Moody Center
{{short description|Multi-purpose arena in Austin, Texas, U.S.}}
{{About|the multi-purpose arena on the University of Texas at Austin campus|the studio/venue in Downtown Austin|Moody Theater}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Moody Center
| nickname =
| logo_image = Moody_Center_logo.svg
| logo_size =
| image =
| image_size = 270px
| image_caption = Rendering of the arena's entrance
| image_map =
| fullname = Moody Center
| former_names =
| address = 2001 Robert Dedman Drive
| location = Austin, Texas, U.S.
| coordinates = {{Coord|30|16|51.5|N|97|43|49.7|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = December 3, 2019
| opened = April 20, 2022
| renovated =
| expanded =
| owner = University of Texas at Austin
| operator = Oak View Group and University of Texas at Austin
| surface =
| construction_cost = $375 million (original) / $375 million (current estimate)
| architect = Gensler
| structural engineer = Walter P Moore
| general_contractor =
| capacity = 16,223 (total){{cite web | url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/sports/2024/03/16/nuggets-top-spurs-117-106-in-front-of-record-crowd-in-austin#:~:text=its%20third%20straight.-,The%20Spurs%20have%20played%20in%20Austin%20the%20last%20two%20seasons,Center%20with%2016%2C223%20on%20Friday | title=Jokic scores 31, Nuggets top Spurs 117-106 in front of record crowd in Austin }}
10,763 (UT basketball){{cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/mens-basketball/2022/11/08/big-crowd-squeezes-into-new-moody-center-to-watch-texas-dispatch-utep/69628917007/|title=Texas men, new Moody Center both pass the eye test in Longhorns' season-opening win|website=Austin American-Statesman|date=8 November 2022|access-date=2022-08-22}}
| tenants = Texas Longhorns (men's and women's basketball) (2022–present)
Austin Gamblers (PBR) (2022–present)
| website = {{url|moodycenteratx.com}}
}}
Moody Center is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin (UT) in Austin, Texas. The arena, which replaced the Frank Erwin Center, stands on a former parking lot located immediately south of UT's soccer/track and field venue, Mike A. Myers Stadium.{{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|date=2019-11-11|website=Arena Digest|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-11}} The arena seating capacity totals over 15,000 seats.
History
In 2018, it was announced that Oak View Group and UT agreed to form a public-private partnership, to build a new $375 million arena. The arena was intended to replace the Frank Erwin Center as the home for the Texas Longhorns basketball programs, and will also function as an events center for the city of Austin.{{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=Burnt Orange Nation|access-date=February 25, 2019}}{{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}} The new arena is named the Moody Center following the Moody Foundation's grant of $130 million to the university. Oak View Group funded the construction, and manages the building in exchange for the right to keep most of the income from non-UT events, such as concerts and shows, for at least the first 35 years after opening.{{cite web|url=https://www.hookem.com/story/20200626/get-writing-texas-gets-60-protected-dates-gameday-revenue-moody-center-contract/|title=Get it in writing: Texas gets 60 protected dates, all gameday revenue in Moody Center contract|date=2020-06-26|website=Austin American Statesman|language=en-US|access-date=2020-08-27}} UT, however, owns the land under the arena and will be the owner of the building. Under the terms of the agreement, the university will have exclusive control of the arena for 60 days each year to hold men's and women's basketball games, graduations, and other events. Oak View Group, along with partners Live Nation and C3 Presents, will have the right to hold events on the other days.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place just south of Mike A. Myers Soccer Stadium on December 3, 2019. The arena held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 19, 2022 and opened to the public on April 20 with a two-night concert featuring John Mayer.{{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|date=2022-04-18|website=KXAN|access-date=2022-04-20|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426193751/https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/moody-center-set-for-its-grand-opening-ribbon-cutting-ceremony/amp/|archive-date=2022-04-26}} George Strait and Willie Nelson had two shows on April 29–30, 2022.{{cite web |title=George Strait - Moody Center - Austin, Texas |url=https://moodycenteratx.com/event/george-strait/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Moody Center |language=en-US}} Dave Matthews Band performed the opening night of their 2022 Summer Tour on May 11.{{cite web|url=http://dmbalmanac.com/TourShowSet.aspx?id=453089865&tid=8169&where=2022 |title=DMBAlmanac.com² |publisher=Dmbalmanac.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-12}}
