Inside Furman is published quarterly by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
A new look for Timmons
Those walking into Timmons Arena later this year may get an odd sensation
— like biting into a Twinkie and discovering that someone has replaced
the creamy filling with something different, something even better.
While the outside of the 10-year-old building will remain the same, workers
will begin recrafting the building’s interior this August to improve
sightlines and create a more intimate environment for basketball games.
Entering the building from the home side, fans will first notice that the
front portion of the stage has been removed and replaced with four rows of
seats that extend to the court floor.
The scorer’s table and team benches will be relocated to the home side,
and long black curtains — hanging from rafters to floor — will
flank the court. The scoreboards, too, will be placed closer to the action.
The student section will be repositioned on the stage side of the arena, just
a few feet from the action.
“This is going to be real dramatic change,” says Athletic Director
Gary Clark. “Our goal is to get more people sitting right around the
court. It’s going to have a completely different look and feel.”
The multi-purpose arena, constructed in 1997, hosts concerts, graduation ceremonies
and athletic events. While the arena’s design is flexible, basketball
fans have long complained about poor sightlines and the building’s expansive
feel.
Clark said his staff began discussing the changes, which cost about $250,000,
a year ago. The modifications will begin in August and will require little
structural change. Clark said that the new interior can be reconfigured for
a concert or other event with limited difficulty.
Men’s basketball coach Jeff Jackson thinks the new look might sway some
games. “It will improve our fan involvement,” says Jackson. “It
will impact our opportunity to win if there are more fans and they are excited
and more involved.”