Texas Volleyball Set for a New Era with State-of-the-Art Arena Plans
The Texas Longhorns volleyball team is riding a wave of success, recently securing a spot in the NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight with a dominant victory over the Indiana Hoosiers. Their next challenge brings them to the familiar, yet soon-to-be-former, home turf of Gregory Gymnasium, where they’ll face the Wisconsin Badgers. The roar of the Longhorn faithful is expected to be a significant factor as the team aims to punch their ticket to the Final Four in Kansas City, Missouri. However, as the Longhorns prepare for what could be their final home games in the iconic Gregory Gymnasium in 2025, the university has unveiled ambitious plans that signal a dramatic shift for the program’s future.
A Glimpse into the Future: The New Multi-Purpose Arena
The Texas Longhorns volleyball team officially advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament with a decisive win over the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday.
They are set to host the Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday in the Gregory Gymnasium, hoping to use the momentum of a boisterous Longhorn crowd to propel them into the Final Four in Kansas City, Missouri.
However, as they prepare to play in front of their home crowd one last time in 2025, the Longhorns have announced that home could look quite different in the years to come.
On Wednesday, the university took a significant step by issuing a request for proposal (RFP) to private developers. The goal is to secure funding for a cutting-edge, 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena that will ultimately replace Gregory Gymnasium as the primary venue for Texas volleyball home games.
This transformative project is slated to occupy approximately four acres within the burgeoning Texas Athletes and Entertainment District on campus. This strategic location, situated north of East MLK Jr. Boulevard between Robert Dedman Drive and Interstate 35, places the new facility at the heart of the university’s athletic and entertainment hub.
The proposed arena will boast a seating capacity of around 6,000, a substantial increase of roughly 2,000 seats compared to Gregory Gymnasium’s current capacity. Beyond the enhanced fan experience, the development also includes plans for an adjacent student-athlete housing facility. This integrated approach aims to significantly elevate the quality of life for Texas’ student athletes, providing them with convenient and modern accommodations.
Longhorns President Jim Davis articulated the profound significance of this undertaking, stating, “It is important for us to be strategic about how we use our space and how our students and visitors engage with our campus. This is a unique development that will enhance the University’s athletics facilities and housing portfolio and benefit students, Longhorn fans and our city for years to come. I am grateful to our Board of Regents for their support for our vision.”
The Strategic Importance of Volleyball and Timing
The university revealed a request for proposal to seek private developers to help fund a 6,000-seat multipurpose arena that would replace Gregory Gymnasium as Texas volleyball’s host site for home games.
The arena would seat around 6,000 fans, which is about 2,000 more than Gregory Gymnasium holds. The new project will also contain an adjacent student-athlete housing facility, meaning that the quality of life for student athletes at Texas could improve at large.
The decision to invest in a new, state-of-the-art facility specifically for the volleyball program underscores its immense value and success. The Texas volleyball program is not just a source of pride for the university; it’s a national powerhouse. Over the past decade, the Longhorns have reached the national championship game five times, securing two national titles within the last three seasons alone. This consistent dominance is a testament to the enduring leadership of Head Coach Jerritt Elliott, who has been at the helm since 2001, fostering an environment of unwavering strength, stability, and consistent high performance.
While the construction of the new arena will likely take a couple of years, the mere announcement of such a significant investment is expected to have an immediate positive impact on the program’s recruiting efforts. The prospect of training and competing in a world-class facility, coupled with the university’s proven track record of success, will undoubtedly make Texas an even more attractive destination for top-tier talent.
Head coach Jerritt Elliott has been with the program since 2001, cultivating an environment of strength, stability and consistency.
While it would be at least a couple of years before the new arena would be ready to host the Longhorns, the potential surrounding the project could help bolster Texas’ already strong recruiting efforts.
For now, the Longhorns’ immediate focus remains squarely on their current NCAA tournament run. Their objective is clear: to advance further and continue to solidify their reputation as one of the nation’s premier volleyball programs. However, the unveiling of these ambitious arena plans clearly signals that the future of Texas volleyball is not only bright but also poised for a significant and exciting transformation. The commitment to a new facility represents a substantial investment in the program’s continued success and the overall athletic and student-athlete experience at the University of Texas.