Assembly Hall, Should we replace it?

[XLevel 144]

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 stadium for $115 million because construction of a new arena would cost $130 Million. - 

"IU Trustees Back Move to Replace Assembly Hall". WTHR. June 22, 2007

 

We all know Assembly Hall is by far the loudest, and arguably the most storied college basketball venue, but it is always sold out and is 41 years old. With the fan base as large as it is and growing, we could definitely use more seating.

 

I'm torn.  I love the history of Assembly Hall and hate to lose the feel, but I can imagine what it could be.  I can also imagine it losing it's tight feel.  For example, Bankers Life Fieldhouse is an amazing facility and is considered to be the best in the NBA by many.  However, I don't think it's as loud as MSA was.  Same goes for Lucas Oil.  Incredible venue, but it has lost something.  Maybe I'm just aggrandizing the two, but I have that same feeling in Assembly Hall.

 

Hopefully, when it does happen, because I do believe it will eventually, the designer and architect are IU fans and can appreciate what we as fans don't want to lose.

[Will_Padgman 194]

I can't help but agree. The atmosphere is the most important thing to the college game, and without that it just doesn't feel the same. I have not been to many other places, but I just can't imagine Assembly Hall any differently, and I can only imagine how others older than me feel. If we do need to "upgrade" to include more seating, fine, but just make sure the atmosphere doesn't worsen because of it

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Assembly Hall is the Wrigley Field of college basketball stadiums.  It will always be there.  Assembly Hall has too much history, too many positive feelings/vibes and too many fans in love with it for anything to happen.  You don't get quotes from other players like this:

 

 

“It gets so loud that you don’t hear anything, you know that loud where it’s above you and it’s kind of silent,” Iowa junior Devyn Marble said. “That kind of feeling.”

 

 

“It gets ridiculous,” said Purdue’s Terone Johnson. “The atmosphere is crazy, whether they’re on a three-game losing streak or a three-game winning streak.”

 

“Indiana is the toughest arena to play in. It’s so loud,” Michigan State point guard Keith Appling said. “It remember playing there thinking, ‘It’s too loud.’ We couldn’t even call our sets for the full 40 minutes. The fans, not just the student section, but all the fans were into the game, constantly screaming and shouting for the full 40 minutes.”

 

“It’s the red and white,” said Penn State guard Tim Frazier, a 2012 first-team all-Big Ten selection but out for the season with a knee injury. “It’s the old gym look, and they’re right there on top of you. You hear everything that goes on and everything that’s said.”

 

“At Indiana the Jumbotron shakes and the hoop shakes,” Minnesota forward Rodney Williams said.

 

“They pack the most fans in the Big Ten in there,” Northwestern’s Alex Marcotulio said. “The noise, the shape of the arena, just funnels down to the court.

“They make a few shots and the place just erupts.”

 

Full Story: B1G Players Poll: Tougest Venues

 

When you have opposing players saying things like that, you don't build a new gym.  Assembly Hall will always be home to the 5, soon to be 6 banners.

 

I'd cry like a little girl if they knocked it down... Seriously.

[HoosierJacoby 129]

I'm all for putting off any restoration of AH or construction of a new arena for as long as possible.  It's an amazing place where first timers and those who come often can instantly feel the tradition and passion upon entering the building.  The design of the building is perfect for intimidating opponents and no restoration or fancy arena could ever match the intensity inside of AH.  I mean its 17,000 people stacked right on top of the court and all of the noise funnels down perfectly in unison, and I couldn't agree more that a new arena would never capture this, similar to Lucas Oil and the RCA Dome.  However, if I understand correctly, AH will soon need renovation or destruction because honestly its just so old its falling apart (I've heard some of the plumbing is only a few years away from needing massive overhaul).  I never wish to see Assembly Hall change ( I appreciate the vintage feel even if not every seat in the house has a perfect view or nice cushion for your butt) but eventually something will have to give.  I hope they can renovate AH some while trying to keep the main feel of it intact, and I hope one day they will model a new arena that reflects the same type of atmosphere and tradition and honors the AH we all know and love in some way.  All I know is, I am thankful that the building remains as is for my college stay at IU.  In high school, I worried that a new arena would be built when I arrived on campus but thankfully as a Junior at IU now Assembly Hall still stands! I hope my kids are lucky enough to witness IU basketball in such an amazing atmosphere.  There is nothing like it.

[XLevel 144]

I'd cry like a little girl if they knocked it down... Seriously.

 

You and me both.  They'd have to have services and grief counselors on site.

[SocksShorts123 7]

Um, no

[BtownBanners 147]

Um, no

 

Short. Sweet. Nailed It.  +1

[HoosierTrav 7,884]

It's gonna be a sad day for sure. I do feel like we are underestimating the role that the fans play in making AH so loud. Whatever we give up in acoustic design, I hope we add another 3-6k seats to accommodate our fan base (and bring tix prices down.) I would be all for a new state of the art facility. I love the tradition of assembly hall but I also feel like a brand new facility could pay long term dividends in the recruiting dept.

[The Chair 11]

Renovate if you must, but why not use that money to do things like say lower tuition rates? Somehow I think that would be met with much broader appeal :D

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

It's gonna be a sad day for sure. I do feel like we are underestimating the role that the fans play in making AH so loud. Whatever we give up in acoustic design, I hope we add another 3-6k seats to accommodate our fan base (and bring tix prices down.) I would be all for a new state of the art facility. I love the tradition of assembly hall but I also feel like a brand new facility could pay long term dividends in the recruiting dept.

