Indiana University's Basketball Arena is now Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall

[Truth Detector]

Cindy Simon-Skjodt writes a check for $42,000,000 for improvements to Assembly Hall. For those who don't know she is the daughter of either Mel or Herb Simon and the heir to the Simon Mall fortune (and the Pacers). She married Charlie Skjodt (pronounced "Scott") who played for either the Racers or the Checkers back in the day.

[comfortably numb]

well, at least it rolls off the tongue...

[Doyouloveit?]

Straight cash homey....Besides the $$, is this person symbolically related to Indiana basketball or athletics? When courts and arena's are named after winning coaches, that means something. Just think what IU hospital could do with $42 million.

[MoparsRule]

Good to see the WAY overdue remodel of one of the worst arenas anywhere is being funded privately.

[skypigeon]

Yep. If she's willing to drop $42 million, they'd better call it whatever the hell she wants.

[mattndallas]

Good to see the WAY overdue remodel of one of the worst arenas anywhere is being funded privately.

Call me old school, but give me AH over any of the non-descript, sterilized, over-suited (Corporate name here) Arenas anyday.

[PHJIndy]

Cindy Simon-Skjodt writes a check for $42,000,000 for improvements to Assembly Hall. For those who don't know she is the daughter of either Mel or Herb Simon and the heir to the Simon Mall fortune (and the Pacers). She married Charlie Skjodt (pronounced "Scott") who played for either the Racers or the Checkers back in the day.

Charlie played for the Checkers.
It's about time something was done about the IU albatross!

[jackinbox]

Good to see the WAY overdue remodel of one of the worst arenas anywhere is being funded privately.

[Kurt Cobain]

I was always mildly amused by anything IU basketball. The arena, the General, the fans, the state rivalry and those candy-striped pants. Always a fascinating study.

[IB2]

Straight cash homey....Besides the $$, is this person symbolically related to Indiana basketball or athletics? When courts and arena's are named after winning coaches, that means something. Just think what IU hospital could do with $42 million.

No problem when a private donor wants to earmark funds...and an alumna at that...

after the school received a $40 million gift from alumna Cindy Simon Skjodt.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...-hall/4129867/

[Truth Detector]

Straight cash homey....Besides the $$, is this person symbolically related to Indiana basketball or athletics? When courts and arena's are named after winning coaches, that means something. Just think what IU hospital could do with $42 million.

While I'm trying to get over the shock of you being negative about anything related to IU basketball I'll try to respond. Of course its cash...most arena renames are cash based. The Simons are Hoosiers. They saved the Pacers 35+ years ago and Cindy graduated from IU. They also have the benefit of getting corporate promotion by using the family name as I'm told corporate naming is forbidden. I'm not sure what IU hospital could do with $42MM but I will guarantee you they already have more than $42MM in the bank. Besides, if they need $42MM let them go and raise it. If the Simons want to give $42MM to improve Assembly Hall then bully for them! From my perspective the arena is going to get some VERY much needed improvements and some rich family is nice enough to pay for it so the taxpayers don't have to.

Is this a great state or what?

[mstove]

While I'm trying to get over the shock of you being negative about anything related to IU basketball I'll try to respond. Of course its cash...most arena renames are cash based. The Simons are Hoosiers. They saved the Pacers 35+ years ago and Cindy graduated from IU. They also have the benefit of getting corporate promotion by using the family name as I'm told corporate naming is forbidden. I'm not sure what IU hospital could do with $42MM but I will guarantee you they already have more than $42MM in the bank. Besides, if they need $42MM let them go and raise it. If the Simons want to give $42MM to improve Assembly Hall then bully for them! From my perspective the arena is going to get some VERY much needed improvements and some rich family is nice enough to pay for it so the taxpayers don't have to.

Is this a great state or what?

Sounds fair enough to me. Is it great when people do this without putting their names on it? Sure, but I hardly mind if they do. Nice to get private money for this.

[skypigeon]

Y'all ever have fantasies about stuff like this? I do, 'cause I'm weird ...

I always thought it would be fun to drop an obscene amount of money on some college campus building and name it in honor of the most unpopular kid from school days I could think of. Preferably the one who got picked on for no reason the most. Ideally he'd be still alive somewhere so, in complete anonymity, I'd find him, fly him to the naming ceremony as the guest of honor, all it would cost him would be a speech...

And then I'd show up at the next class reunion and casually toss it out in conversation, just to hear the OMG eruption.

[Truth Detector]

Y'all ever have fantasies about stuff like this? I do, 'cause I'm weird ...

I always thought it would be fun to drop an obscene amount of money on some college campus building and name it in honor of the most unpopular kid from school days I could think of. Preferably the one who got picked on for no reason the most. Ideally he'd be still alive somewhere so, in complete anonymity, I'd find him, fly him to the naming ceremony as the guest of honor, all it would cost him would be a speech...

And then I'd show up at the next class reunion and casually toss it out in conversation, just to hear the OMG eruption.

[Doyouloveit?]

While I'm trying to get over the shock of you being negative about anything related to IU basketball I'll try to respond. Of course its cash...most arena renames are cash based. The Simons are Hoosiers. They saved the Pacers 35+ years ago and Cindy graduated from IU. They also have the benefit of getting corporate promotion by using the family name as I'm told corporate naming is forbidden. I'm not sure what IU hospital could do with $42MM but I will guarantee you they already have more than $42MM in the bank. Besides, if they need $42MM let them go and raise it. If the Simons want to give $42MM to improve Assembly Hall then bully for them! From my perspective the arena is going to get some VERY much needed improvements and some rich family is nice enough to pay for it so the taxpayers don't have to.Is this a great state or what?

I have no problem with it at all. Butler is in the process of upgrading/updating Hinkle Fieldhouse through donations. I'm sure they would gladly accept a $40 million check from a donor. Again, they can do whatever they want with their money, I have no problem whatsoever.