The new Arena

Looks like the finances have been done. The main question is where will the practice facility be once Cooley is torn down? Seems like someone is going to end up being displaced.
‘An innovative deal’: How Texas will get a $300 million basketball arena at no cost to taxpayers, boosters | Hookem.com

 

That is NOT GOOD news for players who have often commented on loving being able to head to Cooley at 4:00 a.m. to practice free throws...

 

While having a practice facility adjoined to the arena is definitely a plus, I'm not so sure it will be THAT big of a deal having it around the corner just on the other side of the soccer stadium... Hopefully not anyway.

 

Evidently some feel it will a big deal for negative recruiting against Texas. IMHO Of all of the things one could use in negative recruiting against Texas Basketball (men's and women's) where the practice arena is located would be pretty far down the list.)

 

Yes indeed... there are at least a couple of things that would serve as more effective negative recruiting tools against UT hoops.

 

This rendering of the new arena looks amazing. I found it interesting that Matthew McConaughey is involved with the facility. They'll need to break ground soon as it's slated to open in 2021.

Austin-based Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey will act as the “Minister of Culture” at the venue, ensuring that Longhorn and Austin cultures are front and center and helping create a fan experience unlike any other.

“It’s time to raise the bar. It’s time to excel, on the court and in the stands. It’s time for an authentic home court advantage for our Longhorn basketball teams. It’s time for a choice experience for our fans. It’s time to be a preferred venue for headliners from across the globe. It’s time for quality, success, and victories for the Longhorns and for Austin. It’s time for the big show. It’s time. Hook ’em,” said McConaughey

 

I just hope that the men’s and women’s basketball teams will have a practice facility done around that time.

 

My understanding is that Cooley remains intact until new practice facility finished..

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the pictures in the press release are just quick renderings of some staff artist/architect. My wife works in the construction business as an engineer and knows Ginsler very well. You need pictures to show the board what something might look like without thought to physical and aesthetic realities (will it look stupid compared to it's neighbors or the stadiums? etc...).

 

I'm trusting that whatever the facade ends up looking like it will be something that is aesthetically pleasing with its surroundings. At least I hope so anyway.

 

Is that a shot at Shaka?

 

Any word on how good or bad the parking will be with the new arena?

 

Nothing official, but there are three parking garages within reasonable walking distance, including the Manor Garage, which will probably be the preferred site since it basically next door to the track stadium. Others are the Trinity Garage and the Brazos garage.

Maps of the proposed new arena don't seem to leave a lot of room for surface parking.

 

I hope the sketches of the interior of the new facility are not accurate. What I am referring to --- the slope of the seats in the drawing is quite gradual, at least on the side in the foreground of the sketch. That is exactly what we don't want and one of the things wrong with the FEC. I like a gym with a steep slope, like Gregory or Moody in Dallas, where it feels like you are up close and looking down at the players.

 

I agree. We need the fans brought as close to the court as possible... Like Thompson-Boling Arena

 

While I don't really like climbing those steps (and don't anymore), I do understand that type of configuration is really great for basketball and hope that is being strongly considered by UT. It would be awesome to have something like that for our teams.

 

I wish they would/could also consider a way to get better seats closer to the floor for fans whose physical condition requires accessibility seating.

 

Well, they've pretty much given up on general maintenance at Erwin. I've had a broken armrest for 3 years now. Sending email to DelConte and tweeting at the Erwin Center with a picture of it has resulted in nothing. Why throw good money after bad, I suppose.