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Furman breaks ground on Timmons Arena renovation
From left, Furman women’s basketball player Niveya Henley, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Jason Donnelly, Furman University President Elizabeth Davis and Furman men’s basketball player Ben VanderWal participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking for renovations to Timmons Arena.
Dozens of Furman Paladin fans, donors, student-athletes and Furman University administrators gathered Saturday, April 13, to turn a spade of soil in a ceremonial groundbreaking for renovations to Timmons Arena.
The $40 million project, announced in February, is funded by more than 200 donors, with a lead gift of $10 million from philanthropist and businessman Ravenel B. Curry III ’63.
During renovations, the Paladins men’s basketball program will play in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville, and the women’s team will play most home games at North Greenville University.
“It is our goal to build a facility that will represent the type of first-class experience one would expect from Furman,” President Elizabeth Davis told the crowd. “A renovated Timmons Arena will not only honor and celebrate the Paladins’ storied past but will also create a tremendous homecourt advantage for our teams. Timmons will be a jewel on campus for all of our students, faculty, and staff, and it will continue to be a place for the Upstate and Furman communities to gather for basketball, Furman Engaged, graduation, and other events.”
“I think this puts us on par with the best mid-majors (basketball programs) in the country, as far as facilities go,” Pierre Curtis, women’s basketball coach, told Fox Carolina.
“There are a lot of excited fans,” Bob Richey, men’s basketball coach, told the TV station. “To see the energy with former players, and boosters and players and people from the community here, that’s what we want to be. We want to be a true program. We look at this as a program moment, a Furman moment, a Greenville moment, and that brings a lot of joy with it.”
The Timmons Arena renovation groundbreaking was part of Spring Weekend 2024, a series of events designed to engage the Furman community in the intellectual endeavors of students and faculty.