Frank Erwin Center
The Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center (commonly known as Frank Erwin Center or UT Erwin Center and originally Special Events Center) is a 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 Drum | |
| Full name | Frank C. Erwin Jr. Special Events Center |
|---|---|
| Former names | Special Events Center |
| Address | 1701 Red River Street |
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Coordinates | 30.2770°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 |
| Demolished | November 2023-October 2024 (expected completion) |
| 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 multi-purpose facility hosts 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.