.png&width=48&height=48&type=webp)
University of Houston Athletics
Houston to Host Community Day Event
9/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON â€" With the 2016-17 Houston Cougar Women's Basketball season right around the corner, Head Coach Ronald Hughey is excited to announce Houston's second annual Community Day event, on Sunday, Oct. 2 inside Hofheinz Pavilion.
Sunday's Community Day will be an open event for any fans wishing to attend and will serve as the first chance to see the 2016-17 women's basketball team in action. The Cougars will be on the court for a full practice from 3-5 p.m., before an autograph session will close the day. The autograph session will serve as an opportunity for fans to see their favorite players, as well as meet the six newcomers to the 2016-17 roster.
"Our team is excited to begin the 2016-17 season and thrilled that Cougar fans can start the journey with us at Community Day," Hughey said. "We have high hopes for our team this season, and we're honored to have the many Cougar fans who will be with us from start to finish."
For details concerning Sunday's Community Day event, please contact Associate Director of Basketball Operations Carly Kehn at CKehn@central.uh.edu.
Houston opens the 2016-17 season with an exhibition against St. Edward's on Sunday, Nov. 6 before kicking off the regular season a week later inside Hofheinz Pavilion, when they play host to Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. Houston will hold 14 home games inside Hofheinz Pavilion, in what will be the final season before the facility undergoes major renovations.
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.
