Frank Erwin Center: Difference between revisions

| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|zoom=15|type=point}}

| fullname = Frank C. Erwin Jr. Special Events Center

| address = 1701 Red River Street

| location = [[Austin, Texas]]

| expanded = 2003

| closed = May 21, 2022

| owner = [[University of Texas at Austin]]

| operator = University of Texas at Austin

| surface = Terrazzo floor/portable basketball floor/portable turf

| structural engineer = [[Walter P Moore Engineers and Consultants|Walter P Moore]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Arenas |url=http://www.walterpmoore.com/proj2_2.htm|publisher=Walter P Moore|access-date=November 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000708022900/http://www.walterpmoore.com/proj2_2.htm|archive-date=July 8, 2000}}</ref>

| general_contractor = H.A. Lott Inc.

| record_attendance = [[John Denver]] 17,829

}}

 

 

==History==

Built to replace [[Gregory Gymnasium]] as the men's and women's basketball teams' home arena, the Special Events Center was completed in 1977 for a total cost of $34 million. The Texas men's basketball team opened the events center on November 29, 1977, with an 83–76 victory over the [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma Sooners]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://uterwincenter.com/35thanniversary | title=Celebrating 35 Years | work=uterwincenter.com | access-date=June 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505094847/http://uterwincenter.com/35thanniversary | archive-date=May 5, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> UT undertook extensive renovations of the facility from 2001 to 2003 at a cost of $55 million, adding, among other things, new and renovated seating, new video and sound systems, new lighting, and 28 suites.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.uterwincenter.com/about | title=About the Erwin Center | work=uterwincenter.com | access-date=June 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512051813/http://www.uterwincenter.com/about | archive-date=May 12, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

 

 

 

 

=== Replacement and demolition ===

In 2013, the [[Dell Medical School|Dell Medical Center]], a $334 million teaching hospital for the university, identified the Erwin Center parking lot and the Waller Creek area directly across from the Center as being the site of Phase I of the Dell Center's construction, with the completion of following phases to require the demolition of the Erwin Center.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dell Medical School Construction Plans Unveiled|url=http://www.utexas.edu/news/2013/05/08/dell-medical-school-construction-plans-unveiled/|publisher=University of Texas|date=May 8, 2013|access-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref>

 

In 2018, the University of Texas and the [[Oak View Group]] announced that they had agreed to build a new arena for the Texas Longhorns basketball programs, at a cost of $338 million; the new facility would fill the role that had been played by the Frank Erwin Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burntorangenation.com/basketball/2018/12/20/18150656/the-university-of-texas-oak-view-group-agree-build-world-class-on-campus-arena|title=The University of Texas, Oak View Group agree to build 'world-class' on-campus arena|last=Daniel|first=Cody|date=December 20, 2018|work=[[SB Nation|Burnt Orange Nation]]|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kut.org/post/ut-regents-approve-arena-proposal-replace-frank-erwin-center|last=Maas |first=Jimmy|date=December 20, 2018|title=UT Regents Approve Arena Proposal To Replace Frank Erwin Center|work=[[KUT]]|access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref> The new arena is the [[Moody Center]], named after the Moody Foundation, which had donated $130 million to University of Texas athletic programs. A [[groundbreaking]] ceremony for the construction of Moody Arena was held on the UT campus, just south of Mike A. Myers Soccer Stadium, on December 3, 2019; the new arena was completed in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arenadigest.com/2019/11/11/new-university-of-texas-arena-to-be-named-moody-center/|title=New University of Texas Arena to be Named Moody Center|last=<!--Staff writers; no byline-->|date=November 11, 2019|website=Arena Digest|language=en-US|access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref> The Erwin Center hosted its last ticketed event on April 2, 2022; it was a basketball game which featured the [[Harlem Globetrotters]]. The newly completed Moody Center opened on April 20, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/moody-center-set-for-its-grand-opening-ribbon-cutting-ceremony/amp/|title=Moody Center set for its grand opening, ribbon-cutting ceremony|first=Billy|last=Gates|website=KXAN|date=April 4, 2022|access-date=April 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/2022/03/08/frank-erwin-center-special-events-home-ut-texas-longhorns-basketball-close-may/9416947002/ |title=The history and favorite memories: The Frank Erwin Center to close in May after 45 years|date=March 8, 2022|website=Austin-American Statesman|access-date=April 20, 2022}}</ref> The final UT graduation ceremonies to take place at the Erwin Center were held on May 20–21, 2022; they were the Erwin Center's last scheduled events.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://commencement.utexas.edu/content/2022-commencement-schedule|title=2022 Commencement Schedule|website=University of Texas|access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

 

 

==Events==

Located adjacent to downtown [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], The Erwin Center was generally accepted to be Austin's current premier venue for large public and private events. The center held many events such as concerts, professional wrestling events, [[bull riding]] and private banquets.

 

 

Music artists such as [[Taylor Swift]], [[David Bowie]], [[Tina Turner]], [[Lana Del Rey]], [[Ariana Grande]], [[KISS (band)|KISS]], [[U2]], [[Bon Jovi]], [[Pearl Jam]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Def Leppard]], [[George Strait]], [[Garth Brooks]], [[Van Halen]], [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[AC/DC]], [[Pink Floyd]],

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[[Category:Defunct college basketball venues in the United States]]

[[Category:Defunct indoor arenas in Texas]]

[[Category:Basketball venues in Texas]]

[[Category:Mixed martial arts venues in Texas]]