The kindler, gentler Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall thread

[bronkonagurski 894]

At least I hope so?  :popcorn:

 

So the donor turns out to be the daughter of the late Mel Simon.  The new name sounds awkward, yes.  But...honestly...I reckon this won't be popular after reading the locked thread but the renaming just doesn't not bother me at all.  My initial reaction to the blaring headline on the IndyStar was, huh?  Read more about it.  I'm glad they are going to be able to renovate the stadium.  For tradition's sake, well quite frankly the place as it stands right now isn't pristine in upholding past tradition.  I had student basketball tickets at IU for 5 seasons.  I attended over 50 games in that place.  The Assembly Hall I remember didn't have the advertisement boards.  It had the old school, classy scoreboard hovering over center court.  Not that monstrosity that is there now.  Then the way they totally redid the banners after RMK left.  In terms of tradition, from where I am coming from, slapping a donor's name on the building doesn't rank that high on my list of things to be frustrated about.  In fact it is probably right at the bottom of my list of changes to Assembly Hall that I don't really care for since I graduated in 1999.

 

Overall I'm glad that Mel's daughter has chosen to bless our basketball program with this outstanding donation.  That is my take and I'm not saying that to be politically correct about it.  I respect that it upsets other IU fans.  I just wanted to share my own honest opinion and hopefully give the discussion a reboot.  :ninja:

 

[mdn82 25,546]

My thing is, if you want your name at the South end they are renovating, then that is cool.  A person paying for renovations of a place with the stature of an AH does not deserve naming rights.  I know money talks, but that blows.  If they were going to do this, I wish they would have built another arena.  It should be AH, RMKH, or BMH.  Name the entrance after her family.  I know what they have done for Indiana University.  This just feels wrong to me.  Plus, how can we sell every aspect of our program on tradition, and then do something like this when money is flashed in front of our face.  I can't imagine someone having this history with this university and requesting this.  

[Dalton26 16,892]

My thing is, if you want your name at the South end they are renovating, then that is cool. A person paying for renovations of a place with the stature of an AH does not deserve naming rights. I know money talks, but that blows. If they were going to do this, I wish they would have built another arena. It should be AH, RMKH, or BMH. Name the entrance after her family. I know what they have done for Indiana University. This just feels wrong to me. Plus, how can we sell every aspect of our program on tradition, and then do something like this when money is flashed in front of our face. I can't imagine someone having this history with this university and requesting this.

Couldn't agree more. I don't mind naming something after them just not AH. To me the only way I'd be ok with a name change is for coach knight.

So have they released what exactly they're doing to AH or did I just miss it?




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[Hovadipo 57,531]

At some point I think it came down to "Whatever it takes to get this thing renovated". Yes, it really does suck that they are adding the name in front of Assembly Hall, but I feel like people will quickly forget that the building even has a formal name and/or refuse to put the name in front of it. I think we'll all forget about the naming of it relatively quickly, but who knows.


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[Hovadipo 57,531]

Couldn't agree more. I don't mind naming something after them just not AH. To me the only way I'd be ok with a name change is for coach knight.

So have they released what exactly they're doing to AH or did I just miss it?




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New video board at midcourt, new entrance on the south end I believe, new restrooms and concession stands, new box seating above the bleachers on the south baseline were the main points that I can remember.


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[coachmayhew 1,414]

Wow last thread was crazy, anyhow no matter what the name, the coach, the players, or mop ladies, as long as the jerseys say Indiana on the front that will be my team! And that is what matters to me.

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[OliviaPope40 6,717]

New video board at midcourt, new entrance on the south end I believe, new restrooms and concession stands, new box seating above the bleachers on the south baseline were the main points that I can remember.


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I believe they also wanted to change the HVAC as well.

[mdn82 25,546]

At some point I think it came down to "Whatever it takes to get this thing renovated". Yes, it really does suck that they are adding the name in front of Assembly Hall, but I feel like people will quickly forget that the building even has a formal name and/or refuse to put the name in front of it. I think we'll all forget about the naming of it relatively quickly, but who knows.


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I definitely agree with your response.  I just feel for as much as we sell our tradition, we should truly embrace it.  A donor doesn't make AH.  The coaches who have won, or it should stay what it has been.  Even if they flash $40 million for renovations.  They should get the naming rights to the area they renovate.  I completely get why they did it.  I think it goes above AH.  It goes into the $40 million she donated in 2007 which she got naming rights for on top of the millions beyond that.  Donations make our university what it is.  This is just something I disagree with.  

[Hurryin' Hoosiers 1,999]

Why would we name AH after someone who wants nothing to do with IU?

 

I'm not a big fan of it being named after her but then I'd be against it being named after anyone, regardless of their credentials

[TheWatShot 14,425]

I don't know about anyone else...

 

 

But the jerseys will still say "INDIANA" and the players will still wear the candy-cane warmups...

