For nearly a half-century Hofheinz Pavilion was the home of University of Houston basketball.
Judge Roy Hofheinz (photo, Texas State Historical Association)
Judge Roy Hofheinz met his wife, Irene, in 1929 when they were students at the University of Houston. Later, the couple established The Judge Roy Hofheinz Foundation, an enterprise that contributed $1.5 million dollars to the construction of a new sports arena on the UH campus.
That facility became Hofheinz Pavilion.
Hofheinz opened its doors on December 1, 1969. It was a welcome change from what Cougars fans had known–college basketball games played in smaller, high school-like gyms, such as Jeppesen Gym and Delmar Field House, where Elvin Hayes played.
Hofheniz was built with 8000 seats with another 500 seats added for the 1998-99 season. It’s court was named in 1995 to honor Guy V. Lewis, who coached the Cougars men’s teams for thirty years (1956-1986).
The arena wasn’t used just for basketball. Special events were held there, too, for celebraties who made stops in Houston over the years, including Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Jackson 5, Alice Cooper, Bob Dylan, and Prince.
My father, a UH grad, told me about the early days of The Pavilion. “Phi Slama Jama” sticks out prominently from those days. Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Benny Anders played for the NCAA championship in 1983 and 1984.
Courtesy: ESPN.com
I was a child at the time. Years later, my father’s stories and old highlight films enabled me to relive the glory that was UH men’s basketball.
A big part of that glory–the Pavilion where games were played–has come to an end. UH played its final game there last March 5. East Carolina was the foe. Houston won that game, 73-51, it’s 525th win there (against 164 losses).
A ceremony was held after the game with many alumni participating. They were there to celebrate history and to thank Judge and Irene Hofheinz–one final time–for making the gift that enabled the Pavilion’s construction. The Fertitta Center will now replace The Pavilion as the Cougars’ new home.
In a fitting gesture, Cougar great Olajuwon took a pass from Cougar great Hayes to score The Pavilion’s final basketball.
I’ll remember the place, too — with great memories of watching UH games at Hofheinz with family and friends.
