Indiana University Athletics
Wednesday’s Home Opener Is First #iubb Regular Season Game in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
11/16/2016 3:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – On Wednesday night, the Indiana men's basketball team will play its first regular season game in the newly renovated Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall when they welcome UMass Lowell at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The fifth-ranked Hoosiers are coming off an impressive 103-99 win over No. 3 Kansas in the Armed Forces Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Among the numerous new amenities is the nation's largest center-hung video display/scoreboard in a college-specific venue.
Four video displays will make up the center-hung configuration using a total of 1,433,600 LEDs to provide high quality images and graphics for fans. One of the main displays incorporates six times more LEDs than the city of Bloomington has people.
The two main displays each measure approximately 18 feet high by 31 feet wide while the two end displays each measure 10 feet high by 20 feet tall. All four displays feature 6 millimeter line spacing to provide excellent image clarity and contrast with wide angle visibility.
Top 10 Main Center-hung Video Displays in College-Specific Venues:
Rank Location Main Display Size (sq ft)
1 Indiana University Assembly Hall 551.00
2 Rupp Arena University of Kentucky 522.91
3 University of Arkansas Bud Walton Arena 484.02
4 Rupp Arena 440.80
5 Clemson University Little John Coliseum 437.56
6 University of Tulsa 437.56
7 University of Maryland College Park 414.87
8 University of Mississippi Athletic Department 380.76
9 University of Arkansas Bud Walton Arena 380.30
10 University of Nebraska Devaney Sports Center 379.22
Other aspects of the renovation include:
The Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, located adjacent to the west hallway of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It is a first-of-its-kind, cutting-edge, student-focused, video, broadcasting and technology center. A $5 million gift from Cuban has made IU Athletics a national leader in 3D broadcast and replay, virtual reality and 3D virtual studio technologies.
The Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology partners with academic units on campus to provide opportunities for students in various media and technology disciplines by allowing them to use cutting edge technology and equipment to hone their skills and produce high-quality professional content. Utilizing the center's resources, IU students will produce a wide variety of media content for IU Athletics including virtual reality videos for fan experience, athlete instruction, recruiting videos, social media, video board displays, team specific shows and live event broadcasts for all 24 IU sports.
New South Lobby
The most highly visible component to the renovation of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall is the new grand entrance and south lobby providing a bold new "front door" for the building facing the campus. Complimenting nearby Cook Hall, the new south entrance of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall features a prominent glass atrium allowing fans to see the court from the lobby and new inside signage (modeled after the original Assembly Hall signage) and branding viewable from the outside.
The new entrance to Assembly Hall includes new ticket windows, concourse flooring, branding, signage, four new escalators and grand staircases, and lobby restrooms. Two new escalators were also added to the north lobby.
Ken Nunn Champions Plaza
Named in honor of major donor Ken Nunn, the Ken Nunn Champions Plaza is a beautifully landscaped area that welcomes fans into the new south entrance of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall with inviting greenspace and lighting. The plaza also creates a unified IU basketball outdoor area by connecting Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and Cook Hall.
Improved and Added Restrooms
All existing restrooms were updated and new ones were added as part of the renovations for Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Women's restroom fixture counts increased by 112 percent from prior to the renovation, while men's restroom fixture counts were increased by 33 percent. The total fixture increase for all restrooms grew by 68 percent (from 186 to 314). Updates to the existing restrooms include new ceilings, lights, paint, toilet partitions, toilet seats, lave deck sink systems, flooring tile and select fixtures adjusted to accessible dimensions.
There are 16 new all gender restrooms that are for use for all individuals and families with small children. These restrooms include baby changing stations. All new restrooms (men's, women's, all gender) are 100 percent ADA compliant and include comfortable amenities designed for the gameday environment.
Other Fan Amenities
A number of other exciting new fan amenities and branding elements are featured throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. These new amenities creatively display elements of IU basketball and IU Athletics history.
Interactive touch screens, developed in-house by IU Athletics IT staff in concert with graphic designers, videographers and photographers working in the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, are housed in the south lobby. These displays provide patrons with photos and videos chronicling both IU Athletics and IU basketball history. The screens include a database listing IU basketball All-Americans and Indiana high school basketball All-Stars. The interactive touch screens also provide access to team photographs of varsity teams at IU and to the Indiana University Archives Photograph Collection.
The south lobby also has two large 9x15 feet video screens mounted high on the walls on each side of the entrance. These displays will display photos, highlight videos, broadcast of games, and promote upcoming events. The content on the screens will be created by students working in the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology.
The interactive screens also include the IU Athletics Hall of Fame and feature the classic water color portraits that previously graced the walls of the north and south lobbies. Additionally, physical versions of those portraits can now be viewed in a permanent display in the Henke Hall of Champions within Memorial Stadium.
Over 150 new framed pictures of iconic IU basketball players, teams, and moments have been hung throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Another fan-friendly feature of the south lobby are two three-dimensional eight-foot tall IU logos. Resembling Indiana limestone, the structures are on the second level of the south entrance, are visible from the exterior of the building and provide a perfect location for fans to take pictures to share on social media and otherwise.
