Frank Erwin Center

Frank Erwin Center
The Drum
Full name	Frank C. Erwin Jr. Special Events Center
Former names	Special Events Center
Address	1701 Red River Street
Location	Austin, Texas
Coordinates	30°16′37″N 97°43′56″W / 30.2770°N 97.7322°W
Owner	University of Texas at Austin
Operator	University of Texas at Austin
Capacity	17,900 (center stage) (concert); 16,540 (basketball, 2013-present); 7,820 (theatre)
Record attendance	John Denver 17,829
Surface	Terrazzo floor/portable basketball floor/portable turf
Construction
Broke ground	August 1974
Opened	November 29, 1977
Renovated	2001
Expanded	2003
Closed	May 21, 2022
Construction cost	$34 million (original); ($171 million in 2023 dollars); $55 million (renovations/expansion)
Architect	Wilson, Crain & Anderson; ; Heery International (renovations/expansion)
Structural engineer	Walter P Moore
General contractor	H.A. Lott Inc.
Tenants
	Texas Longhorns (NCAA) (1977–2022); Austin Wranglers (AFL/af2) (2004–2008)

The Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center (commonly known as Frank Erwin Center or UT Erwin Center and originally Special Events Center) is an inactive multi-purpose arena located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. It is also sometimes referred to as "The Drum" or "The Superdrum", owing to its round, drum-like appearance from outside (not to be confused with Big Bertha, the large bass drum used by the University of Texas marching band).

The multi-purpose facility hosted entertainment events and was the home court for the Texas Longhorns men's and women's basketball programs until 2022, when it was replaced by the Moody Center. The Erwin Center is located at the southeastern corner of the UT central campus and is bounded on the east by Interstate 35.

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

The building is named for former UT Board of Regents member Frank Erwin, who as a regent was very controversial due to his hostility towards the burgeoning on-campus, political counterculture movement of the late 1960s and was directly involved in the arrest of protesting students and the purging of what he deemed as "unpatriotic" faculty.^[5] Originally known as the Special Events Center, the facility was renamed in 1980 to honor Erwin, who died that same year.

A two-level layout (the lower arena and upper mezzanine) accommodates up to 16,540 spectators for basketball games and up to 17,900 spectators for concerts. The inner ring of the arena averages around 20 rows deep, while the mezzanine is slightly deeper at around 24 rows. The size of the arena's inner ring is highly dependent on the event being hosted.

Erwin Center, Set Up for A Concert, April 2016

Replacement

The Dell Medical Center, a $334 million teaching hospital for the university, has identified the parking lot and Waller Creek area directly across from the Frank Erwin Center as Phase I of construction, with later phases calling for the demolition of the Frank Erwin Center.^[6]

In 2018, it was announced that Oak View Group and the University of Texas had agreed to build a new $338 million arena for the Texas Longhorns basketball programs to replace the Frank Erwin Center.^[7]^[8] The new arena is named the Moody Center after the Moody Foundation, who donated $130 million to Texas Athletics. A groundbreaking ceremony took place just south of Mike A. Myers Soccer Stadium on December 3, 2019, and completed in 2022.^[9] Moody Center opened on April 20, 2022, with plans to close the Frank Erwin Center in May 2022.^[10]^[11] UT's final graduation ceremonies at the Erwin Center took place on May 20–21, 2022 and was the last scheduled event to be held there.^[12]

Events

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

The arena has hosted three UFC mixed martial events: UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares in 2010, UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson in 2014, and UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros in 2018.

Music artists such as David Bowie, Tina Turner, Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande, KISS, U2, Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, Paul McCartney, Def Leppard, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Van Halen, Rush, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Prince, Guns N' Roses, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Radiohead, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and many others have performed at the arena.

The Erwin Center hosted the semifinals and finals of the University Interscholastic League boys' and girls' basketball playoffs in all five classifications until 2015, when the playoffs moved to San Antonio.

The arena also hosts both UT commencement ceremonies and various local high school graduations.^[13]

Basketball attendance record

Texas Men's Basketball^[14]
#	Date	Opponent	Attendance
1	February 28, 2004	Texas Tech	16,837 (Sold out again on February 19, 2022, with a reduced capacity of 16,540 for the last several years)
1	January 13, 2004	Wake Forest	16,837
3	February 21, 2009	Oklahoma	16,755
	January 24, 2009	Texas A&M	16,755
	December 4, 2008	UCLA	16,755
	February 18, 2008	Texas A&M	16,755
	February 11, 2008	Kansas	16,755
	January 26, 2008	Texas Tech	16,755
	January 19, 2008	Colorado	16,755
	February 28, 2007	Texas A&M	16,755
	February 25, 2006	Kansas	16,755
	January 14, 2006	Villanova	16,755
	January 17, 2005	Oklahoma State	16,755
All games considered a sellout

