Gregory Gymnasium
Greg | |
 The front of Gregory Gymnasium | |
 | |
| Address | 2101 Speedway Austin, Texas 78712 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°17′03″N 97°44′11″W / 30.284184°N 97.736485°W |
| Owner | University of Texas at Austin |
| Operator | University of Texas at Austin |
| Capacity | 4,000 (volleyball) |
| Record attendance | 5,344 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 10, 1929 |
| Built | April 12, 1930 |
| Opened | 1930 |
| 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]
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.
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]
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.[13][14]
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.[15] The protests occurred amidst the ongoing nationwide demonstrations on college campuses.[16]
Attendance record
| # | Date | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 10, 2022 | Ohio State | 5,344 |
| 2 | December 11, 2021 | Nebraska | 5,080 |
| 3 | October 21, 1998 | Texas A&M | 5,072* |
| 4 | August 31, 2022 | Minnesota | 4,992 |
| 5 | November 5, 1989 | Hawaii | 4,955* |
| 6 | October 26, 2022 | Texas Tech | 4,915 |
| 7 | November 9, 2022 | Iowa State | 4,888 |
| 8 | September 28, 2023 | BYU | 4,844 |
| 9 | December 2, 2022 | Georgia | 4,812 |
| 10 | October 2, 2024 | South Carolina | 4,738 |
| 11 | November 25, 2023 | Texas Tech | 4,725 |
| 12 | September 11, 2024 | Houston | 4,719 |
| 13 | September 3, 2023 | Stanford | 4,707 |
| 14 | November 16, 2022 | Kansas | 4,679 |
| 15 | September 29, 2023 | BYU | 4,667 |
| 16 | September 15, 2023 | Washington State | 4,656 |
| 17 | November 15, 2023 | Iowa State | 4,649 |
| 18 | October 18, 2024 | Arkansas | 4,648 |
| November 19, 2022 | Baylor | 4,648 | |
| 20 | October 26, 2023 | Baylor | 4,590 |
| * Before Reconfiguration | |||
Updated: December 1, 2024
References
- ^ "Gregory Gymnasium". texassports.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Gregory Gym History". utrecsports.org. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ "Austin Aces - Mylan World TeamTennis". www.austinacestennis.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-12.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ "Gregory, Thomas Watt". tshaonline.org. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ "The Birth of Gregory Gym". The Alcalde. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ a b c "Gym of Dreams". The Alcalde. 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Richard (2017-02-22). "UT's Gregory Gymnasium". Richard Pennington. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ millerm (2012-04-23). "The past and present meet at Texas". UT News. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Local Memory: A History of Music in Austin". local-memory.org. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Boncosky, Matthew. "Looking back at historic Gregory Gym as it hosts men's basketball again". The Daily Texan. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Sports, UT Recreational (2022-12-14). "Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the "New" Gregory Gym". Inside RecSports — Fall/Winter 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "UT Austin stabbing: Student killed, 3 others wounded in "unconscionable" attack - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ Girgis, Lauren. "Harrison Brown's mother settles lawsuit over 2017 on-campus stabbing". The Daily Texan. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "UT Austin campus protest leads to pro-Palestinian student arrests". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ "Texas Volleyball 2019 Fact Book" (PDF). Texas Sports. pp. 38–39. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
External links
