The third largest Illinois arena after the United Center in Chicago and the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, State Farm Center has 15,544 permanent seats but, when portable chairs are placed on the floor for an in-the-round performance, there is a potential for an additional 1,000 depending on the stage configuration.
State Farm Center opened as Assembly Hall on March 2, 1963, and continues to attract attention for its design and construction. From 1963 to 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. The contractor was Felmley-Dickerson Co of Urbana, led by Ray Dickerson, who built a number of buildings for the university.
At the annual "Paint the Hall Orange" game, everyone in attendance would wear an orange shirt. 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.[4]
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 1991, it also hosted the IHSA girls' basketball tournament. The IHSA announced on June 15, 2020, that the boys' basketball tournament would return after a 25-year absence.[5]
In the autumn of 2008, school officials, led by Athletics Director Ron Guenther, conducted a study to decide whether to refurbish the then-named Assembly Hall or build a new basketball arena.[7] In 2010, the university opted to renovate the existing structure designed by University of Illinois alumnus Max Abramovitz, and selected the architectural firm AECOM to design the renovation.[8] The athletic department sent surveys to I-Fund and season ticket holders to gauge demand for various premium seating options. Architects used this information to create schematic drawings and architectural renderings near the end of 2012, which then Athletics Director Mike Thomas used to aid in fundraising for the project. The anticipated renovation cost was between $150 and $160 million, and construction would not start before spring of 2014.[9] As part of the renovations, State Farm Insurance purchased the naming rights to the arena for $60 million over 30 years.[10]
The State Farm Center began renovations after the 2013–14 men's basketball season. Work included adding luxury suites, club/loge seating, new blue seats 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.[11]
The construction process did cause some conflicts with scheduled sporting events at the beginning of the 2015-16 basketball season. The men's basketball team played the first five games of the 2015 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, while the 2015 Women's basketball team played their first five games at Parkland College. The renovated arena hosted its first game on December 2, when the Fighting Illini fell to Notre Dame 84–79.[11][12]
Kenney Gym (1905–1925) located on the campus of the University of Illinois and is named after Harold E. (Hek) Kenney. The arena opened in 1890 and was originally known as the Men's Gym Annex.
Huff Hall (1925–1963) opened in 1925 and was known as Huff Gymnasium until the 1990s. It is named after George Huff, who was the school's athletic director from 1895 to 1935.
Assembly Hall/State Farm Center (1963–present)
Fighting Illini Men's basketball records at State Farm Center (Assembly Hall)
^"About State Farm Center". State Farm Center. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
^Kacich, Tom (May 20, 2009). "University of Illinois' 'Flying Saucer' Has Aged Gracefully". The News-Gazette. Champaign. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
^1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved April 16, 2022.
^Ryan, Shannon (2015-08-24). "Illinois names basketball court for former coach Lou Henson". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
^"IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals Return to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in 2021".
^Wood, Paul (March 2, 2017). "WCIA 3 Broadway Series not the same old song and dance". The News-Gazette. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
^Bannon, Terry (August 21, 2008). "Guenther Assesses Assembly Hall's Fate". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 21, 2008.
^Patel, Darshan (December 2, 2011). . Daily Illini. Champaign. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
^Supine, John (August 14, 2012). "U of I Gauges Demand for Premium Seats in Assembly Hall". The State Journal-Register. Springfield. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
^"Illini's Assembly Hall Renamed". ESPN. Associated Press. April 29, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
^ ab. Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
^"PCCC to host Illini Basketball for 5 games in November 2015" (Press release). Prairie Capital Convention Center. October 30, 2014. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
^ (Press release). Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. January 15, 2015. Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
^"$1 Million Orange Krush Gift Earns Name on SFC Club".
