AUSTIN | Moody Center (U.T. Basketball Arena) | Complete

[MichaelB]

blah blah .... just don't make it generic or ugly!
And if the funds arn't there to make it landmark....don't build it till ya can!!!
The last thing we need is a hulking generic Anything.

[brando]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

blah blah .... just don't make it generic or ugly!
And if the funds arn't there to make it landmark....don't build it till ya can!!!
The last thing we need is a hulking generic Anything.

This is what 500 million is buying Sacramento:



I don't think the looks are super important if they go with the on campus location. You'll basically only see 1 side of the arena. There aren't many places you could be to see the arena in a big wide shot.


It will probably look like the new parts of DKR.

[drummer]

^ If it looks like the new parts of DKR, I'd be fine with it. I agree that it doesn't need to be some architectural gem given that it's a basketball arena. If they want to make a statement, fine (I won't complain if it looks awesome, of course). However, I'm fine if it's sufficient for its purpose as well...just don't rebuild a really plain-looking drum (while I like drums, obviously, they make bad buildings).

[Syndic]

UT's president announced the new on-campus arena!

Location:



His tweet announcing the project: https://twitter.com/gregfenves/statu...9280630149120/

The Frank Erwin Center is not long for this world.

Looks like they're really going to change the street orientation, too. Good. That cylindrical water tank thing is fugly. It looks like it will be hidden behind a bunch of new buildings soon.

I can't help but wonder what they'll call this arena. We don't have any big-time coaches to name it after.

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by Syndic

...I can't help but wonder what they'll call this arena. We don't have any big-time coaches to name it after.

The Jody Conradt Arena.

[Syndic]

Originally Posted by The ATX

The Jody Conradt Arena.

Oh shit. I wouldn't be opposed to that, actually. I wonder if he Old Boys Club (boosters) would be okay with the arena being named after a woman.

[drummer]

I asked the question below in the Sports in Austin thread...maybe more relevant here since it's a dedicated thread.

Originally Posted by drummer

I love the location, personally. It's great to keep it on campus and near the other athletic facilities. If they ever get around to doing more mass transit, having one or two stops in the area would be much easier than trying to run people all over town also.

My only question is how Red River Street is going to work....do they plan to realign it over the current Robert Dedman Dr. all the way to St. David's Hospital? What would they do with the old Red River? From the schematic above it seems that it's essentially just an access road at that point.

[Syndic]

Yeah I'm kind of obsessing over these new street orientations and trying to imagine how it will look. This will be a dramatic change. Kinda sheds light on why they decided to build a parking garage the size of a football field on the other side of 35.

The article in Fenves's tweet says that this arena will be used for musical acts and special events, too.

[The ATX]

Coincidentally, late this afternoon there's news of an upgrade to the Expo Center which among other things, includes a 15,000 seat arena.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...00-seat-arena/

[drummer]

Hmm. While the Erwin Center's replacement could include additional non-basketball events, I wonder if they're moving away from serving the city in a big way like the current facility does...perhaps this is an indirect answer to that - or at least in part.

In some ways, massive shows may do better away from the gridlock of I-35 and downtown. That is, until they build a better mass-transit system. The expo center does have decent connectivity to 183, 290, and 130 via Loyola/Decker Lake Ln & Decker Lane for folks who want to drive...which is pretty much most people by default now. They also have acres of parking and room to expand.

[lzppjb]

This is so awesome.

I can't wait to get a new Texas Basketball arena. On campus was a must. I'm ok with it being named after Jody. As for Red River, if they can make it follow Dedman, maybe they can completely remove the old Red River. that'd give them a lot more space for a real indoor football facility.

Syndic, where is the football field-sized garage? I haven't been down in that area recently.

I'm also excited about the Expo arena. We're about to have two 15,000 seat arenas. Sweeeeeeet.

[The ATX]

The "football field sized" parking garage is on the east side of I-35 - by Disch–Falk. It has had one - possibly two - tower cranes. It's impressive for a parking garage.

[lzppjb]

Originally Posted by The ATX

The "football field sized" parking garage is on the east side of I-35 - by Disch–Falk. It has had one - possibly two - tower cranes. It's impressive for a parking garage.

In the DF parking lot that fronts 35?

[The ATX]

Originally Posted by lzppjb

In the DF parking lot that fronts 35?

It's right next to I-35, so it must be the surface lot.

[drummer]

Btw, Google Earth has been updated to a couple months ago so you can see the construction of the massive parking garage among other things around Austin.

[drummer]

Also, ESPN has the same story:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-bas...l-arena-campus

[JoninATX]

That's one massive parking garage! Also something else is U/C directly North of DF stadium?

[MichaelB]

yea arena on Campus
Booo not having large concert venue downtown.
City will need to build obviously. BUT please keep central.
Booo cutting off Red River thru traffic to north of campus.
Sucks for locals. Would cut off only major root between 35 and Drag.
As it is there is really only N/S central. is 35, Red River, Drag, Lamar then mopac.
Lets not cut out 20%!
UT needs to stop being so "centric" in thier choices.
And if you think thats ok.... you don't live downtown.

[Speculator]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Coincidentally, late this afternoon there's news of an upgrade to the Expo Center which among other things, includes a 15,000 seat arena.

https://communityimpact.com/austin/c...00-seat-arena/

Will this be open to concerts like the FEC is? If so, the city doesn't need a 15K seat arena. Never will get a NBA or NHL team so what's the point? If the UT arena won't hosts concerts then I can see it. If that's the case then it should go closer to DT.

[Syndic]

I can't wait to see the design of this arena. This is my new favorite project in Austin.