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Sledgehammer, Wrecking Ball, etc.

With no more events at Austin's Frank Erwin Center, it may be time to bring down the house

Frank Erwin Center
Since Moody Center has taken over, the Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center may be destined for a $25 million demolition and a Dell Medical Center expansion. Courtesy KVUE

The Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center's time on the side of Interstate 35 appears to be coming to an end.

Later this week, the University of Texas System's Board of Regents will meet to discuss demolishing the 500,000-square-foot arena, as well as the 44,000-square-foot Denton A. Cooley Pavilion next door.

According to an item on the board's agenda, the demolition of the two facilities would make room for expansion of the Dell Medical Center. The full demolition is estimated to cost $25 million, and the university hopes to finish the demolition project by October 2024.

Built in 1977, the Frank Erwin Center served as the arena for Texas Men's and Women's basketball games, as well as a concert venue and the location for UT's individual college graduations. The Denton A. Cooley Pavilion, built in 2003, has served as a basketball training facility.

Way back in December 2018, the board of regents voted to approve a new events arena to replace the Frank Erwin Center. In November 2019, the new arena got its name: Moody Center.

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Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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