Arena Wars: Assembly Hall vs. Assembly Hall

Welcome to another edition of our summer series Arena Wars, where we've summoned the fans to defend their home court.

Each week we pit two arenas and fans against each. Could be arenas of rival teams, arenas with similar characteristics or arenas that are simply historically significant. Then it's put up to vote and you decide which arena has the greatest home-court advantage.

This week we've, ahem, assembled a matchup of two Big Ten rivals whose arenas share the same name -- Assembly Hall.

Illinois' Assembly Hall is the older of the two arenas. Despite an outward appearance that resembles an alien spacecraft (even more so at night), it's often hailed for its construction and design. Since opening in 1963, the Illini have posted a home mark of 501-134.

Indiana has enjoyed a bit more success in its Assembly Hall, the second largest arena in the Big Ten with a seating capacity of 17,465. The Hoosiers have compiled a record of 448-79 at Assembly Hall since the 1971-72 season, while also capturing three national titles.

Assembly Hall -- home of the Illinois Fighting Illini

Huff Hall opened in 1925 and was in use by the Illinois Fighting Illini until 1963. It was home to teams that had a combined winning percentage of .811. A total of eight Big Ten titles were won and trips to multiple Final Fours were some of the accomplishments during their stay at Huff Hall. It was also home to Illinois high school state basketball championships for many years. The term "March Madness" was actually coined here and is copyrighted by the Illinois High School Association. But the administration soon realized that Huff Hall was simply too small. With that realization came the birth of the Assembly Hall. Opening on March 2, 1963, it has been hailed as an architectural masterpiece by many and a spaceship by others. At the time of construction it was one of only two edge-supported domes in the world. It is 400 feet across and its outer "shell" is entirely made of concrete with a belt of over 600 miles of reinforcing wire at its base. It still looks in a lot of ways like a relatively new design. Fast facts Opened 1963 Location Champaign, Ill. Capacity 16,618 Enough history. Watching a game at this timeless venue will immerse you into over 100 years of Illinois basketball tradition. "Paint the Hall Orange", in which everyone wears as much orange as possible, started as a one-night promotion. It has evolved into an every-home-game phenomenon. The design of the stadium makes opposing teams feel as if they have fallen into an Orange monster. The late Skip Prosser came to Champaign in the 2004-05 season with his No. 1-ranked Wake Forest team and said he had been warned about a certain section of the gym that housed somewhat rabid fans. That would be the Orange Crush, the student section. He left after a 91-73 loss with the word "wow" and later remarked he had never seen anything like the Illini team or the crowd. One of the larger facilities in the country, seating 16,618, it can be one of the most electric, intimidating places to be a visitor to. The Illini players over the years have adopted the Orange Crush and have fed from its energy. The winning percentage for the Illini in Assembly Hall stands at .789. Did you know? Illinois' Assembly Hall has no interior pillars or supports. The roof is supported by 614 miles of one-quarter inch steel wire wrapped at the base of the dome under intensive pressure. Taking a seat in this arena gives you an almost electrically charged feeling that builds throughout the game. With the rivalries of the Big Ten decades in the making, every game feels likes it is on the edge of eruption. And with basketball being the state religion from early grammar school to some of the best high school basketball in the country, the fire keeps getting fed. Assembly Hall attendance has been in the top 25 in the nation for over 30 years, the top 15 for the past 10 years and shows no signs of slowing down. -- Brand111

Assembly Hall -- home of the Indiana Hoosiers

Ahh yes, the trip to Bloomington, Ind. The memories of traveling through America's heartland to see a basketball team. The excitement is building, as is the traffic along this rural route. Many of the people in these cars are going to the same place, and very well could be thinking the same thing I am. ... Although this program has hit rock bottom, we have no fear. The belief that Coach Crean is the next Bob Knight looms in our forefront! And the crowds continue to come, and the expectations continue to rise in South-central Indiana. Tonight, all focus and dedication resume as normal as fans and students arrive at Assembly Hall.I know, the talent isn't what is normally expected ... but the fans and expectation always remain. What the heck. This current team can't even pull out 10 wins, but the Assembly Hall of Bloomington, Ind., still sells out and the band still plays the fight song and the 16,000 fans still sing it with passion! And the team takes the court. It's a six-win program that just happens to have five national championship banners a-swayin' in the rafters. Fast facts Opened 1972 Location Bloomington, In. Capacity 17,465 All is well here at Assembly Hall, as it should be in a building that houses this kind of historic greatness. Those that question the relevance of IU are off base. IU is still important, and IU will always be important to the fans. Our home court helps us recall that. Assembly Hall is a reminder of that quest for basketball relevance. It's a reminder of Coach Knight, and of the last team to finish undefeated. It reminds us that Indiana was the team that stopped that great UCLA dominance. Most of all, though, it speaks of how great basketball is to this state. Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind., is a reminder of what Indiana is all about. That building and that team are woven into the very fabric of Indiana. Did you know? The court is named after Branch McCracken, the coach who led the school to its first two national championships in 1940 and 1953. Assembly Hall has its place in college basketball folklore and is one of the greatest basketball arenas of all time. Please don't confuse it with that banner-less arena in Champaign, Ill. No ... the differences are much too large to overlook. This Assembly Hall ... our Assembly Hall in Bloomington ... houses five national championships and the pride of Indiana! -- dissident812