Austin, TX

The Frank Erwin Center in Austin

Address: 1701 Red River, Austin, TX 78701 - MAP
Phone: (512) 471-7744
Web: www.uterwincenter.com

The Frank Erwin Center is the premier event center in Austin, hosting concerts, sports events and live entertainment.

The original $34 million venue opened in 1977 and is located off of IH-35, near the heart of downtown Austin. The Frank Erwin Center seats up to 16,755 people, with the actual number varying depending on the event and space needed to accommodate each show.

The inaugural event when the Frank Erwin Center opened was the University of Texas Men's Basketball team vs. The University of Oklahoma. At the time, 12, 650 people were in attendance.

The center underwent $55 million in renovations and expansions from 2001-2003. The construction added 28 new suites, a new scoreboard and new concession stands, among other improvements.

Notable acts who have played the venue include George Strait, Pink Floyd, Janet Jackson, Dave Chappelle and Luciano Pavarotti. A wide variety of other events have come to the center, including WWF Wresting, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performances, and notably, Austin's Katrina Relief Concert.