Faster Than Sound: Erwin Center Replacement, the Moody Center, Opens on UT Campus

[TexasTowelie]

Almost 45 years after the opening of the Frank Erwin Center, its replacement is ready across MLK.

Like its predecessor, the Moody Center offers a leading Austin locale for major concerts and events, as well as a home court for Longhorns basketball. Nestled between I-35 and the football stadium in a former UT parking lot, the stadium's flexible setup will allow for over 15,000 seats. (The Erwin lists its largest-ever attendance at 17,829 for a 1978 John Denver show.)

After a private event with Earth, Wind & Fire on Tuesday, the Moody dives into a busy opening week of John Mayer, Bon Jovi, and Justin Bieber. Further bookings like the Who, Leon Bridges, Iron Maiden, Roxy Music, and professional bull-riding stretch to December. Whereas the Erwin was initially designed to step up UT basketball attendance, the Moody was customized with concerts in front of mind.

Decades show in the design. To contrast with the retiring "Superdrum's" fortified exterior, the Moody's curvy lines let in natural light on both sides with glass encasing it. While architects behind Erwin helped build the Astrodome, the new Moody was envisioned by the local branch of the firm Gensler, veterans of the Q2 Stadium and the Domain NORTHSIDE. During a Monday media preview, Gensler principal David Lynch pointed out curved composite wood panels, which extend from the prominent overhanging roof to indoor hallways.

The project received a $130 million grant from the Moody Foundation, the same family behind all the other Moody building names in Austin. With construction launched in 2019, the multiuse venue boasted no cost to taxpayers or students with private funding provided through Oak View Group, Live Nation/C3 Presents, University of Texas, and Matthew McConaughey. Live Nation-owned Austin promoters C3 are also a partner in programming at Waterloo Park's 2021-opened Moody Amphitheater, and continue to expand their reach with a new Riverside project (more on that below).

Read more: https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2022-04-22/faster-than-sound-erwin-center-replacement-the-moody-center-opens-on-ut-campus/


The Moody Center (Photo by Jana Birchum)

[tanyev]

1. Aw, I think all the big concerts I ever went to were in the Erwin Center.

I'm sure it was time for something new.

[msongs]

2. a concert...in a basketball gym lol nt

[TexasTowelie]

3. That is what the Erwin Center, the predecessor was.

I went to several concerts there including the Moody Blues, Triumph, and REM. There never was an issue with sound quality during the concerts and the light shows were also great. I even saw a figure-skating tour at the Erwin Center.

The new Moody Center was designed to handled multiple events and I have confidence that the events will be handled professionally. I certainly see no need to discredit them before the first set of concerts occur. If problems do pop up since it is a new venue, then they will get fixed. And when push comes to shove, Austin will still get better concerts than San Antonio which is only 90 miles away.

[Javaman]

4. last concert I saw at the erwin ctr was James Taylor

great show, but the venue certainly was showing major signs of wear.