 

Welcome to the board Travis!  I think Cook Hall mitigates the need for a state of the art arena.  I think players enjoy coming to Assembly Hall.  It has an aura/ mystique about it that other gyms just don't have.  A good example is Ohio State's Value City Arena.  That place is amazing, but it you can hear a pen drop during crucial moments.

 

Colts fans were considered some of the loudest in the leauge (Remember Bellicheat saying we piped in crowd noise?).  Lucas Oil isn't anywhere NEAR how loud RCA Dome got.  My ears used to ring in the RCA dome.  Lucas Oil, for as nice as it is, just isn't loud.  It's not difficult to carry a conversation during the middle of a game.  Same fans, New Stadium.

[MrYuk 208]

HELL NO!!!..........that is all.........

[Indiana-Pride 7]

Assembly Hall is the Wrigley Field of college basketball stadiums.  It will always be there.  Assembly Hall has too much history, too many positive feelings/vibes and too many fans in love with it for anything to happen.  You don't get quotes from other players like this:

 

 

 

 

 

Full Story: B1G Players Poll: Tougest Venues

 

When you have opposing players saying things like that, you don't build a new gym.  Assembly Hall will always be home to the 5, soon to be 6 banners.

 

I'd cry like a little girl if they knocked it down... Seriously.

Comparing AH to Wrigley field is a disgrace,the only they history they have is losing...

[Courtsensetwo 0]

I often run into tAH during Football tailgates to use the restroom.  Sometimes the door to the little "perch" on the north end is open and there are always visiting fans there wanting to get their first look at the real thing and take a photo. 

 

Visitors are usually hushed and reverent...taking it all in...whispering as if they were in a European Cathedral.  Because in many ways...they are.

[swishinj 27]

If IU decides to build a new stadium, they need to be sure that it will be louder than Assembly, if that is even possible, instead of just trying to cram people in.  

 

Edit: @Courtsensetwo that's awesome, I'll have to check it out next year before a football game, I have never been in Assembly, I was supposed to go to Hoosier Hysteria, but went to a Bears game instead.  "IU basketball tickets are too damn high" -Jimmy McMillan

[MrYuk 208]

This years Hoosier Hysteria was my first and only time in Assembly Hall, words cannot describe the emotions that hit me when I first walked in and saw the court for the first time in person, it was absolutely magical....I'm sure hoosier nation will be devastated when they replace it....to me, the Hall is part of our tradition and should stay.

[swishinj 27]

I love the player introductions from last years Hoosier Hysteria. The crowd was so hyped up, they had a feeling that IU basketball was back. Plus, Gus Johnson's announcing makes it even more awesome! 

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Comparing AH to Wrigley field is a disgrace,the only they history they have is losing...

 

From that perspective yes.  I was going more for the, they will never knock it down and build a new stadium because it is historic.  The fans all love it, the players love playing there etc. 

 

By NO MEANS am I comparing the Chicago Cubs to the Indiana Hoosiers!   Well maybe our football team :)

[Homegrown Hoosier 40]

Indiana Basketball is incredibly rich in tradition. Nothing shows this tradition more than Assembly Hall. Is the place a little outdated? Of course it is! However, there's a reason that it has been nicknamed "The Carnegie Hall of College Basketball." There is way too much tradition and history in this building for it to be replaced for a place that will seat more but have much less of an atmosphere as The Real Assembly Hall. When the Hall is packed and rocking it is incredibly difficult for other teams to function. Just a week or so ago a poll of current Big Ten basketball players showed that Assembly Hall was almost unanimously the toughest place to play in the conference. I sure hope it isn't destroyed because of people's view of dollars and cents. This decision is bigger than a few trustees. It's the fan's decision. I'd be the first to make a donation to fund a refurbishing of the current Assembly Hall as it welcomes many more banners for years to come.

[Will_Padgman 194]

Indiana Basketball is incredibly rich in tradition. Nothing shows this tradition more than Assembly Hall. Is the place a little outdated? Of course it is! However, there's a reason that it has been nicknamed "The Carnegie Hall of College Basketball." There is way too much tradition and history in this building for it to be replaced for a place that will seat more but have much less of an atmosphere as The Real Assembly Hall. When the Hall is packed and rocking it is incredibly difficult for other teams to function. Just a week or so ago a poll of current Big Ten basketball players showed that Assembly Hall was almost unanimously the toughest place to play in the conference. I sure hope it isn't destroyed because of people's view of dollars and cents. This decision is bigger than a few trustees. It's the fan's decision. I'd be the first to make a donation to fund a refurbishing of the current Assembly Hall as it welcomes many more banners for years to come.

I must agree with this wholeheartedly. If the building could just be refurbished, it doesn't matter how much it seats. So many people from many walks of life have had the joyous experience of visiting Assembly Hall, and although some bitter UK fans may call it a barn, it really doesn't matter, because in 49 states, its just basketball...but this is Indiana

[HoosierBeezo 30]

No way you ever replace Assembly... I've only been to 3 IU games ever, but it was the 3 best times of my life... I'm really looking forward to coming to more games in the future.  Add to it if you must, but no way should it be demolished.