Mavericks fans who packed College Park Center witnessed the dawning of a new era Feb. 1 as a spectacular multimedia and pyrotechnic extravaganza christened the new special events venue.
  

The four-sided Daktronics video display showed President James D. Spaniolo shooting a basketball on the Texas Hall stage. His shot burst through the wall of Texas Hall, zoomed across campus, and crashed through the ceiling of College Park Center, "cutting" a giant blue ribbon amid explosive special effects.

"UT Arlington alumni and supporters have dreamed of a special events center that would be a true home for basketball and volleyball for decades, and we are seeing that dream realized," President Spaniolo said. "It's an historic occasion for our university, our students, and our alumni, and also for the City of Arlington and all of North Texas."

College Park Center is a 218,000-square-foot center that features a split-bowl arena that places more seats close to the action and intensifies the fan experience. Designed to achieve LEED Gold standards for sustainability, the building incorporates many energy-saving features and makes artful use of natural light throughout its grand atrium and concourses.

Fans will find 7,000 seats in the arena, which includes 600 premium seats below the 2,800-square-foot hospitality suites, and bleachers reserved for students. The action plays on the four-sided, Daktronics center-hung video display and one end-hung video board as well as 101 LG televisions throughout the center.

For 47 years, UT Arlington's basketball and volleyball teams played on the stage at Texas Hall, which hindered recruiting, surprised visiting teams, and underwhelmed spectators. There were no training rooms back stage, and basketballs and volleyballs occasionally ventured into the orchestra pit.

Athletes now enjoy two full-size practice courts that allow team workouts. The Athletics Suite provides a spacious weight room, attractive team and visitors locker rooms, an academic center for student-athletes, and a state-of-the-art Sports Medicine Center highlighted by a hydrotherapy room with underwater video cameras that trainers can use to help athletes recover from injury.

College Park Center will host not only University sports, speakers, and commencement ceremonies, but also concerts, entertainment and sporting events, area high school graduations, and more.

The center anchors the emerging 20-acre College Park District. To the south is The Green at College Park, which recently was honored for its sustainable landscaping. North of the center and still under construction is the mixed-use College Park development that features a residence hall and apartments for students as well as street-level retail shops. Two of the development's three parking structures are now open.

Spurred by the College Park District, downtown Arlington is enjoying a revival of new businesses, such as restaurants and entertainment venues like the Levitt Pavilion.