Home-Court Advantage

When Furman basketball fans attend their first game in the newly renovated Timmons Arena this fall, it’s easy to imagine they’ll finally experience the basketball facility of their dreams.

Gone is the multi-purpose building with its sharp corners and odd viewing angles that was designed to accommodate a wide variety of events, one of which happened to be basketball. In its place is a basketball-only arena that promises to enhance the fan experience from tipoff to final buzzer.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the renovated Timmons Arena.

The $40 million renovation, which began after the 2023-2024 basketball season, is nothing less than a total makeover of the arena. The building’s interior was largely gutted and redesigned with a 360-degree concourse that surrounds the arena and provides multiple access points to the court and the 2,241 seats at floor level.

The new look doesn’t stop there. The upgrade includes enhanced concession areas, premium hospitality venues, private and party suites, upgraded audio and two new ribbon boards. There also are new visitor locker rooms and offices for athletic staff.

“We’re very happy with how things turned out in Timmons Arena,” says Jason Donnelly, Furman’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics. “It’s one of those occasions where the finished product is better than the renderings, which is wonderful for everyone that’s been involved in the project.”

The dramatic changes to Timmons are apparent before even entering the arena. The front of the building has been transformed into an impressive glass facade that rises all the way to the roof level.

Once inside, fans are greeted by an upgraded box office area to handle ticket demands. Then they move into the lobby, which houses the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame and features interactive exhibits showcasing the university’s sports history. From there, it’s on to the arena, where fans step onto the 360-degree concourse.

In addition to the enhanced food concessions, the concourse has two areas serving beer and wine. A drink rail that extends around the concourse provides an unobstructed view of the action from any angle above the court. There’s also a children’s play area curated by the Children’s Museum of the Upstate and the Spinx Student Section putting raucous student fans closer to the action.

Because the concourse provides ample space for fans to congregate and watch the game, Donnelly says it will allow the arena to accommodate a capacity crowd of 2,750.

People walk by the SPINX Student Section of the newly renovated Timmons Arena after a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“That’s a great number for our on-campus arena,” he says, “and we’ll still have the ability to play larger games at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.”

For fans looking for something even more special on game day, there are eight private suites and two party suites located just above the concourse level. There are also two premium club spaces in the Ingram Courtside Club and the Herring VIP Suite. Other seating opportunities include courtside seats, club seats and premium seating closer to the floor.

“This is a tremendous upgrade for our students, season ticket holders, donors and fans on game day,” Donnelly says.

In the end, the renovated Timmons is a testament to the rise of Furman basketball, especially the men’s team, which has become one of the best mid-major programs in the country during the last decade.

Since Bob Richey became head coach in 2017, the Paladins have produced a record of 166-70 and had six teams win at least 22 games. The crowning moment came during the 2022-23 season when Furman posted a school-record 28 victories and upset Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

“The Timmons renovation put us on par with the programs we’ve been competing with regionally and nationally in recent years,” Donnelly says. “And in many ways, the arena’s unique, state-of-the-art features puts us ahead of the competition.”

Richey is certainly appreciative of the new facility and was looking forward to christening the arena with a men’s exhibition game against the University of Alabama on Oct. 26. The women’s basketball team will play their first home game on Jan. 16, 2026.

Furman men’s basketball coach Bob Richey introduces his players to a crowd at the newly renovated Timmons Arena.

“The new arena is going to have a major impact on Furman basketball,” Richey says. “From a recruiting standpoint, it gives us a top-tier facility that reflects the level of excellence we strive for in this program. It’s a space that energizes our players and our staff every day.”

And like Donnelly, women’s head basketball coach Pierre Curtis couldn’t have asked for anything more from the arena’s renovation. It marks the completion of phase two of a three-part effort that started with athletic offices in phase one, the arena in phase two and a soon-to-start phase three to build a new practice facility.

“The arena is unbelievable and our team and staff have an enhanced sense of pride knowing we get to come and work every day in one of the best facilities in the nation,” he says. “It shows the commitment to continued excellence that our athletics program has.”