Indiana AD Fred Glass yesterday acknowledged that the school's basketball fans "will be inconvenienced" next season by Assembly Hall's renovation, which will "likely include closing off some entrances to the building," according to Zach Osterman of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. The arena, which is more than 40 years old, will need "more than a year of work," and the project "will cost tens of millions of dollars." But the renovation project, which had its official groundbreaking yesterday, will include a "bold new south entryway, luxury suites, new bathrooms and concession stands, cosmetic improvements and infrastructural repairs." Glass "wouldn't address specifics regarding the timeline of the project." He said that some smaller features of the renovation, "including escalators in the lobbies of the building, could be completed by the start of next season." The entire project is "expected to be completed" by the start of IU's '16-17 basketball season. Kick-started by a $40M "donation from Indianapolis philanthropist Cindy Simon Skjodt, renovation of Assembly Hall has been planned" since '13. It will "not preclude IU from playing a full home schedule next season" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/8). In Indiana, Kylie Conway noted renderings released yesterday "show a sleeker look with what appears to be a lot more windows." A new box-seat club "will also be added on the Concourse level with more arena seats and a new space for large groups to entertain." A "state-of-the-art video model" will also go up, and IU said that fans "will be able to see more of the games once new transparent railings are installed." IU said that its goal is to "maintain the historic charm but bring the conveniences up to modern standards" (WISHTV.com, 4/7).
