The Impact Of The Fertitta Center

The Fertitta Center is Hofheinz Pavilion remodeled. The new Fertitta Center is located off of Cullen and Holman on The University of Houston campus right in the middle of all the sports complexes.

Houston has a large history of great basketball and that is why Hofheinz never got remodeled but Tilman Fertitta’s 20 million dollar contribution could not have come at a better time. In the 2017–2018 season both basketball teams reached 20 win seasons with their arena under construction. With the men and women’s basketball teams having to play on the other side of Scott Street all last year and up until Dec 1st of of the 2018–2019 season there was no place they could call home. The new Fertitta Center is connected to the semi-new Guy V Lewis practice facility so the teams are now able to go from one to the other easily.

According to Armoni Brooks and Galen Robinson of the men’s team the impact of the Fertitta is obvious but is also just a great feeling to have a home arena again on campus.

The impact that the Fertitta Center has had an immediate impact on the fanbase. People are able to get easier access they know the game times because of signs around campus. When the team was playing at TSU, the fan base was lower because students could not just go there straight from class or be able to walk from their dorms, instead they had to catch a shuttle and they had to have little see through bags so it is just a lot of extra that comes with it.

“Some people just don’t want to go to that side of town” according to Armoni Brooks shooting guard from the men’s basketball team.

With the new Fertitta Center there is also a new student section called ‘The Cage’ that gives the students an up close and personal feel to the game and also allows the players to be able to get motivation from their peers. Those things make all the difference when it comes to game time because the men’s slogan is “For The City” so to know that everybody from the school and everybody around are behind them makes everything so much sweeter.

Galen Robinson, 4 year starting point guard said “The student section has sold out every game since the Fertitta Center opened so that alone tells the impact that it has had immediately.

Alumni’s are coming back to support now because of the new facility and the impact it has on their alma mater. They also like to see what their contributions have been going to and the respect that the new facilities have given everybody. Another thing so special for the alumni are the seats they are given in the new Fertitta which is right behind the bench and is like theater seats. Sports are always an important part on a University so they newer the facilities the more people want to see.

The men’s basketball team is currently 8–0 and ranked the number 24 team in the nation, with a big game Wednesday, Dec 12 against LSU. That game will also have a sold out crowd because people want to be live in the action instead of watch the game on ESPN. They also like to see what their contributions have been going to and the respect that the new facilities have given everybody.

Ticket sales have rose and that has to do with the impact of the Fertitta Center as well. The sales have also rose because of the tough schedule that the men’s team has decided to take on this season.

What makes the Fertitta Center so special is the fact that there is all new high tech technology everywhere throughout the building. They have everything from new security machines to high tech fan interactions. They remodeled the locker rooms and have given the cougars a new tunnel to walk through.

“The list can go on and on about how Fertitta is better than Hofheinz.” Robinson said.

There is now a play area for children that are at the game. The alumni now have a Legends Club where during the game there is food and other things and directly through the windows they get to see all the UH Athletic alumni that entered the draft and got drafted. One of the main stories of Houston Basketball is Phi Slama Jama who have paved the way which is why there are banners of each of the members names and number hanging up for everybody to see.

“I think the main thing that is different in Fertitta is the lighting, having those bright lights for us to see better has been good.” Brooks said

The lights have been brightened in the Fertitta Center and they put a brand new floor down. They have huge jumbo-trons on both sides for people to see replays and stat lines. Anything new and high tech that a person can think of is now in the Fertitta Center and that is what is making it such top of the line work.

The impact that it has on the University is the school is close to downtown and the Fertitta is new everybody wants to see what is being shown on the news and what so many people are talking about. It brings a lot of attention to the university which overall is good because it brings alumni back, that brings money back. It brings students in because they want to know what the athletes have, and it brings the city in because when they see celebrities show up it will attract them and when they see the actual building and what it has to bring that also attracts them and brings them in.