Frank Erwin Center, Indoor arena at University of Texas campus, Austin, United States
The Frank Erwin Center was a multipurpose indoor arena on the University of Texas campus with a circular design and seating for approximately 17,900 people. Its distinctive shape led locals to affectionately call the building 'The Drum'.
The arena opened in 1977 after approximately three years of construction and represented a major investment in campus facilities. It served the university as a primary venue for sporting events and large gatherings for several decades.
For decades, this venue hosted University of Texas basketball games, concerts, and academic celebrations that shaped student life and community gatherings in Austin. For many locals, the round building served as a familiar gathering place for entertainment and shared moments.
The venue provided multiple entrances, ample parking areas, and easy access via Austin's public transportation system. Visitors could navigate the space easily and had various options for arriving and leaving.
The building was demolished in 2023, after a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game in April 2022 served as the final major event there. Its removal marked the end of an important chapter in the campus's history.
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