Event space entertains Texas residents and sports fans

“TEXAS FIGHT!”

That’s the chant students at the University of Texas have been shouting since 1923. And now it can be heard in a new venue thanks in part to Martin Marietta.

The Moody Center, a multipurpose, state-of-the-art arena, has opened on the school’s campus in the heart of downtown Austin.

Replacing the Frank Erwin Center, the Moody Center now hosts several popular sporting events, including UT Austin’s women’s and men’s basketball games, top concerts and international music shows.

Martin Marietta supplied over 26,000 cubic yards of ready mixed concrete for the project which came from the Harold Green location, about 10 miles southeast of Austin. All of the cement used was produced 40 miles south of city by teams at the Hunter facility. Webberville Sand also provided the concrete sand needed for all mix designs, said Senior Sales Representative Chris Keathley.

The new venue can hold 15,000 guests for entertainment events and 10,000 for UT basketball games, according to records.

“The Moody Arena is a beautiful sight, both in design and function. It’s visible as you enter Austin from the north,” Keathley said. “Anybody visiting the city can see the arena’s impact on the ever-changing landscape. A venue like this offers so much to the community – not only great entertainment but also jobs.”

The project broke ground on Dec. 3, 2019, but Martin Marietta didn’t start delivering concrete until June 2020, Keathley said, noting that most of the yardage was completed by January 2022.

The Moody Center’s unofficial grand opening was on April 20, 2022, allowing seven-time Grammy Award winner John Mayer to become the first to perform in the venue. Later, Texas’ own George Strait performed back-to-back sold-out concerts on April 29 and 30 with special guests Randy Rogers and Willie Nelson. More recent shows include Saturday Night Live alumni Adam Sandler and rock-n-roll legend Bruce Springsteen.

Keathley said he has visited the Moody Center and been amazed by how events have flourished thanks to the detailed thought and effort put into the design and construction phases of the project.

“I attended the opening event with my wife, which, for us, was a perfect way to open the venue,” he said. “The design suits all events. There is no bad seat in the house, and the sound is exceptional!”

Martin Marietta served various customers on the project, including CapForm, a construction company and long-term partner, Keathley said.

“Having the opportunity to work with CapForm on this historic project was a highlight of my career,” he said. “Their Austin office was stellar and expertly managed all aspects of the job with us.”

And, as always, safety was the top priority on the worksite, Keathley said.

“The biggest issue we ran across, typical of working in downtown Austin, is logistics,” the senior sales representative said. “We coordinated with CapForm and construction manager AECOM Hunt on all pours, most of which were down at the bottom of the facility. Our Austin, Texas, ready mix instructors also did a fantastic job of safely moving the trucks in and out of the site and down through the tunnel.”

Now complete, the Moody Center – a structure built to last – is sure to entertain Austin and its neighboring residents for years to come.