The University of Texas announced Wednesday that it has issued a request for proposal to seek private developers to build a small multipurpose public arena for the Texas volleyball team and an adjacent student-athlete housing facility just south of Moody Center at the northwest corner of Interstate 35 and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Officials did not give an anticipated date on when the new facility will open.
“This is a critical step for the future of Texas Volleyball (sic) and our student-athletes’ housing experience,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said in a statement. “It is about creating an experience that our student-athletes, coaches and passionate fans will be proud of in the heart of a district built for elite talent and entertainment.”
The new arena aims to seat “approximately 6,000 fans, with the flexibility to expand seating for concerts, shows and university events that complement the adjacent Moody Center,” according to a press release issued by the university.
“It is important for us to be strategic about how we use our space and how our students and visitors engage with our campus,” said University of Texas president Jim Davis. “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.”
Under the proposed public-private collaboration, Texas would own both the arena and student-athlete housing properties, and an outside entity would operate them.