University officials are waiting for the economy to revive before plans to renovate or rebuild the Assembly Hall are put into action.

By the end of 2008 or start of 2009, a plan to either refurbish the Assembly Hall or build a new facility was to be presented to the Board of Trustees, said Kent Brown, sports information director. This presentation has now been pushed back several months, but project plans are still being developed.

“When we started planning, it was long before the economic downturn,” Brown said. “But we’re still meeting on a regular basis. We’re still moving forward.”

He said they hope to present their proposal to the Board once the economy is given a chance to “straighten out,” but they are also considering a plan that would separate the project into phases.

“If a huge renovation was to take place, teams would need to find other places to play,” Brown said. “If the project is done in phases, it would prevent that.”

The decision to delay the proposal meeting was made after a consultation between Athletic Director Ron Guenther and Chancellor Richard Herman, Brown said.

“It made sense to push it back,” he added. “This isn’t the best time.”

Many different sources of revenue for the project have been explored, including naming rights and premium seating, because the University will not be providing funds. Everything needs to be explored when you’re dealing with a project this size, Brown said.

“This type of facility is fundamentally grounded on private financing,” said Mike Bass, associate vice president for capital programs and real estate services. “And the environment is not good for that right now.”

“People need to be feeling good about their finances,” Brown added.

Whether the Assembly Hall is rebuilt or renovated also depends on costs. However, the University will most likely move in the renovation direction, Brown said.

“When a price tag is attached, you make the decision of which is the best way to spend your money,” he added.

The Assembly Hall has been a part of the University campus for more than 40 years.

“It’s an iconic structure,” said Randy Kangas, assistant vice president for planning and budgeting. “But we’re evaluating whether it meets the needs of assembly and basketball. It’s getting to be an old facility. We’ll need to do something with it at some point.”

The project will continue to go on, Bass added.

“An Assembly Hall project has been discussed for years,” Brown said. “It will absolutely happen. Ron (Guenther) said maybe three months, maybe six. We’ll be able to move when we feel comfortable.”