Huff Hall

Last updated
George Huff Hall
Huff Hall
Huff Hall
Former namesNew Gymnasium (1925-1937)
Huff Gym (1937–1992)
Location1206 S 4th St
Champaign, IL 61820
Public transit Fourth and Gregory
1 Yellow, 8 Bronze,
22 Illini
Owner University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Capacity Volleyball, Wrestling: 4,050
Gymnastics: 3,800
Record attendanceVolleyball: 4,536
SurfaceHardwood Courts
Construction
Broke groundJune 7, 1924
Opened1925
Renovated1992, 2002 [1]
Expanded2011 [2] [3]
Construction cost$772,000
Architect
General contractorEnglish Brothers Co.
Tenants
Fighting Illini Men's Basketball (1925–63)
Fighting Illini Women's Volleyball (1990–present)
Illinois Fighting Illini men's gymnastics
Fighting Illini Women's Gymnastics
Fighting Illini Wrestling

Huff Hall is a 4,050-seat multi-purpose arena in Champaign, Illinois, United States. The arena opened in 1925 and was known as Huff Gymnasium until the 1990s. It is named after George Huff, who was the school's athletic director from 1895 to 1935.

Contents

Huff Hall is home to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini volleyball and wrestling teams. Prior to the opening of Assembly Hall in 1963, it was home to the basketball team as well.

Currently Huff Hall is used for a variety of sporting events, including men's and women's gymnastics, men's wrestling, and women's volleyball. At each athletic event banners are hung of past Illini heroes to remind the crowd of the rich tradition that Illini athletics have had.

Every March from 1926 to 1962, Huff Gymnasium played host to the state finals of the Illinois High School Association boys' basketball tournament.

Huff Hall also served as the home of the women's basketball team. Beginning in the 1970s and continuing through the mid-1990s, the team once again used Huff Hall for home games, as it struggled to fill up the Assembly Hall. Since 1997 the team has used the Assembly Hall exclusively, although it struggles with a losing record and to fill up the Assembly Hall.

From 1927 to 2002 Huff Hall was also home to a 25-yard swimming pool which served as the home of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Underwater Hockey club and the University of Illinois Water Polo Club. The pool had a consistent depth of 8 ft. which made it ideal for these activities.

Huff Hall Swimming Pool, circa 2001. Huff pool.jpg
Huff Hall Swimming Pool, circa 2001.

In addition to hosting athletic events, Huff Hall is also the home of the College of Applied Health Sciences.

Huff Hall following the last wrestling meet of the 2019-2020 season. Huff Hall in 2020.jpg
Huff Hall following the last wrestling meet of the 2019-2020 season.

History

Originally called the "New Gymnasium", Huff Hall was designed in the Georgian-Revival Style by Charles A. Platt and university architect James M. White. The building's architecture matches that of the Armory, Main Library, the Union, and other campus buildings. At the conclusion of its $772,000 construction in 1925, Huff Hall replaced the Military Drill Hall (now known as Kenney Gym Annex) as the home for Fighting Illini basketball. The "New Gymnasium" was renamed Huff Gymnasium in 1937 following the longtime athletic director's passing.

Men's basketball records at Huff Hall

SeasonWinsLossesWin pct.Total attendance
1925–26 630.667N/A
1926–27 830.72761,590
1927–28 350.37548,202
1928–29 830.72730,139*
1929–30 540.55649,418*
1930–31 730.70052,440
1931–32 820.80057,000
1932–33 830.72734,500*
1933–34 910.90055,500
1934–35 820.80062,000
1935–36 730.70078,028
1936–37 720.77863,238
1937–38 720.77863,600
1938–39 910.90057,933
1939–40 1010.90955,513
1940–41 820.80052,751
1941–42 1210.92365,357
1942–43 1001.00062,648
1943–44 640.60029,812
1944–45 730.70044,951
1945–46 1120.84666,553
1946–47 1010.90977,808*
1947–48 1110.91778,388
1948–49 1401.00049,036*
1949–50 1120.84683,736
1950–51 1210.92375,116
1951–52 1201.00057,788*
1952–53 1210.92379,957*
1953–54 1030.76977,378
1954–55 920.81864,721
1955–56 1201.00063,912
1956–57 920.81868,448
1957–58 1030.76976,032
1958–59 930.75068,292
1959–60 1020.83374,719
1960–61 730.70060,457
1961–62 840.66775,376
1962–63**901.00061,025
Totals33979.8112,283,362*

