UT Seeks To Build New Arena Days After Moody Center Developer's Pardon
The University of Texas announced Wednesday it has issued a request for proposals to develop and construct a 6,000-seat, on-campus arena near the Moody Center, according to the Austin Business Journal.
The announcement came less than a week after President Donald Trump pardoned Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke, whose company led development of the Moody Center.
Leiweke was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust division in July for criminal conspiracy after being accused of bid-rigging in pursuit of the $375M Moody Center contract.
Denver-based Oak View Group won the contract for the project in 2019, and the Moody Center opened in 2022. Seating more than 15,000, it has become a well-known venue, hosting UT’s basketball teams as well as large-scale events like concerts.
The new arena would sit on 4 acres in the athletics and entertainment district of the main campus just south of the Moody Center, according to the university. It would serve the UT women’s volleyball team and offer adjacent student-athlete housing.
The new arena could eventually expand to host concerts and other events as well as have ground-level retailers.
According to renderings of the arena that UT posted on X, its design will resemble that of the Moody Center, with an upper bowl and a Jumbotron.
UT had reportedly long been considering a new arena for its women’s volleyball team, which has won five national championships.
The team currently plays in the Gregory Gymnasium — “The Greg” — which was built in 1930 and seats 4,500. In recent years, the team has had a streak of at least 50 sellouts at The Greg.
UT would own both the new arena and the housing facility, with an outside entity operating them under a proposed public-private collaboration.
The 2033 Higher Education Development Foundation Inc. will reportedly lead the RFP process, which was authorized by the UT System Board of Regents last month. Developers can submit proposals by Feb. 6.