^"NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Attendance Leaders Year-by-Year (1970-2018)" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
^2014-15 Illinois Basketball Record Book(PDF). p. 137. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
External links
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Official Site
Illinois DIA Facility Bio
April 24, 2023
state, farm, center, confused, with, state, farm, research, development, center, state, farm, disambiguation, large, dome, shaped, seat, indoor, arena, located, champaign, illinois, owned, operated, university, illinois, urbana, champaign, arena, hosts, games,. Not to be confused with State Farm Research and Development Center or State farm disambiguation The State Farm Center is a large dome shaped 15 544 seat indoor arena located in Champaign Illinois owned and operated by the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign The arena hosts games for the Illinois Fighting Illini men s basketball women s basketball and wrestling teams It also doubles as a performance and event center and is one of the largest venues between Chicago and St Louis It opened in 1963 and was known until 2013 as Assembly Hall until State Farm Insurance acquired naming rights as part of a major renovation project State Farm CenterFormer namesAssembly Hall 1963 2013 Address1800 South 1st StreetLocationChampaign Illinois U S Coordinates40 05 47 N 88 14 09 W 40 096259 N 88 235956 W 40 096259 88 235956 Coordinates 40 05 47 N 88 14 09 W 40 096259 N 88 235956 W 40 096259 88 235956OwnerUniversity of IllinoisOperatorUniversity of IllinoisCapacity15 544 permanent 16 500 concert 1 2016 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 SurfaceMulti surfaceConstructionBroke groundMay 25 1959 2 OpenedMarch 2 1963Construction cost 8 35 million 73 9 million in 2021 dollars 3 ArchitectHarrison amp AbramovitzStructural engineerAmmann amp WhitneyGeneral contractorFelmley Dickerson Co TenantsIllinois Fighting Illini men s basketball 1963 present Illinois Fighting Illini women s basketball 1981 1993 1998 present Illinois Fighting Illini wrestling 2022 present Websitehttp statefarmcenter com Contents 1 Size 2 Opening 3 Main uses 3 1 Fighting Illini basketball 3 2 IHSA 3 3 Broadway Series 3 4 Concerts 4 Illinois Renaissance renovation 4 1 Naming rights 5 Historical Fighting Illini home courts 6 Fighting Illini Men s basketball records at State Farm Center Assembly Hall 6 1 Attendance 6 2 Individual single game 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksSize EditThe third largest Illinois arena after the United Center in Chicago and the Allstate Arena in Rosemont State Farm Center has 15 544 permanent seats but when portable chairs are placed on the floor for an in the round performance there is a potential for an additional 1 000 depending on the stage configuration Opening EditSee also Construction of Assembly Hall Champaign State Farm Center opened as Assembly Hall on March 2 1963 and continues to attract attention for its design and construction From 1963 to 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 The contractor was Felmley Dickerson Co of Urbana led by Ray Dickerson who built a number of buildings for the university Main uses EditFighting Illini basketball Edit Interior in 2020 State Farm Center hosts home games of Illinois Fighting Illini men s basketball and Illinois Fighting Illini women s basketball and is also home 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 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 4 IHSA Edit 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 1991 it also hosted the IHSA girls basketball tournament The IHSA announced on June 15 2020 that the boys basketball tournament would return after a 25 year absence 5 Broadway Series Edit State Farm Center is also the venue for the annual WCIA 3 Broadway Series which features popular musicals such as Les Miserables Miss Saigon Rent and Fiddler on the Roof 6 Concerts Edit The largest concerts by attendance thus far are No Entertainer Date Attendance1 Garth Brooks March 7 9 1997 49 000 total 2 Elvis Presley October 22 1976 17 1173 Johnny Cash October 4 19694 Garth Brooks March 11 19925 REO Speedwagon April 21 19816 Def Leppard October 16 19887 Kenny Chesney April 5 20198 The Rolling Stones November 15 19699 Phish Nov 19 199710 U2 October 22 1987 Illinois Renaissance renovation EditIn the autumn of 2008 school officials led by Athletics Director Ron Guenther conducted a study to decide whether to refurbish the then named Assembly Hall or build a new basketball arena 7 In 2010 the university opted to renovate the existing structure designed by University of Illinois alumnus Max