The blue ribbon stretched across the entire Petsche Court at the College Park Center. Directly above the giant bow at the court’s center were screens with President James Spaniolo speaking to the almost full arena. The audience watched as he dribbled a basketball in the video and introduced the newest addition to the UTA campus.
“Welcome to Maverick Country,” he said, and the crowd roared.
Spaniolo then shot a basketball from Texas Hall all the way to the new center in the video. When it landed, fireworks came from the top of the screens and the Maverick Dancers pulled the ribbon apart, officially opening College Park Center.
Alumni, students, community members and UTA employees attended the grand opening of the center Wednesday night, a night full of Maverick basketball and surprise entertainment.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Quick Change Magicians and a flying disc-catching dog were among the entertainers.
Jazz junior Oliver Flores said the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ performance was his favorite part of the evening, which he said couldn’t have gone better.
“It was really flashy, which is exactly what UTA deserves,” he said. “We deserve the notoriety that other schools have.”
Eddie Freeman, Employment and Equal Opportunity Services executive director, said he graduated from the UT-Austin. While UTA is smaller, he said the facility is twice as nice as UT-Austin’s.
“I feel like we’re a big-time college now,” he said. “When you come in and you see the energy in the arena, it’s really special. It was a great night for the university.”
Jennifer Cross, alumna and head coach Scott Cross’ wife, said the facility was beyond her expectations and she couldn’t believe it’s here.
“I almost want to cry walking in here. I got teary-eyed,” she said. “It’s so surreal. I cannot believe we’re actually here today because the countdown has been forever. We campaigned for this when we were athletes in 1997. We never believed this would happen. It’s just amazing.”
Several other alumni said they were impressed with the grand-opening ceremony.
Alumnus Robert Luke said he’s waited for the facility for 40 years since he graduated in 1972. He said he and his wife had so much fun watching the center’s grand opening.
“I’m enjoying the whole program, I’ve enjoyed the whole thing,” he said. “We’ve watched all the years, even when Memorial Stadium was here. I’m happy that everything came around.”
With the opening of center, Spaniolo said UTA is now on the map and is among other elite North Texas schools.
“Once upon a time, the greatest thing to say in North Texas was, ‘I’m a Mustang’ or, ‘I’m a Horned Frog,’ ” he said. “Now, the proudest thing to say in Arlington is, ‘I’m a Maverick.’ ”
Follow Lindsay on Twitter: @LindseyJuarez
