Erwin Center Demolished, to Make Way for UT Hospital

The last remains of the steel and concrete that once made up the Frank Erwin Center were demolished last week. Before the final explosion, crews had been taking down the former arena piece by piece since June 2023.

Located adjacent to downtown Austin, The Erwin Center was generally accepted to be Austin’s premier venue for large public and private events. The center held many events such as UT basketball, concerts, professional wrestling events, bull riding and private banquets.  The center was completed in 1977 for a total cost of $34 million.

The Erwin Center’s demolition cleared the way for a new medical care system, the University of Texas at Austin Medical Center. The medical center will feature two towers: a specialty care clinic and another branch of Houston-based MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Construction on the new facilities will break ground in 2026, with UT aiming to accept patients by 2030.