Notes:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Mustangs</span> Athletic program of the University of Western Ontario

The Western Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. The school's athletic program supports 46 varsity teams. Their mascot is a Mustang named J.W. and the school colours are purple and white. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference and the national U Sports organization. Western University offers 21 varsity sports for men and 19 for women which compete in the OUA conference. The university also offers cheerleading, women's ringette, women's softball, table tennis and ultimate frisbee, which compete outside the OUA conference, in sport-specific conferences and divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purdue Boilermakers</span> Intercollegiate athletics teams of Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

The Purdue Boilermakers are the official intercollegiate athletics teams representing Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. As is common with athletic nicknames, the Boilermakers nickname is also used as colloquial designation of Purdue's students and alumni at large. The nickname is often shortened to "Boilers" by fans. Purdue is one of the few college athletic programs that is not funded by student fees or subsidized by the university.

The Illinois Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The university offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwight Eddleman</span> American athlete (1922–2001)

Thomas Dwight "Dike" Eddleman was an American athlete who was generally considered the greatest athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Illinois. Eddleman participated on the university's basketball, track and field, and football teams between the years of 1942 and 1949. Eddleman earned a combined 11 varsity letters in his career at the university, during which he also became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Eddleman was born in Centralia, Illinois, and attended Centralia High School. On October 24, 2008, Eddleman was named a Distinguished Alumni of Centralia High school. He, along with five others, including James Brady, were the first to be named Distinguished Alumni. His wife, Teddy Eddleman, accepted his award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Farm Center</span> Arena in Champaign, Illinois, United States

The State Farm Center is a large dome-shaped 15,544-seat indoor arena located in Champaign, Illinois, owned and operated by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The arena hosts games for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball, women's basketball, and wrestling teams. It also doubles as a performance and event center, and is one of the largest venues between Chicago and St. Louis. It opened in 1963 and was known until 2013 as Assembly Hall until State Farm Insurance acquired naming rights as part of a major renovation project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stony Brook Indoor Sports Complex</span>

The Stony Brook Indoor Sports Complex is a multi-purpose complex located in Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY. The Complex houses the Island Federal Arena on the west end, the Pritchard Gymnasium on the east end, the Dubin Family Athletic Performance Center on the north side, the Goldstein Family Student–Athlete Development Center, a 25-yard long swimming pool, and many other athletic facilities within. Currently, the Stony Brook Seawolves men's and women's basketball and volleyball programs’ home games are played in the Complex, with men’s and women’s basketball playing in the Island Federal Arena and volleyball playing in the Pritchard Gymnasium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenney Gym and Kenney Gym Annex</span> United States historic place

The Kenney Gym and the Kenney Gym Annex are two buildings located at 1402-06 Springfield Avenue in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Although the two buildings have been physically connected since 1914, they were built separately. They were jointly added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 under the name Military Drill Hall and Men's Gymnasium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center</span> Multi-purpose arena on the campus of Kent State University

The Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, often referred to as the MAC Center and the MACC, is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. The building is primarily used as an athletic venue that is home to five Kent State Golden Flashes varsity athletic teams: men's basketball, women's basketball, women's volleyball, women's gymnastics, and wrestling. In addition, it hosts commencement exercises, speakers, and concerts throughout the year. The building houses the offices of the Kent State Athletic Department and the coaches of each of the university's varsity athletic teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Krush</span>

Orange Krush is a branch of the registered student organization (RSO), Illini Pride, at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. In its current form, the Organization has two faces. First, the Orange Krush is the student cheering section for the University of Illinois men's basketball team. Second, the Orange Krush exists as a charitable organization known as the Orange Krush Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braggin' Rights</span> American college basketball rivalry

Braggin' Rights is the annual men's college basketball contest between the University of Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference and University of Missouri Tigers of the SEC.

