- Lloyd Brown
Timmons Arena – Furman Paladins
Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Timmons Arena 3300 Poinsett Hwy Greenville, SC 29613
Year Opened: 1997
Capacity: 4,000
Purple Reign
Furman University is the oldest private university in the state of South Carolina. It was founded as a Baptist institution but has been independent since 1992. It has a student body of 2,800 and offers more than 60 areas of study. It provides a highly regarded liberal arts education, with 97% of its senior class receiving employment within 6 months of graduation.
The Furman athletic teams are known as the Paladins and the school’s colors are a very deep shade of purple. The Paladins compete in the Southern Conference against such schools as Wofford College, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and The Citadel. The basketball Paladins call Timmons Arena their home court. Timmons Arena opened in 1998 and has a capacity of 3,500. It is in the Athletic Complex on the Furman campus. Its neighbors include Paladin Stadium and the Latham Baseball Stadium.
Food & Beverage 3
There are several concessions stands to service the fans needs in a relatively quick fashion. The menu of available items is your standard arena fare. This includes hot dogs ($3), brats ($5), nachos ($5), pretzels ($3), popcorn ($3) and chips ($2). Beverages include Pepsi brand sodas ($4) and bottled water ($3). Alcohol is not allowed to be sold on campus.
Atmosphere 4
The Paladins have achieved success on the hard court, as is evidenced by the many banners hanging from the rafters at Timmons Arena. They have won 6 Southern Conference Championships and taken part in 6 NCAA Tournaments, making it as far as the Sweet Sixteen in 1974.
Timmons Arena also provides fans with a sense of intimacy with the game. The ceiling of the arena is much lower than most sports facilities. this results in the scoreboards being placed at each end of the court, rather than a center-hung unit. The seating is also in much closer proximity to the court.
The seating bowl surrounding the court consists of chair back seating on the sides and bleacher seating in the end zones. Two nice visual elements are the purple seating (Furman’s team colors) and the inlay in the paint area featuring the Paladin logo.
Neighborhood 4
The Furman campus is in the northeastern suburbs of Greenville, SC. However, the immediate area around Timmons Arena is defined by the 175-acre Furman University campus. Nature plays a major role on the campus, as it features a lake, views of the surrounding mountains and more than 13 miles of hiking trails.
Downtown Greenville is just a 10-minute drive from the Furman campus. The city has transformed itself from a sleepy mill town into a New South destination. Its centerpiece is the Falls on the Reedy, a nature park right in the middle of the downtown area. It features a waterfall, the flyover Liberty Bridge, gardens and nature paths. Adjoining the park are some great dining options, including the Carolina Ale House and the Tupelo Honey Café. Lodging options near the Furman campus include the Best Western Travelers Rest or the Hampton Inn Travelers Rest.
Fans 4
The fan base for the Paladins is a mix of the students, a large alumni base that has stayed in the Greenville area, and the school’s neighbors, as the Furman campus is adjacent to a residential area. They know the players on a first name basis, a nice by product of having a small student body. Leading the cheers are Victor, the team mascot, a contingent from the Paladin Regiment, the school’s band and the Furman cheerleading squad
While the Paladins draw well no matter who the competition is, the rivalry game against Wofford is the hardest ticket to get. The two schools are located only 20 miles apart.
Win or lose, visitors will find Furman fans to be gracious hosts. You will not hear trash talking here, as the school has a strict code of conduct. Very honestly… it also is the way the locals were brought up.
Access 3
Furman University and Timmons Arena are easily accessed via I-85. From I-85: Get on I-185 towards Greenville at exit 42. Take the Travelers Rest exit (exit 42) off I-185 and head towards Travelers Rest. Turn right onto Duncan Chapel Road. The Furman University entrance and Timmons Arena will be on your left. The arena is located at the northern end of the Paladins Football Stadium.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets are very reasonably priced at $12 for lower level reserved seats and $8 for upper level reserved seats. Parking at the Timmons Arena is free. Although many of the fans are locals that commute to the games, lodging in the Greenville area is available for around $100 a night and there are ample lodging options to fit any budget between the campus and I -85.
Extras 4
Before you head into the arena, make a short detour the Pearce Horton Football Building for a great selfie in front of the Paladin statue on the plaza.
So, what is a Paladin? The Paladins were legendary warriors from the court of Charlemagne. They are further described as “paragons of chivalry” and defenders of the noble cause.
A great way to end your visit to Furman is park by the on-campus lake and enjoy a beautiful South Carolina sunset.
The Paladins are not afraid to play the big basketball powers. A review of the schedules over the years show frequent games with the likes of Duke, UNC, Clemson and West Virginia
Final Thoughts
Furman University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the South. Its beautiful campus is primarily defined by nature, but its consistent architectural design also is an attention grabber. The exterior of Timmons Arena is well matched with the surrounding academic campus. Once inside the arena you will be in ‘purple heaven.”