News from campus and beyond
Furman’s Timmons Arena Reopens to Fanfare and a Multitude of Dins Fans
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Timmons Arena on Monday, Aug. 25, after the arena underwent major renovations. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.
With the Furman University band playing and Paladin cheerleaders cheering under sunny skies, hundreds of students, faculty, staff and fans from the Greenville area gathered for the re-opening of Timmons Arena after a $40 million renovation.
“We’re not just celebrating a building today. We’re celebrating the renewal of our commitment to providing an outstanding student, and student-athlete, experience,” Furman University President Elizabeth Davis told the crowd. “This is a wonderful example of the transformation that happens when people who care about Furman University … decide to invest and engage in our campus, and in community.”
Jason Donnelly, the vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics at Furman, thanked the many donors who made the renovation possible, especially Ravenel Curry ’63, who made a lead gift of $10 million. Curry’s name is emblazoned on the basketball court. The Timmons family was also present. They made a $4 million gift to build Timmons Arena, which originally opened in 1997. Raymond Newsom ’65 was another stalwart Paladin supporter. His fundraising efforts led to the installation of suites in the arena. Newsom passed away in July; his wife Carol attended the ribbon cutting.
With speeches out of the way, Davis and Donnelly cut through a ceremonial ribbon with oversized silver scissors, and fans streamed inside for their first look at the refurbished venue. You can read more about the ribbon cutting and all the improvements to Timmons Arena at FurmanPaladins.com. Timmons’s reopening comes in time for the University to celebrate its bicentennial in 2026.
