Assembly Hall (Illinois)
| "House of 'Paign" | |
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| Former names | Assembly Hall (1963-2013) |
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| Location | 1800 South 1st Street Champaign, Illinois, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°05′47″N 88°14′09″W / 40.096259°N 88.235956°WCoordinates: 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 (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 |
| Opened | March 2, 1963 |
| Construction cost | $1 ($8.00 in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | Harrison & Abramovitz |
| Structural engineer | Ammann & Whitney |
| General contractor | Felmley-Dickerson Co. |
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Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball (1963-Present) Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball (1974-Present) |
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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.
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.
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.
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