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University of Houston Athletics
Houston to Participate in American Media Day
10/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON â€" With the 2016-17 season rapidly approaching, the Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team will give fans and media a preview of the upcoming campaign at American Athletic Conference Basketball Media Day, to be held on Monday, October 24 at the Philadelphia Airport Mariott in Pennsylvania. Head Coach Ronald Hughey and student-athletes Serithia Hawkins and Chyanne Butler will represent the Cougars at the event.
Media Day begins at 10:45 a.m. CT with opening remarks from Commissioner Mike Aresco, followed by the beginning of media sessions at 11 a.m. Hughey, Butler and Hawkins will participate in various interviews with ESPN, the American Digital Network and several national media outlets.
On Sunday night, the assembled basketball student-athletes will take part in a media training session from The Speaking Specialists, designed to assist them throughout the season.
Additionally, basketball student-athletes will be taking part in an organized service activity Monday, building bags for children in need.
Full coverage of American Conference Media Day can be found by visiting the Media Day Central page on TheAmerican.org or by clicking HERE.
ESPNU will have coverage of media day on College Basketball Live, beginning at 3 p.m. ET with Brendan Fitzgerald and Dino Gaudio in-studio and Tim Welsh on site in Philadelphia.
The American Athletic Conference encourages fans and media members to follow the latest American Athletic Conference basketball news through social media using #AmericanHoops. The American Twitter feeds may be accessed @American_MBB and @American_WBB; the official Instagram page is @American_Conf, and the conference's official Facebook page is available at /AmericanConf. Additionally, full media day coverage can be found at TheAmerican.org/AmericanHoops. Fans on Twitter can also track the event by following the @UHCougarWBB and @American_WBB accounts.
FERTITTA PLEDGES $20 MILLION TO ATHLETICS
Tilman J. Fertitta, globally recognized entrepreneur and Chairman of the University of Houston System Board of Regents, presented a historic $20 million gift to the University of Houston to transform the UH basketball arena into a state of the art collegiate sports facility and rename the arena Fertitta Center. Fertitta's gift is the largest individual donation to UH Athletics.
The Fertitta gift is a significant step forward in the $60 million University of Houston Basketball capital renewal project for the center's design and renovation. Design work is currently underway. Renovations and construction are scheduled to follow the 2016-17 season, with completion expected during the 2018-19 season. Plans for the Cougars' home facility during the 2017-18 season have not been finalized.
The facility will feature a premium club area and a courtside club. The reconfigured bowl will move mid-court seating locations closer to game action with floor-level seating opposite the team benches for UH students. Renovations include a new audio system, sports lighting and video boards as well as new concession stands and expanded restrooms. The facility's exterior also will be refreshed.
Prominent to the center's exterior, the renovation will preserve the legacy of the Hofheinz family and its contributions to both UH and the city of Houston. UH will transform an area adjacent to the new facility into Hofheinz Plaza, where fans will be greeted by a bronze statue of former Harris County Judge Roy Hofheinz. The University of Houston will request that city officials rename a portion of Holman Street in front of the arena after the Hofheinz family. In addition, Roy Hofheinz's records will be permanently archived and publicly accessible as a special collection in the UH library and the Alumni Center will house an area describing the lives and public service of Roy and Irene Hofheinz.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive daily information and in-game updates by following @UHCougarWBB on Twitter. Fans can also catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at facebook.com/UHCougarWBB.
