Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Assembly Hall in December 2015.
Interactive map of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Former namesAssembly Hall (1971–2016)
Location1001 East 17th Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47408-1590
Coordinates39°10′51″N 86°31′20″W / 39.18083°N 86.52222°W / 39.18083; -86.52222
OwnerIU
Capacity17,222 (2016-present)
17,472 (2011-2016)
17,456 (2005-2011)
17,257 (2000-2005)
17,357 (1976-2000)
16,746 (1973-1976)
16,666 (1971-1973)
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke groundDecember 22, 1967[1][2]
OpenedSeptember 12, 1971[3]
Construction cost$26.6 million[4]
($211 million in 2025 dollars[5])
ArchitectEggers & Higgins
Structural engineerSeverud Associates[6]
General contractorF.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., Inc.[7]
Tenants
Indiana Hoosiers (NCAA) (1971–present)

Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (/skɒt/ SCOTT),[8] is a 17,222-seat arena on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. It is the home of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball and women's basketball teams. It opened in 1971, replacing the "New" IU Fieldhouse.[9] The court is named after Branch McCracken, the men's basketball coach who led the school to its first two NCAA National Championships in 1940 and 1953.

History

Construction

After $26.6 million dollars and several years of planning and construction, Assembly Hall opened in 1971.[10]

The opening of the arena coincided with the debut of coach Bob Knight, who guided the Hoosiers for 29 seasons before his dismissal by then-IU president Myles Brand in September 2000.

Assembly Hall has been criticized by some fans for its unique design.[11] Because the facility was designed without consideration for the video replay board added in 2005 that currently hangs above center-court, some of the top rows of the lower level are obstructed from the replay board by the overhanging balcony. The entire court itself, however, is still viewable. In December 2013, 24 monitors were added to the areas that had previously been obstructed. Work was completed by Strauser Construction and Cassady Electric.

In the fall of 2018, J.C. Ripberger Construction Corp completed the new Roberts Family Team Center which includes, the new Andy Mohr Locker Room, the Oladipo Zeller Legacy Lounge, the Tim Garl Athletic Training Room and the Basketball Coaches annex. Project was completed just prior to 2018 Hoosier Hysteria.

Upgrades and improvements

New bleacher seats were installed in 1995.[12]

Bob Knight feared that when he left Indiana, commercials would begin being played in the hall. Knight said, "You'll see a new Assembly Hall this year I'm sure. There will probably be ads in it for everything from dog biscuits to Pepsi Cola, I would imagine. We've always tried to keep it really free from commercialism. It's kind of a sacred place where students come to play and students come to cheer."[13] In 2005, the school built a new scoreboard costing nearly $2 million, to mixed reviews.[14]

Cook Hall, a new 67,000 square feet (6,200 m2) practice facility, was built near Assembly Hall in 2010.[15]

2015 renovation and renaming

On December 19, 2013, Indiana University announced that a $40 million donation from Cynthia "Cindy" Simon Skjodt, daughter of late shopping mall magnate and Indiana Pacers owner Mel Simon, would be used to renovate Assembly Hall.[16] Indiana University renamed Assembly Hall the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall upon the completion of the renovations and improvements, which were completed in October 2016.[17]

Safety issues

On February 18, 2014, an 8-foot (2.4 m) long beam over a foot wide fell and damaged the seats at Assembly Hall.[18][19] The scheduled game for that day against the University of Iowa was postponed due to safety concerns in spite of multiple available arenas in Indiana.[20]

On January 28, 2023, a bracket over a foot long fell onto the court at Assembly Hall during halftime against the Ohio State Buckeyes.[21]

Atmosphere and success

A 2012 poll of four ESPN pundits ranked it third in terms of best home-court advantages in the country.[22] Since opening for the 1971–72 season, over six million fans have attended men's basketball games at Assembly Hall. The men's team has been historically successful there, posting home winning streaks of 50 and 35 games.[9]

During the 2015-2016 basketball season, both the men's and women's teams went undefeated at Assembly Hall, posting a combined 33–0 record at home.

