Gregory Gymnasium

Last updated
Gregory Gymnasium
Greg
University of Texas at Austin August 2019 24 (Gregory Gymnasium).jpg
The front of Gregory Gymnasium
Gregory Gymnasium
Address2101 Speedway
Austin, Texas 78712
Coordinates 30°17′03″N97°44′11″W / 30.284184°N 97.736485°W / 30.284184; -97.736485
Owner University of Texas at Austin
Operator University of Texas at Austin
Capacity 4,000 (volleyball)
Record attendance5,344
Construction
Broke groundMay 10, 1929
BuiltApril 12, 1930
Opened1930
Construction cost $500,000
($9.12 million in 2023 dollars)
Tenants
Texas Longhorns (NCAA)
Women's Volleyball (1974–1989, 1998–2019, 2021–present)
Men's basketball (1930–1977)
Women's basketball (1972–1977)

Austin Aces (WTT) (2014–2015)

Gregory Gymnasium is the 4,000-seat current home of the University of Texas Longhorn women's volleyball team, and former home of the Longhorn basketball and swimming teams. The basketball teams moved out in 1977 to the Erwin Center. [1] [2] It also served as the home court for the Austin Aces of World Team Tennis from 2014 to 2015. [3]

Contents

The gymnasium has undergone several renovations, and now consists of the original gym and a four-story annex that serves as a gymnasium with an indoor jogging track, basketball courts, racquetball and squash courts, an indoor rock-climbing wall, a moderately-sized weight room, and a cardiovascular exercise facility. [2] All University students can use the gymnasium for free. The gymnasium is available at a low cost to university alumni and their spouses.

Gregory Gym interior, 2016 Texas Longhorn's Gregory Gym, Interior.JPG
Gregory Gym interior, 2016

History

Following the destruction of Texas' first basketball gymnasium in a fire in 1928, former U.S. Attorney General T.W. Gregory seized the opportunity to spearhead a fundraising initiative for a new facility, later becoming Gregory Gymnasium. [4]

Originally built in 1930 with an estimated cost of $500,000, [4] the gym was named after its main advocate and planner, Thomas Watt Gregory. Gregory, an alumnus of the University, served on the University's Board of Regents and as United States Attorney General before the gym was built. [5] [2] On December 5, 1930, Texas celebrated its inaugural men's basketball game at Gregory Gym. [4]

By the late 1920s, plans expanded to include a women’s gym and student union building, known as the "Union Project." Despite economic hardships during the Great Depression, the Texas Exes contributed over $600,000 to realize this ambitious project, leading to the construction of Gregory Gym and other essential campus facilities. [6] A process that became synonymous with the gymnasium was course registration each semester, where students endured long waits in hot weather to secure their class schedules. [7]

From 1930 to 1951, Gregory Gym hosted Fight Night, an annual boxing event that drew crowds from both the university and the wider community. Sporting events, including varsity basketball games and intramural competitions, added to the gym's reputation as a center for athletic excellence and spectatorship. [7]

By the 1950s and '60s, Gregory Gymnasium emerged as a prominent cultural venue and entertainment center on campus. It hosted renowned speakers, authors, and performers, attracting large audiences for literary readings, jazz concerts, and theatrical productions. Notable events included poetry readings by T.S. Eliot [8] and performances by jazz legends like Louis Armstrong [9] and the Count Basie group. [7] [10]

In 1977, after 46 years as the home of men's basketball, the gym hosted its final Southwest Conference tournament play-in game, marking the end of an era in collegiate sports. The subsequent move of basketball games to the Frank Erwin Center distanced the team from its student fanbase, altering the dynamic of campus athletics. [11]

In November 1997, Gregory Gym underwent a substantial renovation, closing for 22 months to modernize its facilities. The renovation aimed to enhance the building's functionality and aesthetics, incorporating features such as natural lighting, open lounge areas, and central air-conditioning, reflecting a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the campus community. [12]

In 2016, Amazon announced an agreement with The University of Texas at Austin to open Amazon@UT Austin, a staffed pickup location in Gregory Gymnasium on the UT Austin campus. This marked the first Amazon pickup location in the state of Texas. [13]