Texas Women's Basketball^[15]
#	Date	Opponent	Attendance
1	March 27, 1987	Louisiana Tech*	15,303
2	January 22, 1988	Mississippi	14,413
3	February 24, 1996	Texas Tech	14,115
4	February 25, 1995	Texas Tech	13,378
5	November 18, 1987	Soviet National Team	13,358
6	March 25, 1989	Maryland #	12,874
7	February 9, 1991	Arkansas	12,531
8	March 5, 2022	Oklahoma State	12,506
9	February 1, 2004	Texas Tech	12,474
10	March 24, 1990	Louisiana Tech #	12,390
11	January 22, 1994	Texas Tech	12,352
12	March 26, 1988	Louisiana Tech #	12,288
13	January 15, 2018	Uconn	11,877
14	February 21, 1989	TCU	11,769
15	February 9, 1994	Texas A&M	11,646
16	January 17, 1989	Western Kentucky	11,619
* NCAA Final Four # NCAA Midwest Regional

References

^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "Arenas". Walter P Moore. Archived from the original on July 8, 2000. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
^ "Celebrating 35 Years". uterwincenter.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
^ "About the Erwin Center". uterwincenter.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
^ "Erwin, Frank Craig Jr. – Texas State Historical Association". Texas Sports. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
^ "Dell Medical School Construction Plans Unveiled". University of Texas. May 8, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
^ Daniel, Cody (December 20, 2018). "The University of Texas, Oak View Group agree to build 'world-class' on-campus arena". Burnt Orange Nation. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
^ Maas, Jimmy (December 20, 2018). "UT Regents Approve Arena Proposal To Replace Frank Erwin Center". KUT. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
^ "New University of Texas Arena to be Named Moody Center". Arena Digest. November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
^ Gates, Billy (April 4, 2022). "Moody Center set for its grand opening, ribbon-cutting ceremony". KXAN. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
^ "The history and favorite memories: The Frank Erwin Center to close in May after 45 years". Austin-American Statesman. March 8, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
^ "2022 Commencement Schedule". University of Texas. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
^ Munoz, Gabrielle. "Graduation 2019: Ceremony schedule for Austin-area schools and UT". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
^ "2019-20 Texas Longhorns Men's Basketball Fact Book" (PDF). Texas Sports. pp. 121–122. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
^ "2018-19 Texas Longhorns Women's Basketball Fact Book" (PDF). Texas Sports. pp. 98–99. Retrieved December 5, 2019.

External links

Frank Erwin Center Archived 2018-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
Frank C. Erwin Jr., Special Events Center – Texassports.com Archived 2013-05-28 at the Wayback Machine

[inflation-US-1] 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.

[2] "Arenas". Walter P Moore. Archived from the original on July 8, 2000. Retrieved November 10, 2013.

[3] "Celebrating 35 Years". uterwincenter.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2016.

[4] "About the Erwin Center". uterwincenter.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2016.

[University_of_Texas_Facilities-5] "Erwin, Frank Craig Jr. – Texas State Historical Association". Texas Sports. Retrieved April 29, 2017.

[6] "Dell Medical School Construction Plans Unveiled". University of Texas. May 8, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.

[7] Daniel, Cody (December 20, 2018). "The University of Texas, Oak View Group agree to build 'world-class' on-campus arena". Burnt Orange Nation. Retrieved February 25, 2019.

[8] Maas, Jimmy (December 20, 2018). "UT Regents Approve Arena Proposal To Replace Frank Erwin Center". KUT. Retrieved July 9, 2019.

[9] "New University of Texas Arena to be Named Moody Center". Arena Digest. November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.

[10] Gates, Billy (April 4, 2022). "Moody Center set for its grand opening, ribbon-cutting ceremony". KXAN. Retrieved April 20, 2022.

[11] "The history and favorite memories: The Frank Erwin Center to close in May after 45 years". Austin-American Statesman. March 8, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.

[12] "2022 Commencement Schedule". University of Texas. Retrieved May 21, 2022.

[13] Munoz, Gabrielle. "Graduation 2019: Ceremony schedule for Austin-area schools and UT". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2022-05-20.

[14] "2019-20 Texas Longhorns Men's Basketball Fact Book" (PDF). Texas Sports. pp. 121–122. Retrieved December 5, 2019.

[15] "2018-19 Texas Longhorns Women's Basketball Fact Book" (PDF). Texas Sports. pp. 98–99. Retrieved December 5, 2019.

