Upgraded Timmons Arena joins the ranks of state-of-the-art mid-major playing venues

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In my tour, which I took last week with Furman basketball sports information director Jordan Caskey and Senior Associate Athletics Director Erin Mayes, the new arena felt like a college basketball arena, and more importantly, when you drive on-campus through the back entrance of Furman, you no longer have to wonder where Timmons Arena is, as it is readily apparent from the entrance. A new glass entrance and mezzanine are a look of pure class, while a parkway highlighted by bricks with the names of major donors and other significant benefactors to Furman basketball are literally written brick-by-brick as you enter Furman’s newly upgraded basketball palace.

Timmons Arena
The newly renovated exterior of Timmons Arena. John Hooper, Mid-Major Madness
One arena the newly renovated Timmons Arena reminded me of was a smaller version of Neville Arena at Auburn.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 👀

The Timmons Arena Renovation will give us a home facility that displays the excellence that we want to show from our program and university that continues to push us towards being one of the elite mid major… pic.twitter.com/wuNLDPy3w1

— Furman Basketball (@FurmanMBB) April 27, 2023

Even in an empty arena it was evident that for the first time Timmons Arena for the first time felt like an actual college arena. I think one of the big reasons for that is the natural enclosure on both ends of the arena. According to Mayes, the seating capacity will be about 2,750, and that total includes standing room only with all open space occupied. That is an increase of about 250 fans from the previously listed max capacity.

The most striking thing about the new arena is the glass on the outside. You know it’s a basketball facility, and you don’t have to look for it. You know you have found the on-campus basketball facility, and the outside of the arena offers a glimpse of the newly fashioned aesthetic upgrades to the facility. It also offers a preview of all the surprises inside, which includes everything from new locker rooms and even auxiliary locker rooms should Furman host a multi-team event (MTE) in the future.

Also, for opposing SoCon head coaches that might be reading this, the shooting sight lines and backdrops are actually like a regular arena now, and without so much space behind the goals, making it a much easier venue to adjust to than it previously was. In that seating behind the goals, it will be the new seating area and student zone similar to what you might see at places throughout the league, such as the Ramsey Center at Western Carolina or East Tennessee State’s Freedom Hall.

For the fan experience, there are suites that are available to be rented out on game days, with my personal favorite being the one in the far corner of the arena that seats 12. It’s the best vantage point in the facility. It was almost not a thing, as it was within six inches of the box not being able to be included in the arena. All told, the arena will feature eight private suites, two party suites and two premium club spaces (the Ingram Courtside Club and the Herring VIP Suite) as well as the Rogues Hospitality Deck.

Happy 19th Birthday to our guy, Abijah Franklin‼️⚔️#BetterTogether // #AllDIN pic.twitter.com/GFFWuQ0O45

— Furman Basketball (@FurmanMBB) June 16, 2025

For the fan of Furman’s athletic history, there will be an interactive screen where you can access moments from Furman sports history, and that will include all sports and not just basketball. It’s similar to a museum experience in that you get at some of the other schools that have major basketball programs, such as Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas or Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium. At Timmons Arena just inside the concourse, there is a 30-foot screen that is interactive and will give a visual catalog of Furman’s athletics history depending on the sport you choose and what moment or player you select.

.@FurmanMBB To Participate In Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational Thanksgiving Week https://t.co/N44f1fvhaV

— Furman Paladins (@FurmanPaladins) May 28, 2025

When it comes down to it, Furman’s vision is one that has hinged on the perfect storm of events, with the NCAA Tournament win over Virginia playing a major role in being able to help achieve such a goal for the $40 million upgrade along with major gift donations of $10 million by Ravenel Curry III in January 2023 and donations from the Timmons Family, which have now been a part of both the original plans for the on-campus facility and the renovation. They donated $4 million to the project back in 1998.

You could say that the upgraded Timmons is the house that Curry, the Timmons Family, and Richey all had a major influence on the original vision for an upgrade.

Finally, not only was the upgrade a necessity, but with schools like Wofford, High Point and Elon opening high-level facilities, there was an unspoken pressure for Furman to make a similar type of improvement to its declining basketball facility.

According to Donnelly, the facility is already paying dividends before even hosting one game or event after its new facelift.

“The revenue impact of the facility is one thing people don’t talk about that is already making a difference,” he said. “We’ve already exceeded any revenue numbers that we previously have ever had… We just started selling the building, and we already have more opportunities with the building with recruiting, with retention, and for revenue that we’ve ever had before.”

Ready to work 🧱🛠️#BetterTogether // #AllDIN pic.twitter.com/RmGaoSOCg7

— Furman Basketball (@FurmanMBB) June 10, 2025

With seven regulars back along with a highly touted freshman class of five star-studded signees and one addition from the transfer portal (Clemson small forward Asa Thomas), Furman figures to once again be among the favorites to claim the 2025-26 regular-season and tournament titles in the SoCon. That will blend nicely with the excitement building around such a nicely renovated, and now modernized and state-of-the-art Timmons Arena.