A donor recognition display is also a part of the south lobby. This display recognizes major contributions to IU Athletics' portion of the For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign. Named and endowed scholarship donors are recognized in modern displays honoring their extraordinary commitment to providing critical scholarship support for deserving students in all 24 varsity sports. Donors to previous campaigns are also recognized in modern displays honoring their extraordinary commitment to Indiana University Athletics.
All 25 IU national championship teams are prominently displayed throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Featured in both the north and south lobbies, there is a display with 25 stars and a listing of the championship teams, with room to add future championship teams.
The five national championships for men's basketball are on display in their own space as part of the renovated west entrance into the building. Resulting from a major gift from the Menke family, the entrance is now known as the Menke Family Champions Lobby. Brothers Bob and Bill Menke were part of Indiana's first national championship team in 1940 under legendary head coach Branch McCracken. Both brothers served in World War II after college. Bill lost his life defending his country in a plane crash during the war. Bob returned to Huntingburg and founded a family business which is now known as OFS Brands, a family-owned, community-driven manufacturing and logistics company providing furniture solutions in office, healthcare, education and government markets. Bob passed away in 2008 at the age 88, but the Menke family's legacy lives on through Bob's wife Phyllis, and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bob's son, Hank Menke, now serves as CEO and President of OFS Brands.
Other entry level displays include memorable composite photos of every IU Big Ten championship team (east hallway), an IU Olympians wall (west hallway) and a Traditions of IU display (south lobby). Throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, fans will see framed images and stories from IU basketball lore. These photos and stories range from the first varsity team in 1900-01, to the five national championships, to the early days of IU women's basketball, to the many great moments from recent IU basketball history.
One of many updates within the arena bowl itself is that every non-bleacher seat is crimson and branded with an embossed IU logo on the chair back. Every ticketed, non-bleacher seat has also been refurbished with red, cleanable upholstery, new inner foam padding and cream colored seat pans that will provide more comfort for fans.
To improve visibility and fan safety, most guardrails have been replaced by transparent acrylic material. This addition especially improves visibility for students and fans sitting in the balconies.
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall also features new flooring, lighting, and an updated paint scheme. New, colorful, patterned flooring that features IU marks are part of the renovated walk spaces. The entry level features a terrazzo floor, while a resinous epoxy floor is on the main concourse level. A new red and white paint scheme is on the walls and many ceilings of the building with iron ore color accents on doors, windows and other frames.
Upon entering any entrance, signage reminiscent of the original hand-painted directional signs are hung throughout the building. Those are in place to assist fans with locating seats, restrooms, concessions and landmarks.
Among the numerous new amenities is the nation's largest center-hung video display/scoreboard in a college-specific venue.
Four video displays will make up the center-hung configuration using a total of 1,433,600 LEDs to provide high quality images and graphics for fans. One of the main displays incorporates six times more LEDs than the city of Bloomington has people.
The two main displays each measure approximately 18 feet high by 31 feet wide while the two end displays each measure 10 feet high by 20 feet tall. All four displays feature 6 millimeter line spacing to provide excellent image clarity and contrast with wide angle visibility.
Top 10 Main Center-hung Video Displays in College-Specific Venues:
Rank Location Main Display Size (sq ft)
1 Indiana University Assembly Hall 551.00
2 Rupp Arena University of Kentucky 522.91
3 University of Arkansas Bud Walton Arena 484.02
4 Rupp Arena 440.80
5 Clemson University Little John Coliseum 437.56
6 University of Tulsa 437.56
7 University of Maryland College Park 414.87
8 University of Mississippi Athletic Department 380.76
9 University of Arkansas Bud Walton Arena 380.30
10 University of Nebraska Devaney Sports Center 379.22
Other aspects of the renovation include:
The Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, located adjacent to the west hallway of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It is a first-of-its-kind, cutting-edge, student-focused, video, broadcasting and technology center. A $5 million gift from Cuban has made IU Athletics a national leader in 3D broadcast and replay, virtual reality and 3D virtual studio technologies.
The Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology partners with academic units on campus to provide opportunities for students in various media and technology disciplines by allowing them to use cutting edge technology and equipment to hone their skills and produce high-quality professional content. Utilizing the center's resources, IU students will produce a wide variety of media content for IU Athletics including virtual reality videos for fan experience, athlete instruction, recruiting videos, social media, video board displays, team specific shows and live event broadcasts for all 24 IU sports.
New South Lobby
The most highly visible component to the renovation of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall is the new grand entrance and south lobby providing a bold new "front door" for the building facing the campus. Complimenting nearby Cook Hall, the new south entrance of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall features a prominent glass atrium allowing fans to see the court from the lobby and new inside signage (modeled after the original Assembly Hall signage) and branding viewable from the outside.
The new entrance to Assembly Hall includes new ticket windows, concourse flooring, branding, signage, four new escalators and grand staircases, and lobby restrooms. Two new escalators were also added to the north lobby.