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v t e The University of Texas at Austin
Academics	School of Architecture Cockrell School of Engineering Dell Medical School College of Education Moody College of Communication (Department of Radio–Television–Film) College of Fine Arts (Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music) College of Liberal Arts Graduate School Hicks School of Social Work Jackson School of Geosciences School of Law Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs McCombs School of Business College of Natural Sciences School of Information Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences
Research	Américo Paredes Center for Cultural Studies Benson Latin American Collection Center for Community College Student Engagement Center for Complex Quantum Systems Dolph Briscoe Center for American History Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center Perry–Castañeda Library RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law Texas Advanced Computing Center The William P. Clements Jr. Center for National Security ArchNet
Athletics	Football Baseball Basketball (Men's, Women's) Swimming & Diving Volleyball Softball Women's Soccer Tennis (Men's, Women's) Track & Field (Men's, Women's) Cross Country (Men's, Women's) Golf (Men's, Women's) Women's Rowing Club Sports (Sailing, Rugby) Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Erwin Special Events Center Denton A. Cooley Pavilion Moody Center UFCU Disch–Falk Field Myers Stadium McCombs Field Gregory Gymnasium Jamail Texas Swimming Center Lone Star Showdown
Campus	List of buildings Battle Hall Batts Hall Blanton Museum of Art (Austin by Ellsworth Kelly) Burdine Hall Calhoun Hall Cactus Cafe Flawn Academic Center Garrison Hall Goldsmith Hall Heman Sweatt Campus J. Frank Dobie House Pickle Research Campus J.T. Patterson Labs Building Jackson Geological Sciences Building Jester Center Littlefield Fountain Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Landmarks (public art collection) Los Angeles Center Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum Main Building (The Tower) McDonald Observatory Moody Pedestrian Bridge Music Building and Recital Hall Painter Hall Performing Arts Center Perry–Castañeda Library Physics, Math, and Astronomy Building School of Social Work Building Statue of Barbara Jordan Sutton Hall Texas Memorial Museum Union Building University Teaching Center Waggener Hall Walter Webb Hall Welch Hall
History	History of the University Stephen F. Austin Constitution of 1876 Fisher v. University of Texas (2013) Fisher v. University of Texas (2016) Hopwood v. Texas Sweatt v. Painter Tower shooting Admissions controversy
People	Alumni Faculty Presidents Texas Exes Friar Society Tejas Club
Traditions	Bevo The Eyes of Texas Texas Fight Hex Rally Hook 'em Horns Hook 'Em (mascot) The Showband of the Southwest Texas Cowboys (Smokey the Cannon) Texas Silver Spurs World's Largest Texas Flag
Student life	The Drag Fraternities and sororities Solar Vehicles Team
Media	KUT KUTX Longhorn IMG Sports Network Longhorn Network StarDate Texas Student Media (The Daily Texan, KVRX-FM, Texas Student Television, Texas Travesty)

v t e Texas Longhorns men's basketball
Venues	Clark Field (1905–1917) Men's Gym (1917–1928) Gregory Gymnasium (1930–1977) Frank Erwin Center (1977–2022) Moody Center (2022–present)
Rivalries	Texas A&M
Culture and lore	Bevo Hook 'em "Texas Fight"
People	Head coaches NBA draftees NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Premo-Porretta national championship in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e Texas Longhorns women's basketball
Venues	Gregory Gymnasium (1974–1977) Frank Erwin Center (1977–2022) Moody Center (2022–present)
Rivalries	Texas A&M
People	WNBA draftees Head Coaches
Culture and lore	Bevo Hook 'em "Texas Fight"
Seasons	1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e Music venues of Texas
Outdoor venues	Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Dos Equis Pavilion Germania Insurance Amphitheater Miller Outdoor Theatre Toyota Music Factory Zilker Park
Theaters and clubs	AT&T Performing Arts Center Anhalt Hall Aztec Theatre Bass Concert Hall Bass Performance Hall Bayou Music Center Billy Bob's Texas Cactus Cafe Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts Chautauqua Auditorium Emo's The Factory in Deep Ellum Fitzgerald's Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill Gas Monkey Live Gilley's Club Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts Granada Theater Gruene Hall Hobby Center for the Performing Arts Jefferson Theatre Jones Hall Julie Rogers Theater Long Center for the Performing Arts Main Street Crossing Majestic Theater Majestic Theatre Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House McFarlin Memorial Auditorium Moody Performance Hall Moody Theater Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center Music Hall at Fair Park Paramount Theatre Plaza Theatre San Angelo Performing Arts Coalition Smart Financial Centre Texas Hall Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Trees Dallas Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center Warehouse Live Will Rogers Auditorium Wortham Theater Center
Arenas	Amarillo National Center American Airlines Center American Bank Center AT&T Center Beaumont Civic Center Bert Ogden Arena Credit Union of Texas Event Center Comerica Center Convention Center Arena Dickies Arena Don Haskins Center Frank Erwin Center Freeman Coliseum Ford Arena Fort Worth Convention Center El Paso County Coliseum H-E-B Center Kay Yeager Coliseum Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Moody Coliseum NRG Arena The Oil Palace Payne Arena Toyota Center Sames Auto Arena United Supermarkets Arena
Stadiums	AT&T Stadium Alamodome Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Ford Center at The Star NRG Stadium Toyota Stadium
Historic venues	Armadillo World Headquarters Bagdad Supper Club Balinese Room Cheatham Street Warehouse Cherry Springs Dance Hall Dallas City Limits Dallas Sportatorium HemisFair Arena Houston Music Hall Fair Park Coliseum Liberty Hall Liberty Lunch Lubbock Municipal Coliseum Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe Raul's Reunion Arena Sam Houston Coliseum Sam Houston Hall Sand Mountain Coffee House Skyliner Ballroom Southern Star Amphitheatre Texas Stadium Real Life Amphitheater Vulcan Gas Company
Festivals	Astroworld Festival Austin City Limits Music Festival Thin Line Fest Kerrville Folk Festival South by Southwest Denton Arts and Jazz Festival Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival Fortress Festival

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States
Geographic	MusicBrainz place