On May 1, 2017, a fatal stabbing occurred near the gym where Kendrex J. White, a 21-year-old student, attacked multiple passersby. Student Harrison Brown was fatally stabbed and three others were wounded before White was apprehended by police. The incident prompted discussions about campus safety and mental health support, ultimately leading to efforts to enhance security measures at Gregory Gym and across the university campus. [14] [15]

On April 24, 2024, the gym's plaza was the initial gathering site of a student protest regarding the Israel-Hamas War. By noon, hundreds of students had gathered, leading to police on horseback forcing the protestors away from the area and subsequent protests by the UT Tower. [16] The protests occurred amidst the ongoing nationwide demonstrations on college campuses. [17]

Attendance record

Volleyball Attendance Record [18]
#DateOpponentAttendance
1December 10, 2022Ohio State5,344
2December 11, 2021Nebraska5,080
3October 21, 1998Texas A&M5,072*
4August 31, 2022Minnesota4,992
5November 5, 1989Hawaii4,955*
6October 26, 2022Texas Tech4,915
7November 9, 2022Iowa State4,888
8December 2, 2022Georgia4,812
9November 16, 2022Kansas4,679
10November 19, 2022Baylor4,648
11December 8, 2022Marquette4,491
12December 9, 2021Washington4,488
13October 22, 2022West Virginia4,475
14November 12, 2021Oklahoma4,422
15October 12, 2022Kansas State4,418
16October 25, 2014Oklahoma4,402
17November 30, 2013Baylor4,392
18September 7, 2013Penn State4,373
19October 5, 2022TCU4,369
20September 8, 2017Minnesota4,353
* Before Reconfiguration

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas at Austin</span> Public university in Austin, Texas, US

The University of Texas at Austin is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 52,384 students as of Fall 2022, it is also the largest institution in the system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Erwin Center</span> Arena in Texas, United States

The Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center was a multi-purpose arena located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. It was also sometimes referred to as "The Drum" or "The Superdrum", owing to its round, drum-like appearance from outside.

The University of Texas at Austin was originally conceived in 1827 under an article in the Constitución de Coahuila y Texas to open a public university in the state of Texas. The Constitution of 1876 also called for the creation of a "university of the first class." Thus, they created "The University of Texas." Since the school's opening in 1883, the University of Texas has expanded greatly with the Austin institution remaining the flagship university of the University of Texas System. By the late 1990s, the University had the largest enrollment in the country and contained many of the country's top programs in the areas of law, architecture, film, engineering, and business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perry–Castañeda Library</span>

The Perry–Castañeda Library (PCL) is the main central library of the University of Texas at Austin library system in Austin, Texas. PCL is located at 21st Street and Speedway in Austin, TX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gymnasium</span> United States historic place

The Florida Gymnasium is a historic building located on the campus of the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville. It opened in 1949 as a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena and served as the home court of the Florida Gators men's basketball team and other UF indoor sports programs for over thirty years, acquiring the nickname of "Alligator Alley" during that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Longhorns men's basketball</span> Mens basketball team of the University of Texas at Austin

The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents the University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Longhorns women's basketball</span> Womens basketball team of the University of Texas

The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team represents the University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I intercollegiate women's basketball competition. The Longhorns compete in the Big 12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clark Field (1887)</span>

Clark Field, originally known as Varsity Athletic Field, was a stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Clark Field hosted the Texas Longhorns football and track teams until they moved to the newly constructed Memorial Stadium in 1924. It also hosted the Texas baseball team until it moved to the second Clark Field in 1928 and the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team until it moved next door to the new Men's Gym in 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Building (University of Texas at Austin)</span>

The Union Building is a building on the University of Texas at Austin campus, serving as a "college independent community center" or "living room" for students. Designed by Paul Cret, who also designed the Tower and Main Building, Goldsmith Hall and Texas Memorial Museum on the same campus, the Union was built in 1933 with funds provided by Texas Exes in a campaign led by Thomas Watt Gregory.

