Springfield will host Illini hoops 5 times in 2015

Posted October 30, 2014 1:01 am

Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois says the Illini men's basketball team will play five 2015-16 games in Springfield while work continues on the State Farm Center.

Athletic director Mike Thomas said Thursday that one exhibition and four nonconference games in November 2015 will be played at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. Springfield is about 85 miles west of Champaign.

The convention center seats about 7,700. Illinois' on-campus arena seats 17,000.

Work on the arena began this year and will continue into 2016. The schedule allows the Illini to use the facility for games this season, which is scheduled to start next week.

New seating, video boards and many other amenities are part of the project.

Arrangements have not yet been made for the Illini women's team for November 2015.

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