Assembly Hall Now State Farm Center

Since March 2nd, 1963, we have all passed the weird shaped stadium by the Memorial Stadium known as the Assembly Hall. For years, it has held many events, such as Illini men and women basketball, IHSA basketball and wrestling, plays, concerts, graduations and Big 10 tournaments for both basketball and wrestling. But on April 29th, 2013, the Fighting Illini athletic director Mike Thomas and State Farm representatives announced that the Assembly Hall would be renamed to the State Farm Center.
State Farm and the University of Illinois have agreed for a $60 million, 30-year deal that State Farm can rename and renovate the Assembly Hall. The renovation of the legendary stadium will begin sometime in March of 2014 and is expected to be finished by November of 2016. The renovations include all new air-conditioning, more floors seating for students and fans, private boxes, all new restrooms and entrances, and much more.
“I feel that they (renovations) are needed.” Junior Deonte Suggs said. Now, many wonder how State Farm will pay for all of this. The way they will pay is from help of the U of I students and also ticket sales. The U of I students will pay $25 dollars per semester to help pay for this great renovation. According to the News Gazette, this will only cover about 70 percent of the cost. The rest of the cost will be covered by a fundraising campaign that the UI has kicked off.
As many may wonder, what do the fans think of this? Do they hate the new name, or do they adore it? Well, there have been mixed feelings about this decision. Some think that it was a good decision that State Farm bought out the famous stadium.
“It is good, since State Farm is a good, well known company name” added Suggs. But others think it was a foolish name to call the Assembly Hall. People think that the name shouldn’t have been State Farm Center, which it should have been other names, such as “The State Farm Assembly Hall” or others joked in an article comment section in the News Gazette that the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) should have bought the Assembly Hall and named it “UFC’s House of Paign”.
After 40 years of being named the Assembly Hall, the saucer-like building will have a new name. The State Farm Center will officially be finished by November of 2016. With many events happening during the renovations, such as the Illini basketball season, wrestling state finals, and even our high school graduations, would the State Farm Center be open for all of those events, or will there be an alternate location for many of these events?