Renovation of Autry Court begins

CONTACT: Chuck Pool Jr.
PHONE: 713-348-5775
E-MAIL: cpool@rice.edu

A $23 million renovation of Rice University’s Autry Court, home to the Owls basketball and volleyball teams, was launched at noon today.

”This is a historic day for every member of the Rice University family,” Athletics Director Chris Del Conte said. ”The renovation of Autry Court is a major step forward for future student-athletes who will wear the blue and gray, and also for our fans and the greater Houston community, who will be able to enjoy the talent of our student-athletes inside a building that will be a showcase for the entire university.”

The launch featured a ceremonial event in which key donors to the project swung the first sledgehammers.   

”We owe a big thank you to Bobby and Phoebe Tudor, Steve and Leticia Trauber, Glenn and Suzanne Youngkin and Robert and Betty Bixby,” Rice President David Leebron said. “Because of their generosity, the Owls basketball and volleyball teams will play — and fans will cheer — in much improved surroundings.”

”It is almost hard to believe that this day is here, but everyone is excited to know that we are moving forward,” Tudor said. ”The early returns from the community and the coaching staffs confirm what we all hoped — this project will make a big difference on so many levels at Rice. While there will certainly be a period of time when things might be a bit more inconvenient, everyone agrees that is will be well worth the wait once we move into the finished product.”

 “Leticia and I are ecstatic about the Autry Court renovation,” Trauber said. ”The substantial renovation will result in a gymnasium that the entire Rice community can be proud of and that meets the high standards set by the board of trustees for all of Rice. We’re proud to be able to help support this project and Rice University.”

Among the new arena features will be a club area that overlooks the campus, a newly configured seating arrangement, including permanent floor seats on three sides of the court, new sound and game information systems, and new concession areas and restrooms.  

In addition, a new Student-Athlete Excellence Center will be built between the renovated Autry Court and Fox Gymnasium. The centerpiece will be the Robert E. & Elizabeth W. Bixby Academic Center. Robert Bixby is a research professor of management at Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management and the Noah Harding Professor Emeritus of Computational and Applied Mathematics in Rice’s Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics. He has taught at Rice since 1984.

”Bob has been involved in research and academics for most of his career, so scholarship is very important to him,” Betty Bixby said. ”In addition, we are both avid fans of collegiate athletics, and Rice represents the best of collegiate athletics. It is the Ideal.”  

”Through the years we have met some incredible student-athletes at Rice,” Robert Bixby said. ”Their achievements on the field are amazing, but even more amazing are their achievements in the classroom. We cannot think of a better way to bring together our love of scholarship, collegiate athletics and Rice.”

The Student-Athlete Excellence Center will also house Athletic Department offices, a new ticket office and new training and support facilities. The renovations and new structure were designed by noted sports architectural firm Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2008.

The renovated Autry also will continue to serve the university as a host venue for special events, noted guest speakers and other events that require a venue of its capacity.

During the renovation period, most of the Rice Athletic Department and academic support staff will be housed in Rice Stadium. Rice’s volleyball team will play its home matches in Fox Gymnasium. Home sites for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be determined after the release of the Conference USA schedule for each club.

”There are some short-term challenges that we face in order to bring this dream to reality,” Del Conte said. ”In the long run, these challenges are a small price to pay for what the future holds for Rice athletics.”