2013-14 10 6 0.625 243,931 15th 5
2014-15 14 2 0.875 234,435 15th N/A
2015-16 3 2 0.600 63,744 N/A N/A
Totals 581 159 .785 10,275,068 [4] 251

Individual single game

Overall – 50, Von McDade, Wisconsin-Milwaukee...12/3/1990
Illini player – 46, Andy Kaufmann...12/3/1990
Overall – 19, Rudy Tomjanovich, Michigan...2/22/1969
Illini player – 17, Andy Kaufmann...12/1/1990 & Eddie Johnson...12/8/1979
Overall – 44, Von McDade, Wisconsin-Milwaukee...12/3/1990
Illini player – 34, Nick Weatherspoon...1/27/73
Overall (Illini player) – 11/11, Derek Harper...2/19/1983
Illini player – 10/10, Ken Norman...12/14/1985
Overall – 9, Von McDade, Wisconsin-Milwaukee...12/3/1990
Illini player – 8, Brandon Paul...1/10/2012, Trenton Meacham...11/19/2006, & Dee Brown...3/3/2005
Overall – 22, Von McDade, Wisconsin-Milwaukee...12/3/1990
Illini player – 16, Kevin Turner...1/3/1998
Overall (Illini player) – 5/5, Jamar Smith...12/6/2006
Illini player – 5/5, Sean Harrington...11/26/2000
Overall – 17, Wayne Radford, Indiana...3/2/1978
Illini player – 17, Kiwane Garris...3/5/1997
Overall – 14/14, C. J. Kupec, Michigan...1/2/1975
Illini player - 13/13, Kendall Gill...2/8/1990
Overall – 23, Joe Franklin, Wisconsin...12/19/1966
Illini player – 23, Nick Weatherspoon...3/2/1971
Illini player – 15, Bruce Douglas...12/14/1985
Illini player – 7, Kendall Gill...3,4,1990, Kenny Battle...3/9/1988 & Bruce Douglas...12/8/1986
Illini player – 11, Derek Holcomb...12/8/1978
Illini player – 60, Bruce Douglas...1/28/84

[5]

Size

The third largest Illinois arena after the United Center in Chicago and the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, State Farm Center has just over 16,000 permanent seats, with an official capacity of 16,618 for basketball games, but when portable chairs are placed on the floor for an in-the-round performance there is a potential of up to 17,200 depending on the size of the stage.

IHSA

Exterior in 2006
Exterior in 2003

State Farm Center has hosted a variety of Illinois High School Association events. It has been the home of the state individual wrestling tournament since 1967. From 1963 to 1995, State Farm Center played host to the state finals of the boys' basketball tournament. From 1978 to 1990, it also hosted the IHSA girls' basketball tournament.

Broadway Series

State Farm Center is also the venue for the annual News-Gazette Broadway Series, which features popular musicals such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Rent, and Fiddler on the Roof.

"Illinois Renaissance" renovation

In the autumn of 2008, school officials, led by former Athletics Director Ron Guenther, conducted a study to decide whether to refurbish the then-named Assembly Hall or build a new basketball arena.[6] In 2010 a decision was made to renovate rather than replace the building. The architectural firm AECOM has been selected and awarded a contract to design the renovation.[7] Surveys were sent out to I-Fund and season ticket holders to gauge demand for various premium seating options. This information is being used to create schematic drawings and architectural renderings near the end of 2012, which would be used by former Athletics Director Mike Thomas to aid in fundraising for the project. The anticipated renovation cost is between $150 and $160 million, and construction would not start before spring of 2014.[8] As part of the renovations, the naming rights to the arena were purchased by State Farm Insurance for $60 million over 30 years.[9]

The State Farm Center began renovations following the 2013–14 men's basketball season. Additions of luxury suites, club/loge seats, and all new blue color seats are included in the renovation. In the luxury suites and club level seats, there will be concessions where alcoholic beverages will allowed to be served as well as a buffet area. The total budget for the renovation was estimated at $169.5 million.[10]

The construction process did cause some conflicts with scheduled sporting events at the beginning of the 2016 fiscal year. The first five games of the 2015 Men's basketball season were played at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, while the first five games of the 2015 Women's basketball season were played at Parkland College. The State Farm Center's first game was played on December 2, when the Fighting Illini fell to Notre Dame 84–79.[11][12]

Naming rights

The following corporate sponsor, Fighting Illini benefactors, former Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball players, and University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign alumni have donated sizeable contributions towards the $169.5 million renovation cost of the State Farm Center.[13]

Donor Donation Affiliation Naming right
State Farm Insurance $60 million over 30 years Corporate sponsorship State Farm Center
John Giuliani $5 million Alumnus Traditions Club
Mannie Jackson $3 million Former player University of Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame
Dave Downey $2 million Former player Courtside Club
Timothy and Sharon Ubben $2 million Benefactors Donor Recognition Wall
Jim Benson $2 million Alumnus Legacy Club
John Penicook family $1 million Alumni West Horseshoe Drive
Phillip and Heidi Sarnecki $500,000 Alumni Men's Coaches Locker Room
Dennis D. Swanson family $500,000 Alumnus Illini Media Center
H. D. Smith Foundation $500,000 Alumnus Sports Medicine Facility
Jeffrey Kautz family $250,000 Alumnus Dining Room

Fighting Illini home courts

References

  1. ↑ Kacich, Tom (May 20, 2009). "University of Illinois' 'Flying Saucer' Has Aged Gracefully". The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana). Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  2. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  3. ↑ Ryan, Shannon (2015-08-24). "Illinois names basketball court for former coach Lou Henson". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  4. ↑ Attendance Leaders
  5. ↑ 2014-15 Illinois Basketball Record Book pg. 137
  6. ↑ Bannon, Terry (August 21, 2008). "Guenther Assesses Assembly Hall's Fate". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 21, 2008.
  7. ↑ Patel, Darshan (December 2, 2011). "Board Approves Assembly Hall Architect, Natural History Building Funds and Easter as Interim Vice Chancellor". Daily Illini. University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  8. ↑ Supine, John (August 14, 2012). "U of I Gauges Demand for Premium Seats in Assembly Hall". The State Journal-Register. Springfield, IL. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Illini's Assembly Hall Renamed". ESPN. April 29, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  10. ↑ @IlliniDesign. "STATEFARMCENTER.COM | The Illinois Renaissance". statefarmcenter.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  11. ↑ @IlliniDesign. "STATEFARMCENTER.COM | The Illinois Renaissance". statefarmcenter.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  12. ↑ "THE CENTER | PCCC to host Illini Basketball for 5 games in November 2015". www.springfieldpc3.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  13. ↑ "Illinois Renaissance". Illinois DIA. 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
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