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This 16,000-seat arena was designed in 1961 by U of I alumus Max Abramovitz—whose
firm also designed the United Nations Building in New York City—with
structural engineers Amman & Whitney. The vast 400-foot-wide concrete domed
structure is cited in Frederick Koeper’s Illinois Architecture and numerous
architectural periodicals. It has been declared eligible for the National
Register of Historic Places and was ranked #3 in importance by a 1994 campus
historic preservation plan (behind Altgeld Hall and the Auditorium
Building).
Poet Carl Sandburg spoke at the dedication in 1963 and the arena has hosted
such performers as Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, and the
Fighting Illini basketball teams. The university expects to complete a study
this year to either replace the facility or make major renovations to
accommodate luxury suites and elevators.
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HOW CAN I HELP?
Letters of concern should be sent to Ron Guenther, Director of Athletics at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and copied to Loren Taylor,
President of the Alumni Association at Urbana.
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Mr. Ron Guenther
Director of Athletics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1700 S. Fourth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
rguenthe@uiuc.edu
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Mr. Loren Taylor,
President
Alumni Association at Urbana
Alice Campbell Alumni Center
601 South Lincoln Avenue (MC-077)
Urbana, IL 61801
lrtaylor@uillinois.edu
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