State Farm Center facts for kids
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| Former names | Assembly Hall (1963–2013) |
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| Address | 1800 South 1st Street |
| Location | Champaign, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 40°05′47″N 88°14′09″W / 40.096259°N 88.235956°W |
| Owner | University of Illinois |
| Operator | University of Illinois |
| Capacity | 15,544 (permanent), 16,500 (concert) (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) |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 25, 1959 |
| Opened | March 2, 1963 |
| Construction cost | $8.35 million ($79.8 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| 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 (1981–1993, 1998–present) |
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| Website | |
| http://statefarmcenter.com/ | |
The State Farm Center is a large indoor sports and event building in Champaign, Illinois. It has a unique dome shape. The building is owned and run by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It has 15,544 seats for fans.
The State Farm Center is home to the university's men's and women's basketball teams. It also hosts many concerts and shows. It is one of the biggest event places between Chicago and St. Louis. The center first opened in 1963. Until 2013, it was called Assembly Hall. Then, State Farm Insurance bought the right to name the building. This was part of a big project to make the building new again.
Contents
How Big Is It?
The State Farm Center is the third largest arena in Illinois. Only the United Center in Chicago and the Allstate Arena in Rosemont are bigger. It has 15,544 seats that are always there. For some shows, they can add about 1,000 more seats on the floor. This depends on how the stage is set up.
When It Opened
The State Farm Center first opened as Assembly Hall on March 2, 1963. People still admire its special design and how it was built. From 1963 to 1965, Assembly Hall was the largest dome building in North America. Then, the Astrodome opened in Houston, Texas.
The roof of the State Farm Center is held up by 614 miles of thin steel wire. This wire is wrapped tightly at the bottom of the dome. The main designer, called the architect, was Max Abramovitz. He used to be a student at the University of Illinois. The company that built it was Felmley-Dickerson Co. from Urbana. They built many buildings for the university.
What It's Used For
Fighting Illini Basketball Games
The State Farm Center is where the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball and Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball teams play their home games. It is known as a very tough place for other teams to play. This is because of the loud student cheering section called the "Orange Krush." These students sit right around the court and in some other seats.
In the past, there was a special "Paint the Hall Orange" game. Everyone would wear an orange shirt to make the arena look amazing. Now, most Illini fans wear orange to all home games. So, the official "PTHO" game stopped after the 2007-08 season.
In August 2015, before the newly fixed State Farm Center opened, the basketball court got a special name. It was named Lou Henson Court to honor Lou Henson. He is the coach who won the most games for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team.
High School Sports Events
The State Farm Center has also hosted many events for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). It has been the home of the state wrestling tournament for individual wrestlers since 1967. From 1963 to 1995, the center hosted the state finals for boys' basketball. It also hosted the IHSA girls' basketball tournament from 1978 to 1991. The IHSA announced in 2020 that the boys' basketball tournament would return after 25 years.
Broadway Shows
The State Farm Center is also where the yearly WCIA 3 Broadway Series takes place. This series brings popular musicals to the stage. Some famous shows that have been performed here include Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Rent, and Fiddler on the Roof.
Concerts
Many big concerts have been held at the State Farm Center. Here are some of the largest concerts by how many people attended:
| Rank | Artist | Date | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Garth Brooks | March 7-9, 1997 | 49,000 (total) |
| 2. | Elvis Presley | Oct. 22, 1976 | 17,117 |
| 3. | Johnny Cash | Oct. 4, 1969 | |
| 4. | Garth Brooks | March 11, 1992 | |
| 5. | REO Speedwagon | April 21, 1981 | |
| 6. | Def Leppard | Oct. 16, 1988 | |
| 7. | Kenny Chesney | April 5, 2019 | |
| 8. | The Rolling Stones | Nov. 15, 1969 | |
| 9. | Phish | Nov. 19, 1997 | |
| 10. | U2 | Oct. 22, 1987 |
The "Illinois Renaissance" Renovation
In 2008, leaders at the university looked into fixing up Assembly Hall or building a new basketball arena. In 2010, they decided to fix the old building instead. The company AECOM was chosen to design the changes. The university asked fans and ticket holders what kind of special seating they wanted. This helped the designers create plans for the new look.
The renovation was expected to cost between $150 and $160 million. Work started in the spring of 2014. As part of this big project, State Farm Insurance paid $60 million over 30 years to have the arena named after them.
The State Farm Center began its renovations after the 2013–14 men's basketball season. The work added fancy new suites and special club seating. New blue seats were also put in. In the luxury suites and club areas, people can buy food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages. There is also a buffet area. The total cost for the renovation was about $169.5 million.
Because of the construction, some basketball games had to be played at different locations. The men's team played their first five games of the 2015 season in Springfield, Illinois. The women's team played their first five games at Parkland College. The newly renovated arena hosted its first game on December 2, 2015. The Fighting Illini lost to Notre Dame 84–79.
Who Helped Pay for the Renovation?
Many people and groups gave money to help pay for the $169.5 million renovation of the State Farm Center. These included the main sponsor, former basketball players, and people who went to the University of Illinois.
| Donor | Donation | Affiliation | Naming right |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm Insurance | $60 million over 30 years | Corporate sponsor | State Farm Center |
| John Giuliani | $5 million | University graduate | 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 | Supporters | Donor Recognition Wall |
| Jim Benson | $2 million | University graduate | Legacy Club |
| Orange Krush Foundation | $1 million | Student Group | Orange Krush Club |
| John Penicook family | $1 million | University graduates | West Horseshoe Drive |
| Phillip and Heidi Sarnecki | $500,000 | University graduates | Men's Coaches Locker Room |
| Dennis D. Swanson family | $500,000 | University graduate | Illini Media Center |
| H. D. Smith Foundation | $500,000 | University graduate | Sports Medicine Facility |
| Jeffrey Kautz family | $250,000 | University graduate | Dining Room |
Past Home Courts for Fighting Illini
- Kenney Gym (1905–1925): This gym is on the University of Illinois campus. It is named after Harold E. (Hek) Kenney. It opened in 1890.
- Huff Hall (1925–1963): This building opened in 1925. It was known as Huff Gymnasium for many years. It is named after George Huff, who was the school's athletic director.
- Assembly Hall/State Farm Center (1963–present): This is the current home court.
Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Records
Here are some records for the Fighting Illini men's basketball team at the State Farm Center (formerly Assembly Hall):
- Highest attendance for one game: 17,087 fans (Illinois 64, Michigan 52, on February 12, 2015)
- Lowest attendance for one game: 3,016 fans (Illinois 90, North Dakota State 73, on December 8, 1975)
- Highest attendance for a season: 282,506 fans in the 2006-07 season (17 games, about 16,618 fans per game)
- Lowest attendance for a season: 72,949 fans in the 1973-74 season (11 games, about 6,632 fans per game)
- Most games sold out in a row: 60 games (from December 1, 2005, to March 8, 2008)
- Most games sold out in one season: 17 games (in the 2006–07 season)
