The Superdrum’s silence speaks volumes. Here before us stands the Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center a ghost of its former glory. This isn’t just a building it’s a chapter in Austin’s history.
For decades the Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center pulsed with life. It opened in 1977 with a double-header basketball game. The Longhorns played their first game in this new arena. It was a $34 million investment a basketball palace designed by the firm behind the Astrodome. Its round concrete facade earned it the nickname “The Superdrum” or simply “The Drum”. The Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center quickly became much more than a basketball arena.
This arena hosted legendary concerts. Lawrence Welk kicked things off in 1978. John Denver later set an attendance record with 17829 fans. The Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center also welcomed the Ringling Bros Circus and the Harlem Globetrotters. It was the site of a boxing match between Jesus Chavez and Tom Johnson. Even political history unfolded within its walls. President Clinton and the Dalai Lama spoke here. President George W Bush announced his presidential campaign from its stage.
The Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center also played a key role in Texas high school sports. For years it hosted the University Interscholastic League’s state championship basketball games. Shaquille O’Neal led his high school team to victory here in 1989. He was later hailed as the greatest player ever to grace the Erwin Center’s court.
But times change. The Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center was eventually replaced by the Moody Center. Its demolition began in November 2023. The arena was carefully dismantled piece by piece due to mold and to allow for material recycling. Today all that remains is the memory of countless events and the legacy of this iconic Austin landmark. The Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center is gone but its story echoes still.