Ken Nunn Champions Plaza
Named in honor of major donor Ken Nunn, the Ken Nunn Champions Plaza is a beautifully landscaped area that welcomes fans into the new south entrance of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall with inviting greenspace and lighting. The plaza also creates a unified IU basketball outdoor area by connecting Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and Cook Hall.
Improved and Added Restrooms
All existing restrooms were updated and new ones were added as part of the renovations for Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Women's restroom fixture counts increased by 112 percent from prior to the renovation, while men's restroom fixture counts were increased by 33 percent. The total fixture increase for all restrooms grew by 68 percent (from 186 to 314). Updates to the existing restrooms include new ceilings, lights, paint, toilet partitions, toilet seats, lave deck sink systems, flooring tile and select fixtures adjusted to accessible dimensions.
There are 16 new all gender restrooms that are for use for all individuals and families with small children. These restrooms include baby changing stations. All new restrooms (men's, women's, all gender) are 100 percent ADA compliant and include comfortable amenities designed for the gameday environment.
Other Fan Amenities
A number of other exciting new fan amenities and branding elements are featured throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. These new amenities creatively display elements of IU basketball and IU Athletics history.
Interactive touch screens, developed in-house by IU Athletics IT staff in concert with graphic designers, videographers and photographers working in the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, are housed in the south lobby. These displays provide patrons with photos and videos chronicling both IU Athletics and IU basketball history. The screens include a database listing IU basketball All-Americans and Indiana high school basketball All-Stars. The interactive touch screens also provide access to team photographs of varsity teams at IU and to the Indiana University Archives Photograph Collection.
The south lobby also has two large 9x15 feet video screens mounted high on the walls on each side of the entrance. These displays will display photos, highlight videos, broadcast of games, and promote upcoming events. The content on the screens will be created by students working in the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology.
The interactive screens also include the IU Athletics Hall of Fame and feature the classic water color portraits that previously graced the walls of the north and south lobbies. Additionally, physical versions of those portraits can now be viewed in a permanent display in the Henke Hall of Champions within Memorial Stadium.
Over 150 new framed pictures of iconic IU basketball players, teams, and moments have been hung throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Another fan-friendly feature of the south lobby are two three-dimensional eight-foot tall IU logos. Resembling Indiana limestone, the structures are on the second level of the south entrance, are visible from the exterior of the building and provide a perfect location for fans to take pictures to share on social media and otherwise.
A donor recognition display is also a part of the south lobby. This display recognizes major contributions to IU Athletics' portion of the For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign. Named and endowed scholarship donors are recognized in modern displays honoring their extraordinary commitment to providing critical scholarship support for deserving students in all 24 varsity sports. Donors to previous campaigns are also recognized in modern displays honoring their extraordinary commitment to Indiana University Athletics.
All 25 IU national championship teams are prominently displayed throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Featured in both the north and south lobbies, there is a display with 25 stars and a listing of the championship teams, with room to add future championship teams.
The five national championships for men's basketball are on display in their own space as part of the renovated west entrance into the building. Resulting from a major gift from the Menke family, the entrance is now known as the Menke Family Champions Lobby. Brothers Bob and Bill Menke were part of Indiana's first national championship team in 1940 under legendary head coach Branch McCracken. Both brothers served in World War II after college. Bill lost his life defending his country in a plane crash during the war. Bob returned to Huntingburg and founded a family business which is now known as OFS Brands, a family-owned, community-driven manufacturing and logistics company providing furniture solutions in office, healthcare, education and government markets. Bob passed away in 2008 at the age 88, but the Menke family's legacy lives on through Bob's wife Phyllis, and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bob's son, Hank Menke, now serves as CEO and President of OFS Brands.
Other entry level displays include memorable composite photos of every IU Big Ten championship team (east hallway), an IU Olympians wall (west hallway) and a Traditions of IU display (south lobby). Throughout Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, fans will see framed images and stories from IU basketball lore. These photos and stories range from the first varsity team in 1900-01, to the five national championships, to the early days of IU women's basketball, to the many great moments from recent IU basketball history.
One of many updates within the arena bowl itself is that every non-bleacher seat is crimson and branded with an embossed IU logo on the chair back. Every ticketed, non-bleacher seat has also been refurbished with red, cleanable upholstery, new inner foam padding and cream colored seat pans that will provide more comfort for fans.
To improve visibility and fan safety, most guardrails have been replaced by transparent acrylic material. This addition especially improves visibility for students and fans sitting in the balconies.
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall also features new flooring, lighting, and an updated paint scheme. New, colorful, patterned flooring that features IU marks are part of the renovated walk spaces. The entry level features a terrazzo floor, while a resinous epoxy floor is on the main concourse level. A new red and white paint scheme is on the walls and many ceilings of the building with iron ore color accents on doors, windows and other frames.
Upon entering any entrance, signage reminiscent of the original hand-painted directional signs are hung throughout the building. Those are in place to assist fans with locating seats, restrooms, concessions and landmarks.
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