The arena held its first UFC event on June 18, 2022, hosting UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett.{{Cite web|title=UFC Fight Night Austin|url=https://moodycenteratx.com/event/ufc-fight-night-austin/|access-date=June 18, 2022|website=moodycenteratx.com|language=en-us}} The UFC returned to the arena for UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan on December 2, 2023.{{Cite web|title=UFC Fight Night|url=https://moodycenteratx.com/event/ufc-fight-night-austin-2023/|access-date=December 2, 2023|website=moodycenteratx.com|language=en-us}}
Harry Styles performed a six-show residency at the arena in September and October 2022, the most shows ever by a single artist, as part of his Love On Tour.{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Abby |date=September 26, 2022 |title=Moody Center Becomes Harry's House for Styles' First of Six Nights |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2022-09-26/moody-center-becomes-harrys-house-for-styles-first-of-six-nights/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=www.austinchronicle.com |language=en-US}}
The arena hosted the MF & DAZN: X Series 003 event for Deen the Great vs. Walid Sharks on November 19, 2022.{{cite news|title=Deen The Great vs. Walid Sharks: Date, start time, TV channel and live stream |work=DAZN|last=Netherton|first=Alexander|date=15 November 2022|url=https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/boxing/deen-the-great-vs-walid-sharks-date-start-time-tv-channel-and-live-stream/cx9wbxbaigf01azumonasdy8a|accessdate=15 January 2023}}
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team held their home opener November 7, 2022 at the Moody Center against the UTEP Miners. The Longhorns marked their first home victory at the arena outscoring UTEP 72-57 with an attendance of 11,313 spectators.{{Cite web |title=UTEP vs. Texas - Game Recap - November 7, 2022|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401483308 |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
Non-University of Texas at Austin tenants
Since 2022, the Moody Center has been the home venue of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR)'s Austin Gamblers during the PBR Team Series season held every summer through autumn.
In an attempt to expand their market reach into Austin, the San Antonio Spurs played two home games at the Moody Center on April 6 and 8, 2023 against the Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves respectively, marking the first NBA regular season games to be played in Austin.{{Cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Chris |date=2023-03-21 |title=Spurs Week plans Austin takeover with Casa de Spurs, free concert |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/spurs-austin-fan-fest-17850073.php |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=mySA |language=en-US}} The first game brought in a sell-out crowd of 16,023.{{Cite web |title=Spurs edge short-handed Trailblazers, but a win is a win for struggling San Antonio |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/pro/2023/04/07/san-antonio-spurs-edge-portland-in-inaugural-nba-game-played-in-austin/70091185007/ |accessdate=7 April 2023}} The Spurs returned to Moody Center on March 15 and 17, 2024 against the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets respectively. The Spurs returned to the Moody Center on February 20 and 21, 2025 against the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons respectively.
The Moody Center will play host to the Playoff Stage of the BLAST.tv Austin Major, an upcoming Counter-Strike 2 Major, in June of 2025. The Major is the biggest event in Counter-Strike esports, with teams from all over the world qualifying.{{Cite news |last=Schnitker |first=Andrew |date=June 14, 2024 |title=Austin’s Moody Center to host major esports competition with $1.25M prize pool |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austins-moody-center-to-host-major-esports-competition-with-1-25m-prize-pool/ |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=KXAN-TV}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat|Moody Center}}
- [https://moodycenteratx.com/ Moody Center]
{{Southeastern Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{University of Texas at Austin|athletics}}
{{Texas Longhorns men's basketball navbox}}
{{Texas Longhorns women's basketball navbox}}
Category:University of Texas at Austin
Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States
Category:Texas Longhorns basketball venues
Category:Music venues in Austin, Texas
Category:Sports venues in Austin, Texas
Category:Basketball venues in Texas
Category:Indoor arenas in Texas