Chris Beard on new arena: It can become one of the best venues in college basketball

The Moody Center in Austin, Texas opened April 20 earlier this year and will be the new home for Texas Longhorns basketball. Head basketball coach Chris Beard was asked at a press conference yesterday about that transition to the new stadium, and how long it will take to establish an intimidating home environment.

“It takes time, it’s a process. To me it’s going to start with with the student body and then it’s going to start with our loyal season ticket holders. So I’ll say this, change is hard. I’ve gotten a lot of personal communication this year with longtime season ticket holders in the Erwin Center, and anytime you make changes it’s hard, growth is hard but I really want to thank all the people,” Beard said. “I’ve gotten so many kind notes and and texts and calls about people understanding that transition from the Irwin center to the Moody isn’t gonna be perfect in a lot of ways for every person, because there’s nothing perfect in this world, nothing. But I think that our fans have been great, I mean I’ve gotten some just emotional letters I literally save in an old school file, people that I’m reaching out to over time.”

The Moody Center was a $375 million dollar project that seats over 15,000 fans and features an array of modern architectural elements and features including a glass facade, outdoor balconies, and a connection to a large outdoor plaza. Beard spoke about balancing the luxuries that come with the new arena with creating a lively environment and stadium atmosphere.

“We tried in the transition, obviously there’s a lot of things that I’m not involved in that kind of stuff, but I know we’re trying to do the best we can to create an environment here where as many people can come to these games. You know I understand the question though, and I don’t shy away from it, and I think it’s one of the challenges of coaching at a place like Texas because we have all the resources, we have one of the best academic institutions in the world if not the best. We have one of the best cities, if not the best, we have the best facilities, in a lot of ways we have the best players and best resources, so to do that there’s a responsibility you gotta understand that everyone’s coming after you and I think that’s a big thing. I’m really excited about how nice the lounges and all this are, but we also have to have an environment,” Beard said.

The Moody Center has already hosted concerts with acts like Justin Bieber and Bon Jovi within its first month of opening, and coach Beard is hoping to have some sold out crowds of his own this upcoming season. But he knows that it starts and ends with his fans, and believes the relationship he’s built with them can make the Moody center one of the best atmospheres in all of college basketball.

“That 40 minutes had to be more important than the event and I think that’s going to be a process to get there. But I think it all starts with our students, I’m so thankful for the relationship we built with the students the first year and obviously things like the fireside chats and things like the party at the tower and open practices, we’re going to continue to do that. First day of school is what the 22nd? We got the golf cart already gassed up and I’ll be on campus all day that day to welcome the students back but I think that’s the whole thing. When we’re sitting here in the future, whether that’s 90 days or 1,090 days, years from now; I think if the students do what we need them to do, want them to do, then I think this could become one of the best atmospheres in college basketball,” Beard said.

The Longhorns open the season at home in the Moody Center November 7 versus UTEP.