BTN.com staff, April 29, 2013
The University of Illinois and State Farm announced Monday that the school's basketball arena, long known as Assembly Hall, will be renamed State Farm Center.
[ FightingIllini.com: UI, State Farm unveil naming of State Farm Center ]
The name change is part of a 30-year, $60-million agreement that coincides with the arena undergoing a major renovation project that is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2016.
"We are extremely proud to announce this relationship with State Farm, one of the most respected corporate brands in the world," Illinois Director of Athletics Mike Thomas said. "State Farm has been an outstanding partner for the University of Illinois for more than two decades, and this agreement will carry that partnership forward for at least three more."
Here are some tweets in reaction to the name change:
https://twitter.com/IllinoisLoyalty/status/329003949837402113
Illinois changing the name of its 50-year-old Assembly Hall to the State Farm Center. Good luck getting that name to stick.
— Nate Sandell (@NSandell) April 29, 2013
No more confusion in Big Ten. If you say Assembly Hall, we'll know you're talking IU. Or that you're still stuck in 1989.
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) April 29, 2013
With today's news, #B1G hoops could have "The Barn," and "The Farm."
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) April 29, 2013
Univ. of Illinois announces its Assembly Hall will now be called State Farm Center. That should lessen confusion w/ #iubb's Assembly Hall.
— IndyStarSports (@IndyStarSports) April 29, 2013
Kind of a big day for Indiana, actually. The second Assembly Hall now becomes the only Assembly Hall.
— Robert Rosenthal (@ALionEye) April 29, 2013
Wonder if shootout at the hall will now be called shootout at the farm? #illini #assemblyhall
— Matt Daniels (@mdaniels_NG) April 29, 2013