Preserve Hinkle
The heart and soul of
Hinkle, "college basketball's crown jewel," are strong; the aging
internal parts, not so much.
Hinkle Fieldhouse is bricks, beams, exciting games, sport
legends, sun streaming in on a Saturday afternoon game, memories
old and new. The entire building is infused with
85 years of deafening cheers,
noble history, great events, famous people and a distinctive,
star-studded past.
But Hinkle needs major infrastructure upgrades
to protect the character and atmosphere that made it one of
the nation's most famous basketball arenas. The upgrades won't
alter appearance or structural integrity. Just like memories, the
soul and heart of Hinkle will remain unchanged.
Hinkle is authentic; history happened here.
The architecture and engineering of Hinkle - the sixth
oldest college basketball arena still in use and once the largest
in the United States - add to its historic significance and role in
transforming college basketball in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
A national treasure, listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and designated as one of 37 National Historic Landmarks
in the state, the
Fieldhouse has a secure place in
Indiana and United States history.
The most extensive preservation project in Hinkle's
history will ensure viability and functionality and secure Hinkle's
future, complete with all the memories.