500k or more!
State Farm Center Renovation
500k or more!
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
As enrollment keeps growing . . .
Renovations to add luxury seating means less seats overall as they take up more space. If you're upgrading to add seating, then obviously that will increase the number.
Dan
Admin
Michigan
Luxury suites bring in more money than individual chair seating. So while these renovations have reduced seating capacity I'm guessing they bring in more revenue, which is why they're done.
Jkat00
- Champaign, IL
True.. if you can actually fill the luxury suites/premium seating which has been a huge problem at so far at Illinois. Loge boxes were an epic fail last year.
That was to be expected last year, and maybe the next couple of years as well. The boxes will make considerably more money in the long run.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
The band aren't fans? That group of kids makes a TON of noise, with or without instruments.
HoopCity
- Huntsville, AL
I did not say that the band was not fans, what I said is the space should be used better to get more fans near the floor. Obviously a flaw in design on where the band should be. This was well designed at Memorial stadium. I am posting a pic showing all the dead space not use to the side of band and above band in the above area with seats behind them not used.
RenoGray80
King of 'Paign
- Des Moines
Some September photos have been posted. http://statefarmcenter.com/photos.html 
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It's kind of funny that growing up in Iowa as an Illini fan has made me more of a homer/optimist/true believer than many who grow up in Illini country, haha; we have the best damn arena in the conference, IMO.
peace davids
- Colorado
I did not say that the band was not fans, what I said is the space should be used better to get more fans near the floor. Obviously a flaw in design on where the band should be. This was well designed at Memorial stadium. I am posting a pic showing all the dead space not use to the side of band and above band in the above area with seats behind them not used.
This is exactly what I have been talking about - thanks for showing the picture. Has this area been addressed this offseason?
If not, it is a HUGE miss. That area can be completely taken up by the band in my opinion. They are an integral part of the environment. Please, just do something to make it look like they aren't an afterthought.
As of now, visually, this is the worst part of the renovation. It looks terrible in person and on camera.
We just need to, y'know, be good at basketball again. Can you imagine how awesome these renovations would've been in, say, 2005? Everything would've been sold out. Let's hope we get back to that point someday.
I will say, though, that I'm not a big fan of the loge-style seats. It looks like you're watching a basketball game at a conference table, it doesn't seem like an efficient use of space, and it's at the end of the court, which is a lousy angle to watch a game. It would've been better as something else, IMO - make it a game time bar open to the rest of the common folk, like the UC or other pro stadiums have, or something like that. It's still a lousy seat, but the people at the bar are only half-watching on TV, anyways, and it turns over seats and brings in $$$ throughout every game.
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
"A look inside the new........??" What, lol? :tsk:
ilphotog
The camera never lies
- Champaign
That's the area I call the "commons area" in between the two locker rooms. No one has said what its supposed to be called.:noidea:
illinitrav
- NW Suburbs
Nov 11th cant come soon enough.
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
Ahh, I had forgotten about that discussion. Thanks.
That seems weird to me. It's an inventive use of the space, I'll give them that.
The entrance to the Hall of Fame looks like an afterthought and really crappy. Hopefully it is not done yet and they add some sort of marquis or signs above it. The entrance really needs more glass on both sides of the door.
edit: after a second glance maybe it is acceptable. I am just not blown away by it.
edit: after a second glance maybe it is acceptable. I am just not blown away by it.
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DanvIllini
Super Lurker
- Danville, IL
Something has been bothering me about it as well. I'm not one to complain (I was impressed by the MS renovations haha), but there needs to be more there.