State Farm Center

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. Size 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. Opening 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 Fighting Illini basketball 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. IHSA 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. Broadway Series State Farm Center is also the venue for the annual WCIA 3 Broadway Series, which features popular musicals such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Rent, and Fiddler on the Roof. Concerts The largest concerts by attendance thus far are: Other Uses State Farm Center is also used for various welcome events for incoming freshman and transfer students. "Illinois Renaissance" renovation 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. 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. 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. As part of the renovations, State Farm Insurance purchased the naming rights to the arena for $60 million over 30 years. 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 would be concessions where alcoholic beverages would be served as well as a buffet area. The total budget for the renovation was estimated at $169.5 million. 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. Naming rights 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. Historical Fighting Illini home courts 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 Attendance High 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 Most points Overall – 50, Von McDade, Wisconsin-Milwaukee...12/3/1990 Illini player – 46, Andy Kaufmann...12/3/1990 Most field goals Overall – 19, Rudy Tomjanovich, Michigan...2/22/1969 Illini player – 17, Andy Kaufmann...12/1/1990 & Eddie Johnson...12/8/1979 Most field goal attempts Overall – 44, Von McDade, Wisconsin-Milwaukee...12/3/1990 Illini player – 34, Nick Weatherspoon...1/27/73 Best field goal accuracy (10 shot minimum) Overall (Illini player) – 11/11, Derek Harper...2/19/1983 Illini player – 10/10, Ken Norman...12/14/1985 Most three-point goals Overall – 9, Von McDade, Wisconsin-Milwaukee...12/3/1990 Illini player – 8, Alfonso Plummer...2/24/2022, Brandon Paul...1/10/2012, Trenton Meacham...11/19/2006, & Dee Brown...3/3/2005 Most three-point field goal attempts Overall – 22, Von McDade, Wisconsin-Milwaukee...12/3/1990 Illini player – 16, Kevin Turner...1/3/1998 Best three-point field goal accuracy (5 attempts minimum) Overall (Illini player) – 5/5, Jamar Smith...12/6/2006 Illini player – 5/5, Sean Harrington...11/26/2000 Most free throws Overall – 17, Wayne Radford, Indiana...3/2/1978 Illini player – 17, Kiwane Garris...3/5/1997 Best free throw accuracy (10 attempts minimum) Overall – 14/14, C. J. Kupec, Michigan...1/2/1975 Illini player - 13/13, Kendall Gill...2/8/1990 Most rebounds Overall – 23, Joe Franklin, Wisconsin...12/19/1966 Illini player – 23, Nick Weatherspoon...3/2/1971 Most assists Illini player – 15, Bruce Douglas...12/14/1985 Most steals Overall – 7, Delfincko Bogan, UT Martin...11/12/2017 Illini player – 7, Kendall Gill...3/4/1990, Kenny Battle...3/9/1988 & Bruce Douglas...12/8/1986 Most blocks Illini player – 11, Derek Holcomb...12/8/1978 Most minutes Illini player – 60, Bruce Douglas...1/28/84 See also List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas References External links Official website