The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference, that represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Home games are played at the State Farm Center, located on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign. Illinois has one pre-tournament national championship and one non-NCAA tournament national championship in 1915 and 1943, awarded by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. Illinois has appeared in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 34 times, and has competed in 5 Final Fours, 10 Elite Eights, and has won 18 Big Ten regular season championships, and 4 Big Ten Tournament Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vadalabene Center</span>

The Sam M. Vadalabene Center is a multi-purpose sports and recreation building on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) that features an arena with a seating capacity of just over 4,000. The Vadalabene, which opened in 1984, was named in honor of Illinois State Senator Sam M. Vadalabene (1914–1994), who was a long-time and ardent supporter of the university. The Vad Pad is home to the SIUE Cougars basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams. In addition to the arena, the Vadalabene also houses a swimming pool, classrooms, offices, and several activity areas. The Student Fitness Center (SFC), built in 1993, is immediately adjacent to and an integral part of the venue and contains numerous additional recreational and fitness facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball</span> Womens basketball team of the University of Illinois

The Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at State Farm Center, located on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign's campus in Champaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Activities and Recreation Center (UIUC)</span>

The Activities and Recreation Center, more commonly known as the ARC, is an athletic facility at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign for current university students, members and guests. According to the university, Activities and Recreation Center is "one of the country's largest on-campus recreation centers".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1925–26 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1925–26 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1936–37 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1936–37 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Fighting Illini men's golf</span> American college golf team

The Illinois Fighting Illini men's golf team represents the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the sport of golf. The Fighting Illini compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home matches at the Atkins Golf Club, which is located five miles from the university's campus. The Fighting Illini are currently led by head coach Mike Small. The Fighting Illini men's golf program has won 20 Big Ten championships, including the last eight consecutively, and in 2013 finished as national runner-up at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, which was the highest finish in the program's history. The Fighting Illini have qualified for the match play portion of the NCAA Championship 9 times since the stroke play/match play format was introduced in 2009, and reached the Final Four in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Fighting Illini women's volleyball</span> Womens volleyball team of the University of Illinois

The Illinois Fighting Illini women's volleyball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate volleyball program of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, often referred to as "Illinois", located in Champaign, Illinois. The Illinois volleyball team competes in the Big Ten Conference and has played their home games in Huff Hall since 1990. Since moving into Huff Hall from the Kenney Gym, Illinois Volleyball has remained in the top 10 in the nation for average home attendance. In 2013, the program broke its previous home attendance record, averaging 3,117 per match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wills Gymnasium</span>

Wills Gymnasium, often referred to as Wills Gym, was a multi-purpose athletic facility on the campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. Construction started in 1924 and the building was dedicated in 1925. It was the first dedicated gymnasium on the KSU campus, which had opened in 1913. Before the opening of Wills Gym, physical education classes and the intercollegiate and intramural sports teams used a variety of spaces for games and classes, both on campus in other buildings and off campus. The main gym seated approximately 4,000 people and the basement level included an indoor pool, locker rooms, and bowling alley. At the time, its capacity made it one of the largest facilities in the region. The building served as the primary home of the university's athletic teams and physical education department until 1950, when the Men's Physical Education Building opened. Wills Gym was the first permanent home of the Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team, and was also the original home venue for wrestling, men's swimming, men's and women's gymnastics, women's volleyball, and women's basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2020–21 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team represented the University of Illinois during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Fighting Illini, led by fourth-year head coach Nancy Fahey, played their home games at State Farm Center as members of the Big Ten Conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, they played fewer non-conference games than in previous seasons; three games were originally postponed and later canceled due to the pandemic. They finished the season 5–18, 2–16 in Big Ten play to finish in thirteenth place. They lost in the second round of the Big Ten women's tournament to Northwestern. Their first round win against Wisconsin was the first Big Ten tournament victory in coach Fahey's tenure at Illinois.

References

  1. "Huff Hall, Home Of The 'Whiz Kids,' Still Wheezing Along". Chicago Tribune. 1993. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  2. "UI trustees OK funds for Huff Hall addition". The News Gazette. Champaign, Illinois. 2008. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  3. "Khan Annex opens at Huff Hall on UI campus". The News Gazette. Champaign, Illinois. 2011. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  4. "Fighting Illini Men's Basketball All-time Records (archived 2015)". Official Home of University of Illinois Athletics.

40°06′13″N88°13′58″W / 40.103540°N 88.232811°W / 40.103540; -88.232811