Men's home record by year

Year Record Win Percentage
1971-72 10-1 .909
1972-73 12-0 1.000
1973-74 10-1 .909
1974-75 15-0 1.000
1975-76 13-0 1.000
1976-77 9-5 .643
1977-78 14-1 .933
1978-79 12-2 .857
1979-80 13-1 .929
1980-81 12-2 .857
1981-82 13-1 .929
1982-83 13-1 .929
1983-84 12-3 .800
1984-85 7-7 .500
1985-86 13-2 .867
1986-87 15-0 1.000
1987-88 13-2 .867
1988-89 14-1 .933
1989-90 11-4 .733
1990-91 11-2 .846
1991-92 14-0 1.000
1992-93 15-0 1.000
1993-94 13-0 1.000
1994-95 11-2 .846
1995-96 11-2 .846
1996-97 11-3 .786
1997-98 10-2 .833
1998-99 11-3 .786
1999-00 10-2 .833
2000-01 13-2 .867
2001-02 10-1 .909
2002-03 11-1 .917
2003-04 6-7 .462
2004-05 12-3 .800
2005-06 10-3 .769
2006-07 15-0 1.000
2007-08 16-2 .889
2008-09 5-10 .333
2009-10 8-9 .471
2010-11 12-6 .667
2011-12 18-1 .947
2012-13 17-2 .895
2013-14 14-4 .778
2014-15 15-4 .789
2015-16 15-0 1.000
2016-17 14-4 .778
2017-18 12-6 .667
2018-19 15-6 .714
2019-20 15-4 .789
2020-21 6-6 .500
2021-22 14-4 .765
2022-23 15-2 .882
2023-24 13-5 .722
2024-25 14-4 .765
2025-26 13-2 .867

OVERALL: 607-142 (.810)

Proposed replacement

On June 22, 2007, Indiana University trustees approved the demolition of Assembly Hall and the construction of a new basketball arena "when appropriate". Populous was hired to assess the benefits of renovating or replacing Assembly Hall. The trustees decided against renovating the arena for $115 million because construction of a new arena would cost $130 million. This idea was scrapped due to the university changing course and opting to renovate Assembly Hall.[23]

Events

See also

References

  1. ^ Tower, Debbie (1972). "IU Assembly Hall". Commerce and Indiana. Indianapolis: Indiana Department of Commerce.
  2. ^ Burgess, Dale (December 22, 1967). "IU Football Team Practices, Then Travels to Pasadena". The Rochester Sentinel. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  3. ^ "Bob Hope Concert Setlist at Indiana University Simon Scott Assembly Hall". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  4. ^ Tolliver, Melanie (2002). Indiana University Basketball: For the Thrill of It. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. p. 11. ISBN 1-58261-579-9. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  5. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "Projects". Severud Associates. Retrieved November 11, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ "Minutes of the Board of Trustees of Indiana University". Indiana University Bloomington. December 18, 1971. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  8. ^ "Assembly Hall to carry Simon Skjodt name after major renovation". Indianapolis Business Journal. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Assembly Hall". Indiana University Athletics. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  10. ^ Hiner, Jason; Van Arsdale, Dick (2005). Indiana University Basketball Encyclopedia. Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-655-8.
  11. ^ M, John (June 24, 2009). "Should IU Replace The Assembly Hall?". SB Nation. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  12. ^ Bikoff, Ken (April 4, 2010). "A Basketball Palace". Inside Indiana. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  13. ^ "Bobby Knight Speaks". WTHR. Indianapolis. September 10, 2010. Archived from the original on December 11, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  14. ^ Click, Dan (April 7, 2012). "New Assembly Scoreboard to Bring Video, Ads". Indiana Daily Student. Indiana University Bloomington. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  15. ^ "Cook Hall". Indiana Athletics. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  16. ^ Woods, Alden (December 19, 2013). "$40 million donated for Assembly Hall renovations". Indiana Daily Student. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Historic $40 Million Gift Will Renovate Indiana University's Assembly Hall and Launch Unprecedented Capital Campaign for IU Athletics". Indiana University. Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  18. ^ Medcalf, Myron (18 February 2014). "Iowa-Indiana game postponed". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Vine". Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  20. ^ Osterman, Zach (18 February 2014). "IU basketball game postponed after metal falls from Assembly Hall ceiling". IndyStar.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  21. ^ Frank, Evan. "Metal falls from Assembly Hall jumbotron, briefly delays start of IU-Ohio State 2nd half". Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  22. ^ King, Jason (December 12, 2012). "King's Court: UK's Backcourt Blues". ESPN. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  23. ^ "IU Trustees Back Move to Replace Assembly Hall". WTHR. Indianapolis. June 22, 2007. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  24. ^ ELO show 1981
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