Abramovitz and selected the architectural firm AECOM to design the renovation 8 The athletic department sent surveys to I Fund and season ticket holders to gauge demand for various premium seating options Architects used this information to create schematic drawings and architectural renderings near the end of 2012 which then Athletics Director Mike Thomas used to aid in fundraising for the project The anticipated renovation cost was between 150 and 160 million and construction would not start before spring of 2014 9 As part of the renovations State Farm Insurance purchased the naming rights to the arena for 60 million over 30 years 10 The State Farm Center began renovations after the 2013 14 men s basketball season Work included adding luxury suites club loge seating new blue seats 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 11 The construction process did cause some conflicts with scheduled sporting events at the beginning of the 2015 16 basketball season The men s basketball team played the first five games of the 2015 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield while the 2015 Women s basketball team played their first five games at Parkland College The renovated arena hosted its first game on December 2 when the Fighting Illini fell to Notre Dame 84 79 11 12 Naming rights Edit The following corporate sponsor Fighting Illini benefactors former Illinois Fighting Illini men s basketball players and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign alumni have donated sizeable contributions towards the 169 5 million renovation cost of the State Farm Center 13 Donor Donation Affiliation Naming rightState Farm Insurance 60 million over 30 years Corporate sponsorship State Farm CenterJohn Giuliani 5 million Alumnus Traditions ClubMannie Jackson 3 million Former player University of Illinois Basketball Hall of FameDave Downey 2 million Former player Courtside ClubTimothy and Sharon Ubben 2 million Benefactors Donor Recognition WallJim Benson 2 million Alumnus Legacy ClubOrange Krush Foundation 1 million Student Organization Orange Krush Club 14 John Penicook family 1 million Alumni West Horseshoe DrivePhillip and Heidi Sarnecki 500 000 Alumni Men s Coaches Locker RoomDennis D Swanson family 500 000 Alumnus Illini Media CenterH D Smith Foundation 500 000 Alumnus Sports Medicine FacilityJeffrey Kautz family 250 000 Alumnus Dining RoomHistorical Fighting Illini home courts EditKenney Gym 1905 1925 located on the campus of the University of Illinois and is named after Harold E Hek Kenney The arena opened in 1890 and was originally known as the Men s Gym Annex Huff Hall 1925 1963 opened in 1925 and was known as Huff Gymnasium until the 1990s It is named after George Huff who was the school s athletic director from 1895 to 1935 Assembly Hall State Farm Center 1963 present Fighting Illini Men s basketball records at State Farm Center Assembly Hall EditAttendance Edit Season Wins Losses Win pct Total attendance NCAA rank Sellouts1962 63 2 0 1 000 32 144 01963 64 7 3 0 700 143 650 11964 65 9 1 0 900 115 256 21965 66 7 3 0 700 79 661 01966 67 8 1 0 889 73 654 01967 68 4 5 0 444 80 203 01968 69 12 0 1 000 165 254 51969 70 7 4 0 636 157 206 1st 51970 71 6 5 0 545 177 408 1st 111971 72 7 3 0 700 136 972 5th 01972 73 10 1 0 909 109 433 NR 01973 74 4 7 0 363 72 949 NR 01974 75 5 7 0 417 96 773 NR 01975 76 11 4 0 733 106 444 NR 11976 77 10 4 0 714 106 139 NR 01977 78 9 5 0 643 122 071 NR 01978 79 7 6 0 538 184 715 8th 51979 80 14 5 0 737 271 374 8th 61980 81 12 2 0 857 217 330 7th 91981 82 12 4 0 750 244 908 8th 61982 83 13 2 0 867 194 384 11th 01983 84 14 1 0 933 194 145 13th 31984 85 15 0 1 000 235 736 6th 71985 86 12 3 0 800 200 205 10th 51986 87 13 2 0 867 227 641 10th 51987 88 13 3 0 813 245 895 12th 71988 89 17 0 1 000 262 215 10th 91989 90 13 1 0 929 224 443 11th 41990 91 12 4 0 750 217 003 16th 11991 92 11 5 0 688 207 995 22nd 01992 93 12 4 0 750 213 949 22nd 31993 94 15 1 0 938 240 301 11th 51994 95 11 3 0 786 221 772 10th 51995 96 10 6 0 625 236 674 12th 51996 97 12 2 0 857 193 364 16th 31997 98 13 1 0 929 191 689 19th 51998 99 5 8 0 385 171 246 23rd 11999 00 12 1 0 923 189 507 15th 32000 01 12 0 1 000 185 630 13th 82001 02 13 1 0 928 226 480 11th 122002 03 14 0 1 000 212 303 13th 82003 04 12 1 0 923 208 935 9th 82004 05 15 0 1 000 245 807 7th 132005 06 15 1 0 938 265 888 9th 162006 07 14 3 0 824 282 506 10th 172007 08 7 8 0 467 249 270 11th 152008 09 14 3 0 824 263 477 13th 52009 10 13 5 0 722 267 658 12th 72010 11 14 2 0 875 253 623 10th 82011 12 13 4 0 765 254 595 14th 12012 13 12 4 0 750 237 077 17th 62013 14 10 6 0 625 243 931 15th 52014 15 14 2 0 875 234 435 15th 2015 16 6 7 0 462 165 409 27th 2016 17 14 5 0 737 