Oak View Group And Live Nation Officially Break Ground On New Arena In Austin, TX

Moody Center Rendering. Courtesy: Scoop Marketing

The University of Texas at Austin, Oak View Group (OVG) and Live Nation Entertainment recently announced the official groundbreaking and start of construction on the Moody Center, a new multi-purpose, state-of-the-art, privately financed sports and entertainment arena in Austin, Texas.

The $338 million, 15,000-seat world-class arena will open early 2022, and in addition to the space being home to the University of Texas basketball games, graduations, as well as university, community, high school, and other events for the Austin community, the new venue will be built for music and host top touring concerts and shows. Moody Center will replace the 42-year-old Frank C. Erwin Jr. Center at The University of Texas at Austin campus.

Live Nation Entertainment will work with C3 Presents to bring top tours and premium live events to the Moody Center.

“The Moody Center will be a must-play arena and we look forward to bringing our concerts and tours there as soon as the doors open in 2022,” said Michael Rapino, Chairman and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment.

Moody Center Rendering. Courtesy: Scoop Marketing

“The University of Texas is one of the most important and largest universities in the world. Our partnership with President Fenves, Athletic Director Del Conte and the entire university is a new vision and a new standard on a private-public partnership that will create a world-class venue for the Longhorns and for Austin,” said Tim Leiweke, CEO, Oak View Group. “This partnership has brought together one of the most recognized universities and brands, the Longhorns, with the world’s leader in content, Live Nation, and the world’s largest developer of new arenas, OVG, with Matthew McConaughey. Those partners will create one of the greatest arenas in the world and become the heart and soul for the campus and Austin.”

McConaughey, University of Texas at Austin professor, Distinguished Alumnus (BS ’93), and Academy Award-winning actor, has signed on as Minister of Culture of the Moody Center and will work on ideas including but not limited to suite designs, bar placement, color schemes, and other concepts, to create a symbiotic relationship between the arena, the city, and the university.

“As a proud alumnus and professor at UT, I’m honored, now as Minister of Culture, to convey what a special place the university and the city of Austin are through the design and hospitality of the new Moody Center,” said McConaughey. “It should be the first place the biggest bands in the world want to play, but the last place a visiting basketball team wants to play.”

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LB Cantrell

LB Cantrell is Editor/Director of Operations at MusicRow magazine, where she oversees, manages and executes all company operations. LB oversees all MusicRow-related content, including the publication’s six annual print issues and online news. She is a Georgia native and a graduate of the Recording Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University.

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