 

The games won't look any different...

 

People will still call it "Assembly Hall" just like people still say "Conseco" instead of Bankers Life or "the Hoosier Dome" instead of RCA. In fact it's even less of a change than those other places. 

 

 

This is so inconsequential it's almost not even worth discussing. 

[JSHoosier 20,816]

Why would we name AH after someone who wants nothing to do with IU?

 

I'm not a big fan of it being named after her but then I'd be against it being named after anyone, regardless of their credentials

Regardless of how people feel about RMK, he is one of the best coaches in the history of college hoops and has probably forgotten more about the game than some coaches will ever know.  Crean always touts "It's Indiana, it's Indiana", and Bob Knight is a huge part that.  He had/has his issues, his issues have issues, but he did good things for our beloved basketball program and the university itself.  Besides, we all have our own demons to face.

 

Back on topic though, there aren't many people I would want the stadium named after.  As MDN said, name the entrance after them, fine I don't care, but not the whole stadium.

[Dalton26 16,892]

New video board at midcourt, new entrance on the south end I believe, new restrooms and concession stands, new box seating above the bleachers on the south baseline were the main points that I can remember.


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thanks


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[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

With the dust settled... SS Assembly Hall will remain Assembly Hall for everyone except the TV announcers. Still don't like it, but I'm Happy the hall will remain standing for many many years to come.


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[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Hahaha so people actually think this picture is really happening... [attachment=276:ImageUploadedByBtownBanners1387519133.916396.jpg]


Link to the Humor: https://www.facebook.com/IUBASKETBALL/posts/743283295699182:0


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[Parakeet Jones 3,818]

Personally, I'd rather keep the place under an adjusted name than to build something new.  I have too many good memories there.  

 

I certainly see why some are so upset about this, I just can't personally work up the disgust or outrage over it.  

[CottageGrove 563]

Count me as one who would have preferred the building eventually be named for RMK, but I'm okay with the donor name too. 

 

I get the sentiment about only naming the South entrance for SS, but I think the most important part of the renovation is actually replacing/upgrading both the HVAC and electrical systems. That's certainly not the sexiest of uses for a big chunk of the $40M, but it's apparently the most important to keep the building viable.

 

I also agree with everyone who says we'll still call it Assembly Hall. If I remember correctly the building on campus that houses the MBA program is actually named the Godfrey Executive something or other. But when I was there (which was during and immediately after it was built), everyone just called it the MBA building.

[RoadToZion 373]

Glass made it pretty simple in the press conference. If it wasn't for this donation, renovations of Assembly Hall would probably not happen. Therefore, Assembly Hall would be torn down in the near future to build a new, modern arena. That would have SUCKED, and I'm sure many would agree. Her giving this donation lets us keep the tradition of Assembly Hall in tact. 

 

If you've been to Assembly Hall, you understand why it needs some work. The bathrooms smell like puke and piss.

 

The atmosphere won't change......which is the best part of Assembly Hall. 

 

Yeah the name sucks, but who honestly is going to call it anything other than Assembly Hall? At least they kept that part of the name. This isn't the 70's or 80's, changes happen and it all comes down to money. I applaud her for the donation. 

 

It really comes down to: 40million donation and a slight name change -or- a brand new modern Assembly Hall. 

 

Everyone sack up and realize this is by far the best decision that could have been made. People handing over 40 million dollars doesn't happen every day. And to the people saying it should be named after Bob Knight....get real. That would never happen.

[Naturalhoosier 15,439]

I liken the change to Sports Authority Field/Invesco Field at Mile High.  I've been in Denver since 2000.  Just as the Broncos were transitioning to the 'new' Mile High. 

 

The local fan base was in an uproar over the change.  Originally, they were going to call it "Invesco Field".  There was so much outcry from the public that they added "...at Mile High" to keep the tradition alive.  It was a good move by the organization to do that.  It's freaking Mile High...it needs to stay that way.

 

It's very similar to our situation.  It's Assembly Hall.  It needs to stay that way.  Put me in the camp who's knee-jerk reaction was pissed off about the change.  At the end of the day though it doesn't really matter.  Like many pointed out, we're still the Hoosiers.  The jersey still spells out "Indiana", the beautiful logo of the state of Indiana is still at mid-court, it doesn't change our massive home court advantage by any means, and ultimately, I will still call it Assembly Hall.  Just like I still call the home of the Broncos, Mile High.  

[MrYuk 208]

I was one of em who flipped out about the name change, I'm still not comfortable with it, but I'm starting to come to terms with it. It still says Indiana on the jerseys, and it's still greatest place on earth. I'll prolly never fully accept the name but as long as I can have my iubb then I'll be happy

[FortWayneHoosier 6,322]

just as long as they dont put names on the back of the jerseys, then i will have a problem