State Farm Center facts for kids
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Lou Henson Court
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| Former names | Assembly Hall (1963–2013) |
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| Address | 1800 South 1st Street |
| Location | Champaign, Illinois, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°05′47″N 88°14′09″W / 40.096259°N 88.235956°W |
| Public transit |  MTD |
| 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) Illinois Fighting Illini wrestling (2022–present) |
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| Website | |
| http://statefarmcenter.com/ | |
The State Farm Center is a huge indoor sports and event building in Champaign, Illinois. It looks like a giant dome and has 15,544 seats. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign owns and runs it.
This center is home to the university's men's and women's basketball teams, called the Fighting Illini, and their wrestling team. It's also a popular place for concerts and other big events. It's one of the biggest venues between the cities of Chicago and St. Louis. The building first opened in 1963 and was known as Assembly Hall until 2013. That's when State Farm Insurance helped pay for big updates and the name changed to State Farm Center.
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How Big is the State Farm Center?
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 permanent seats. For concerts, when extra chairs are placed on the floor, it can hold up to 16,500 people.
Building the Dome
The State Farm Center, originally called Assembly Hall, opened on March 2, 1963. Its unique design and how it was built still impress people today. From 1963 to 1965, it was the largest dome building in North America! It was only surpassed when the Astrodome opened in Houston, Texas.
The roof of the State Farm Center is held up by 614 miles (988 km) of thin steel wire. This wire is wrapped tightly around the base of the dome. Max Abramovitz, who went to the University of Illinois, was the architect who designed this amazing building.
What Happens at the Center?
Home of Fighting Illini Basketball
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's also where you'll find the "Orange Krush," which is the student cheering section. They sit right around the court and in some of the seats.
In August 2015, the basketball court was named Lou Henson Court. This was done to honor Lou Henson, who coached the men's basketball team and won more games than any other coach in the team's history.
High School Sports Events
The State Farm Center has hosted many events for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The IHSA organizes sports for high schools in Illinois. Since 1967, the center has been the place for the state wrestling tournament.
It also hosted the state finals for boys' basketball from 1963 to 1995. The girls' basketball tournament was held here from 1978 to 1991. In 2020, the IHSA announced that the boys' basketball tournament would return to the State Farm Center after 25 years!
Broadway Shows and Concerts
The State Farm Center is also a popular spot for entertainment. It hosts the annual WCIA 3 Broadway Series, bringing famous musicals like Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Rent, and Fiddler on the Roof to Champaign.
Many famous musicians have performed here too. Some of the biggest concerts by attendance include:
- Garth Brooks (March 7–9, 1997)
- Elvis Presley (October 22, 1976)
- Johnny Cash (October 4, 1969)
- The Rolling Stones (November 15, 1969)
- U2 (October 22, 1987)
The center is also used for other university events, like welcoming new students.
Modernizing the Center
In 2008, university officials looked into whether to update the old Assembly Hall or build a brand new basketball arena. They decided to renovate the existing building. The architectural firm AECOM was chosen to design the updates.
The renovation project was expected to cost between $150 and $160 million. As part of this big project, State Farm Insurance paid $60 million over 30 years to have the arena named the State Farm Center.
The renovations started after the 2013–14 basketball season. They added fancy suites, club seating, and new blue seats. In the luxury areas, there are places to buy food and drinks, including a buffet. The total cost for these updates was about $169.5 million.
During the renovations, some basketball games had to be played at other locations. The men's team played their first five games of the 2015 season in Springfield. The women's team played their first five games at Parkland College. The newly renovated State Farm Center hosted its first game on December 2, 2015.
Who Helped Pay for the Renovations?
Many people and groups helped pay for the $169.5 million renovation of the State Farm Center. Here are some of the main donors:
- State Farm Insurance: Donated $60 million over 30 years for the naming rights.
- John Giuliani: Donated $5 million.
- Mannie Jackson: A former player, donated $3 million.
- Dave Downey: A former player, donated $2 million.
- Timothy and Sharon Ubben: Donated $2 million.
- Jim Benson: Donated $2 million.
- Orange Krush Foundation: The student organization donated $1 million.
- John Penicook family: Donated $1 million.
Past Homes for Fighting Illini Basketball
Before the State Farm Center, the Fighting Illini men's basketball team played in other places:
- Kenney Gym (1905–1925): This gym opened in 1890 and was first called the Men's Gym Annex.
- Huff Hall (1925–1963): Opened in 1925, it was known as Huff Gymnasium. It's named after George Huff, who was the school's athletic director for many years.
Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Records
The State Farm Center has seen many exciting basketball games. Here are some interesting records for the Fighting Illini men's basketball team at this venue:
- Highest Attendance for a Game: 17,087 people watched Illinois beat Michigan 64-52 on February 12, 2015.
- Most Points by an Illini Player in one game: 46 points by Andy Kaufmann on December 3, 1990.
- Most Rebounds by an Illini Player in one game: 23 rebounds by Nick Weatherspoon on March 2, 1971.
- Most Assists by an Illini Player in one game: 15 assists by Bruce Douglas on December 14, 1985.
- Most Blocks by an Illini Player in one game: 11 blocks by Derek Holcomb on December 8, 1978.
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