712 Digital Group - top

Indiana says Assembly Hall ‘fully operational’

Sports

February 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Modifications to Assembly Hall have been completed ahead of schedule and the basketball arena is now “fully functional.” The announcement came Saturday, four days after an eight-foot long, 50-pound steel facing fell from the building’s ceiling into empty seats in the northwest corner.

Athletic director Fred Glass canceled Tuesday night’s game against Iowa as workers roped off all four corners. Inspectors determined melting snow and ice pushed water behind the steel plate, jarring it loose. They found two or three other places where similar plates were loose but in no imminent danger of falling.

Saturday’s statement said the building was now safe for general occupancy without restriction. A women’s basketball game was being played there Saturday afternoon. The men host Iowa there Thursday in a rescheduled game.