216 257 30th 2017 18 12 6 0 667 227 051 25th 2018 19 9 6 0 600 199 303 25th 2019 20 14 3 0 824 234 730 24th 42020 21 11 2 0 846 N A N A N A2021 22 13 3 0 813 N A N A 9Totals 657 189 777 10 509 798 15 264High attendance for game 17 087 Illinois 64 Michigan 52 2 12 2015 Low attendance for game 3 016 Illinois 90 North Dakota State 73 12 8 1975 High attendance for season 282 506 2006 07 17 games 16 618 avg Low attendance for season 72 949 1973 74 11 games 6 632 avg Consecutive sellouts 60 12 1 2005 3 8 2008 Most sellouts in a season 17 2006 07 Individual single game Edit Most pointsOverall 50 Von McDade Wisconsin Milwaukee 12 3 1990 Illini player 46 Andy Kaufmann 12 3 1990Most field goalsOverall 19 Rudy Tomjanovich Michigan 2 22 1969 Illini player 17 Andy Kaufmann 12 1 1990 amp Eddie Johnson 12 8 1979Most field goal attemptsOverall 44 Von McDade Wisconsin Milwaukee 12 3 1990 Illini player 34 Nick Weatherspoon 1 27 73Best field goal accuracy 10 shot minimum Overall Illini player 11 11 Derek Harper 2 19 1983 Illini player 10 10 Ken Norman 12 14 1985Most three point goalsOverall 9 Von McDade Wisconsin Milwaukee 12 3 1990 Illini player 8 Brandon Paul 1 10 2012 Trenton Meacham 11 19 2006 amp Dee Brown 3 3 2005Most three point field goal attemptsOverall 22 Von McDade Wisconsin Milwaukee 12 3 1990 Illini player 16 Kevin Turner 1 3 1998Best three point field goal accuracy 5 attempts minimum Overall Illini player 5 5 Jamar Smith 12 6 2006 Illini player 5 5 Sean Harrington 11 26 2000Most free throwsOverall 17 Wayne Radford Indiana 3 2 1978 Illini player 17 Kiwane Garris 3 5 1997Best free throw accuracy 10 attempts minimum Overall 14 14 C J Kupec Michigan 1 2 1975 Illini player 13 13 Kendall Gill 2 8 1990Most reboundsOverall 23 Joe Franklin Wisconsin 12 19 1966 Illini player 23 Nick Weatherspoon 3 2 1971Most assistsIllini player 15 Bruce Douglas 12 14 1985Most stealsIllini player 7 Kendall Gill 3 4 1990 Kenny Battle 3 9 1988 amp Bruce Douglas 12 8 1986Most blocksIllini player 11 Derek Holcomb 12 8 1978Most minutesIllini player 60 Bruce Douglas 1 28 84 16 See also EditList of NCAA Division I basketball arenasReferences Edit About State Farm Center State Farm Center Retrieved August 28 2018 Kacich Tom May 20 2009 University of Illinois Flying Saucer Has Aged Gracefully The News Gazette Champaign Retrieved January 22 2012 1634 1699 McCusker J J 1997 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States Addenda et Corrigenda PDF American Antiquarian Society 1700 1799 McCusker J J 1992 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States PDF American Antiquarian Society 1800 present Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Consumer Price Index estimate 1800 Retrieved April 16 2022 Ryan Shannon 2015 08 24 Illinois names basketball court for former coach Lou Henson Chicago Tribune Retrieved 2015 08 25 IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals Return to the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana in 2021 Wood Paul March 2 2017 WCIA 3 Broadway Series not the same old song and dance The News Gazette Retrieved August 28 2018 Bannon Terry August 21 2008 Guenther Assesses Assembly Hall s Fate Chicago Tribune Retrieved August 21 2008 Patel Darshan December 2 2011 Board Approves Assembly Hall Architect Natural History Building Funds and Easter as Interim Vice Chancellor Daily Illini Champaign Archived from the original on July 25 2013 Retrieved December 14 2012 Supine John August 14 2012 U of I Gauges Demand for Premium Seats in Assembly Hall The State Journal Register Springfield Retrieved December 14 2012 Illini s Assembly Hall Renamed ESPN Associated Press April 29 2013 Retrieved November 11 2013 a b Frequently Asked Questions Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Archived from the original on 2016 02 19 Retrieved 2018 08 28 PCCC to host Illini Basketball for 5 games in November 2015 Press release Prairie Capital Convention Center October 30 2014 Retrieved 2018 08 28 Former Illini Basketball Great Dave Downey and Family and Friends Make 2 Million SFC Gift Press release Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics January 15 2015 Archived from the original on 16 January 2015 Retrieved 2018 08 28 1 Million Orange Krush Gift Earns Name on SFC Club NCAA Division I Men s Basketball Attendance Leaders Year by Year 1970 2018 PDF NCAA Retrieved August 28 2018 2014 15 Illinois Basketball Record Book PDF p 137 Retrieved 2018 08 28 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to State Farm Center Official Site Illinois DIA Facility Bio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title State Farm Center amp oldid 1141410576, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