Longhorn Network (LHN) is an American regional sports network owned as a joint venture between The University of Texas at Austin, ESPN and Learfield, and is operated by ESPN. The network, which launched on August 26, 2011, focuses on the Texas Longhorns varsity sports teams of the University of Texas at Austin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denton A. Cooley Pavilion</span>

The Denton A. Cooley Pavilion is the practice and training facility serving the men's and women's basketball teams of The University of Texas at Austin. The facility is named for Dr. Denton A. Cooley, a UT alumnus, basketball letterman (1939–41), and pioneering heart surgeon.

Robert Moers was a college basketball, baseball, and football player for The University of Texas at Austin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregory L. Fenves</span> American engineer and college administrator (born 1957)

Gregory Louis Fenves is an American engineer and academic who is the 21st president of Emory University. He previously served as the President of the University of Texas at Austin from 2015 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Hartzell</span> President of the University of Texas at Austin

Jay C. Hartzell is an American economist and the 30th President of the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, he holds the Centennial Chair in Business Education Leadership and the Trammell Crow Regents Professor in Business at UT Austin.

Anna Hiss (1893–1972) was a 20th-century American professor, instrumental in improving the field of physical education by professionalizing the field, establishing university degrees, and developing programs for preparing physical education teachers. She was also professor of physical education at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as older sister of Donald Hiss and Alger Hiss.

John Paul Henderson was an American college football player who played four seasons as a guard for the Texas Longhorns. Raised in Fort Worth, Texas, he was a member of the team from 1932 through 1936. He later worked for Humble Oil for over thirty years and eventually became the school's oldest living former football player in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moody Center</span> Multi-purpose arena in Austin, Texas, U.S.

Moody Center is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin (UT) in Austin, Texas. The arena, which replaces the Frank Erwin Center, stands on a former parking lot located immediately south of UT's soccer/track and field venue, Mike A. Myers Stadium. The arena seating capacity totals over 15,000 seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976–77 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1976–77 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1976–77 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as a member of the Southwest Conference. They finished the season 13–13 overall, tied for fourth in the SWC with a 8–8 record. They were coached by Abe Lemons in his first season as head coach of the Longhorns. Lemons previously coached at Pan American University and Oklahoma City University. The Longhorns played their home games at Gregory Gymnasium in Austin, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Texas Longhorns women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2022–23 Texas Longhorns women's basketball team represents the University of Texas at Austin in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The team is coached by Vic Schaefer entering his third season at Texas. The Longhorns are members of the Big 12 Conference and play their home games at the new Moody Center.

References

  1. "Gregory Gymnasium". texassports.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Gregory Gym History". utrecsports.org. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  3. "Austin Aces - Mylan World TeamTennis". www.austinacestennis.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-12.
  4. 1 2 3 Davis, Brian. "Old-school: Texas to face Sam Houston State for first game at Gregory Gym in 44 years". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  5. "Gregory, Thomas Watt". tshaonline.org. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  6. "The Birth of Gregory Gym". The Alcalde. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  7. 1 2 3 "Gym of Dreams". The Alcalde. 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  8. Richard (2017-02-22). "UT's Gregory Gymnasium". Richard Pennington. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  9. millerm (2012-04-23). "The past and present meet at Texas". UT News. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  10. "Local Memory: A History of Music in Austin". local-memory.org. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  11. Boncosky, Matthew. "Looking back at historic Gregory Gym as it hosts men's basketball again". The Daily Texan. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  12. Sports, UT Recreational (2022-12-14). "Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the "New" Gregory Gym". Inside RecSports — Fall/Winter 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  13. Fitzpatrick, Kylie (2016-03-02). "Amazon to Open New Pickup Location at The University of Texas at Austin". UT News. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  14. "UT Austin stabbing: Student killed, 3 others wounded in "unconscionable" attack - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  15. Girgis, Lauren. "Harrison Brown's mother settles lawsuit over 2017 on-campus stabbing". The Daily Texan. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  16. Seipp, Lily Kepner and Skye. "What happened at pro-Palestinian protest at UT-Austin? Here's the timeline of events". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  17. "UT Austin campus protest leads to pro-Palestinian student arrests". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  18. "Texas Volleyball 2019 Fact Book" (PDF). Texas Sports. pp. 38–39. Retrieved December 12, 2019.