Ayrton Oneill
Baylor University's basketball teams have a new home. The $212 million arena, whose construction began in May 2022, is located on the bank of the Brazos River. The 7,000-seat arena, with standing room for 500 more spectators, opened on January 2, 2024, with a men's basketball game against Cornell, which Baylor won 98-79. The women's team played their first game in the new arena the following day, beating TCU 71-50.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the new arena | Foster Pavilion |
| Location | Bank of Brazos River, Waco, Texas |
| Construction start date | May 2022 |
| Opening date | January 2, 2024 |
| Cost | $212 million |
| Seating capacity | 7,000 seats with standing room for 500 more |
| Previous basketball venue | Ferrell Center |
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What You'll Learn
The new basketball arena cost $212 million
Baylor University's new basketball arena, the Foster Pavilion, cost $212 million. The arena, which opened on January 2, 2024, with a men's basketball game against Cornell, has 7,000 seats and standing room for approximately 500 more spectators. The facility is located on the bank of the Brazos River in Waco, Texas, and is the result of a partnership between Baylor University and the City of Waco.
The original estimate for the arena was $185 million, but the final price tag came in at $212.6 million due to a $27.6 million increase in construction costs. The City of Waco contributed significantly to the funding, initially pledging $65 million to add elements to the arena to allow its use as a city-run concert venue. However, this was later revised to $34 million, along with additional spending on surrounding infrastructure improvements, bringing the total city contribution to $73 million.
The new arena features a Development Centre with practice courts, dedicated locker rooms, and team lounges, which will be completed in the future. The men's and women's basketball teams will continue to use their practice gyms at the Ferrell Center, which includes the Paul J. Meyer Arena, seating 10,284 for basketball. The opening of the new arena generated some criticism due to the aerial-only camera angle, which many deemed unacceptable for a college basketball game in a new $212 million arena.
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The arena has 7,000 seats and standing room for 500
Baylor University's basketball teams have a new home along the bank of the Brazos River. The $212 million facility features a 7,000-seat arena with standing room for about 500 more spectators. The new arena, named Foster Pavilion, opened on January 2, 2024, with a men's basketball game against Cornell, which Baylor won 98-79. The women's team played its first game in the arena the following day against conference rival TCU, winning 71-50.
The opening of the new arena marked a significant change for Baylor's basketball teams, who had previously played under the golden dome of the Ferrell Center for 35 years. The Paul J. Meyer Arena, which is part of the Ferrell Center, was built in 1988 and has a seating capacity of 10,284 for basketball games. The record attendance at the Ferrell Center was 10,550, set during the 2005 women's Big 12 Conference regular-season title game.
While the new arena at Baylor is smaller in capacity than the Ferrell Center, it provides a state-of-the-art venue for the university's basketball teams. The $212 million facility features practice courts, dedicated locker rooms, and team lounges. The development of the new arena was a joint effort between Baylor and the City of Waco, which provided funding to allow its use as a city-run concert venue for a certain number of days each year.
The decision to move into the new arena before its completion was driven by the desire to give student-athletes, particularly seniors, the opportunity to play in a world-class venue. Additionally, it provided the basketball programs with a significant home-court advantage during the Big 12 season. The new arena is expected to have a positive impact on the teams' performance and has already witnessed a victory in its inaugural game.
The Foster Pavilion is an example of Baylor's commitment to providing top-notch facilities for its athletic programs. With a capacity of 7,000 seats and standing room for 500, the arena strikes a balance between intimacy and grandeur, creating a unique atmosphere for both players and spectators. The pavilion's design, along with its location on the bank of the Brazos River, adds to the allure of Baylor's basketball program and is expected to attract fans and talent alike.
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The arena is on the bank of the Brazos River
Baylor University's basketball teams now play in a new home along the bank of the Brazos River. The $212 million arena, which opened on January 2, 2024, has 7,000 seats and standing room for about 500 more spectators. The new arena is a departure from the basketball team's previous home under the golden dome of the Ferrell Center, which was built in 1988 and located adjacent to the Brazos River.
The Brazos River arena opened 20 months after ground was broken in May 2022. While the arena is now in use, there are still parts of the facility that are not yet completed away from the court. The Development Centre, for example, with its practice courts, dedicated locker rooms, and team lounges, will be finished later in 2024.
