The University of Texas is set to open a new basketball arena and entertainment facility in 2021 — and it's using one of its most famous alums to help with the fan experience.
Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey (Class of 1993) has been tabbed as the venue's “Minister of Culture,” which the school says will help "create a fan experience unlike any other."
Now there aren't too many Ministers of Culture in the college basketball world, and the school didn't make clear what McConaughey's duties would entail, but somehow it all seems fitting in a city whose motto is "Keep Austin Weird."
The on-campus arena will have a capacity of 10,000 for men's and women's basketball games, but it will be capable of expanding to 15,000 seats for touring concerts and shows.
“It’s time to raise the bar. It’s time to excel, on the court and in the stands. It’s time for an authentic home court advantage for our Longhorn basketball teams," McConaughey said in a news release.
No word on whether the arena will include a magic mic.
The university is building the $338 million venue in partnership with ArenaCo — a corporation in which McConaughey and concert promoter Live Nation are invested.
Follow Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner
Source: Read Full Article