Timmons Arena is leaving as a caterpillar and returning as a butterfly.

While Furman’s basketball home of nearly three decades is metamorphosing in 2024-25, the Paladins’ men’s team is playing mostly at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville. The women are to play at nearby North Greenville University.

Then, by the autumn of 2025, all are returning to an edifice that is almost completely different, albeit on the same plot of university real estate.

Nothing unveiled on Tuesday was unexpected. Its look was unveiled last summer to encourage fund-raising. It’s been commonly anticipated that renovation is to occur after the current season.

What may be overlooked is that it isn’t just a commitment of Furman University to basketball. It is also a commitment of head coach Bob Richey to Furman.

Richey, often rumored for obvious reasons to be going somewhere, isn’t going anywhere. He loves Furman. He understands its strictures and challenges. He is appreciated. He’s happy he doesn’t have to deal with issues that might aggravate him elsewhere. The program has come a long way, and Richey believes he can take it farther.

“I always thought we could win here,” said Richey, who is in his seventh season as head coach and 13^th on the staff. “It’s why I stayed when I was an assistant through the transition. I always had a conviction that you could win here. There were a lot of fixed structures, but we had no vision of the program.

“We had a community. We had a city. We had a degree. We had an unbelievable campus. Those fixed structures you don’t have at every job. … When Niko (Medved, Richey’s predecessor, now at Colorado State) came here, he had a vision.”

When Richey shows a recruit the new place, he said, “They’re going to walk in and see excellence from the time they drive up.

“When they’re walking up and you’re showing them a vision, you’ve got to be able to have a tangible quality connected to that.”

Athletics director Jason Donnelly officially announced the go-ahead on the major renovation.

According to the news release:

The $40 million donor-funded renovation will transform Timmons Arena into a first-class, state-of-the-art facility that will dramatically enhance the game-day experience for Furman’s loyal fans and students and stand among the best arenas in college basketball at its size and scale.

It’s going to be a mouthful.

The money’s in the bank, and as soon as this season’s basketballs stop bouncing, the work begins.

In practical terms, Timmons Arena is still going to be Timmons Arena in name only. It’ll be a new Yankee Stadium, reduced for scale.

In specific terms, the renovations include: a reimagining of the arena’s entrance and lobby, upgrades to seating options, the addition of premium and luxury-box seating, improved audio and visual components, enhanced box-office support, a children’s play area, new visiting-team locker room and new administrative offices.

Premium access to eight private suites and two party suites, a hospitality deck, courtside seating and a private VIP lounge, and enhanced concessions that include “grab-and-go” are among the additional options. The capacity of the renovated arena is 2,750 and features 360-degree concourse access to lower-bowl seating.

“Everything we’re doing is chasing excellence,” Donnelly said. “We want to be the best at what we do. We have the highest admission standards in the (Southern) Conference. We have the highest academic standards. We historically have won the most in the conference, and we want to build that brand of excellence.

“This facility’s going to do it all.”

A personal aside …

During two decades of writing about NASCAR, I went to one game at Timmons Arena. The Paladins lost to Davidson. Everyone I knew had said the place was awful, and even though I was happy it was on campus, I rather agreed. The original Timmons was the last of the multipurpose facilities designed to do none of the purposes well.

When I was in school, Furman played at Memorial Auditorium, the huge brick cube in the middle of downtown. All I ever thought it was world-class in was popcorn, but the Paladins had some great memories there. My favorite memories were an upset of Penn on the night of Bruce Grimm’s return and a victory over South Carolina in which a scuffle between the teams spilled onto the sidewalk outside.

For three seasons now, I’ve been writing about the Paladins again. Timmons is a hopping place. It hops about as much as its design allows. I was pleasantly surprised at how Furman had made the best of things.

Victory begets victories.

This signature capital project of the Clearly Furman Campaign represents the largest donor-funded project in Furman history and is headlined by a cornerstone $10 million gift from philanthropist and businessman Ravenel B. Curry III ’63. His lead gift is supported by more than 200-plus donors, including 10 seven-figure gifts and 31 six-figure gifts. These investments represent a significant step in advancing the strategic priorities outlined in Inspiring Greatness, Furman Athletics’ strategic plan, which emphasizes philanthropic support for athletics facilities, endowment and operational support for all 19 varsity teams. 

“Thanks to our generous donors, Timmons Arena will be the showplace for college basketball in our conference and one of the best arenas in the country,” stated Furman University president Elizabeth Davis. “Timmons will be a jewel on campus for all our students, faculty and staff, and it will continue to be a place for the Upstate and Furman communities to gather for basketball, Furman Engaged, graduation, and other student events.”

 “A renovated Timmons Arena will not only honor and celebrate the Paladins’ storied past, but will create a tremendous home-court advantage, enhancing the Paladins’ ability to recruit and develop the nation’s top-tier student-athletes into champions, and providing a new, electric, game-day environment for our passionate fans,” stated Donnelly. “We are immensely grateful for the support of President Davis and our Board of Trustees, as well as to the many generous donors who have stepped up to make this happen. Today truly is a great day to be a Paladin.”

The interior and exterior renovation represents Phase Two of a comprehensive donor-funded plan to improve Timmons Arena following the September 2022 completion of Phase One, which featured the renovation and expansion of basketball offices, locker rooms and film rooms for the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Fundraising is still ongoing and naming opportunities are available.

Richey’s statement was: 

“The reimagination and renovation of Timmons Arena is a transformational moment for Furman Basketball and the entire Greenville community which shows a commitment to maintaining one of the most competitive programs in mid-major basketball. Every member of the Furman basketball family will be proud to call the new Timmons arena home, and I am confident that future players will be impressed by this first-class facility.  I am grateful for the overwhelming support of President Davis, the Board of Trustees, and the many significant donors who have stepped up to make this dream a reality. It has never been a better time to be a Furman Paladin.”

“We are so appreciative to all who contributed to this project,” stated Furman head women’s basketball coach Pierre Curtis. “This renovation will be a game changer for our program and student-athletes and is another example of how Furman continues to set ourselves apart from other universities.”

 Ken Betsch of Betsch Associates is the lead architect on the renovation and whose recent projects include the College of Charleston’s TD Arena and the University of Texas Event Center. Greenville’s Harper General Contractors, currently overseeing Furman’s South Housing project, Converse College’s Fleming Hall and Clemson University’sSoccer Complex at Riggs Field, will serve as contractor. 

Furman’s NCAA Division I athletics program, comprised of 19 varsity programs and over 350 student-athletes, is nationally recognized for excellence. A member of the Southern Conference since 1936, Furman has claimed 248 league team championships and made 133 appearances in NCAA Tournament competition. Among the university’s 173 All-Americans are basketball’s Frank Selvy, soccer’s Clint Dempsey, golf’s Brad Faxon, Dottie Pepper, and LPGA Hall of Famers Betsy King and Beth Daniel.

Take a look at Furman’s video here.

For going on three weeks, I’ve been suffering from shingles, which has curtailed my live coverage. I was suffering. Now I’m just aggravated. I did have splitting headaches. Now they’re fairly mild. The rash is mainly a remnant.

At least one story has been posted for 38 days, a record for the site.

I still don’t feel so hot. Shingles has also knocked me off my financial rocker. I’m strapped for cash but still writing as hard and resourcefully as I can.

I apologize for boring you with more health updates than the Secretary of Defense, but I feel guilty at not getting out more.

A couple contributions arrived over the weekend. I can’t express my gratitude enough.

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