Athletic director Mack Rhoades commented on the decision to move into the new arena before everything was completed:
> There were two primary drivers for us when we thought about that decision. One was our student-athletes, giving our student-athletes, particularly our seniors, an opportunity to play in a venue like this. And then I think for our basketball programs, we knew both of them were going to be really, really good teams this year, but giving them the best home-court advantage that they could have during the Big 12 season.
Billionaire entrepreneur Bill Gates, who was in attendance at the arena's opening game against Cornell, which Baylor won 98-79.
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The men's and women's teams will still use the Ferrell Center for practice
Baylor University has opened a new basketball arena on the bank of the Brazos River in Waco, Texas. The $212 million facility features a 7,000-seat arena with standing room for approximately 500 more spectators. The new arena opened on January 2, 2024, with a men's basketball game against Cornell, which Baylor won 98-79. The women's team played their first game in the new arena the following day, beating TCU 71-50.
Despite the opening of the new arena, the men's and women's teams will still use the Ferrell Center for practice. The Ferrell Center, named for Charles R. Ferrell, a Baylor student and legacy who died in 1967, has been Baylor's primary indoor athletic facility since it was built in 1988. Within the Ferrell Center is the Paul J. Meyer Arena, which seats 10,284 for basketball games. The men's and women's basketball teams relocated to the newly-constructed Foster Pavilion in 2024, but the Ferrell Center will continue to be used for practice and may still host games if the Baylor women make the NCAA Tournament, as the new arena may not yet have the extra space needed.
The new Development Center at the arena, which will include practice courts, dedicated locker rooms, and team lounges, is expected to be completed later this year. In addition to the new Development Center, Baylor's new basketball arena features a 7,000-seat arena with standing room for approximately 500 more spectators. The arena was built at a cost of $212 million, with construction beginning in May 2022. The new arena is located on the bank of the Brazos River, a change of scenery for the Baylor basketball teams, who played under the golden dome of the Ferrell Center for 35 years.
The Ferrell Center has been a tough place to play basketball for opponents due to the large crowds that attend games. In 2005, a facility-record crowd of 10,550 watched the Baylor women's team win the women's Big 12 Conference regular-season title. That team went on to win the NCAA Women's National Championship, the first for the Big 12 Conference. The Ferrell Center also plays host to Baylor's volleyball, acrobatics, and tumbling teams.
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The Development Centre will be completed later
Baylor University's basketball teams moved into a new home along the bank of the Brazos River in January 2024. The $212 million facility, named Foster Pavilion, features a 7,000-seat arena with standing room for about 500 more spectators. The new arena replaced the Ferrell Center, which had been Baylor's home for basketball for 35 years.
While the new arena is now open, there are still parts of the facility that are not yet completed. The Development Centre at the new arena, which will include practice courts, dedicated locker rooms, and team lounges, will be completed later in 2024.
The decision to move into the new arena before its completion was not taken lightly. Athletic Director Mack Rhoades noted that the main considerations were providing the student-athletes, particularly the seniors, with the opportunity to play in a state-of-the-art venue and giving the basketball programs a competitive home-court advantage during the Big 12 season.
As a result of the ongoing construction, the men's and women's basketball teams will continue to use their practice gyms at the Ferrell Center. Additionally, if the Baylor women's team makes the NCAA Tournament and hosts first- and second-round games, those games will be played at the Ferrell Center due to the extra space it can accommodate.
The Ferrell Center, located adjacent to the Brazos River, has been a significant venue for Baylor athletics since its construction in 1988. It is named for Charles R. Ferrell, a Baylor student and legacy whose family was a major benefactor of the arena. The centrepiece of the facility is the Paul J. Meyer Arena, which seats 10,284 for basketball games and has been the site of record crowds and historic victories for Baylor's basketball and volleyball teams.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Baylor University's basketball teams moved to a new home in January 2024. The new arena is located on the bank of the Brazos River.
The new basketball arena at Baylor has a seating capacity of 7,000 with standing room space for about 500 more spectators.
The name of the new basketball arena at Baylor is Foster Pavilion.
The new basketball arena at Baylor cost $212 million.
