Pavilion Opens New Era of Baylor Basketball

The Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion opened its doors as the new home for Baylor’s championship men’s and women’s basketball teams, expanding the footprint of Baylor’s presence along the Brazos River and Interstate 35 corridor.

The state-of-the-art contemporary fieldhouse provides an elite home-court advantage to the Bears, while also serving as a tremendous venue for concerts, performances and public events for the Central Texas community.

“The opening of this incredible facility is an energizing step for the Waco community, and we are excited to create a first-class experience for our student-athletes and those who support them,” Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack B. Rhoades, IV, said.

Standing at 223,547 square feet and propelled by $212.6 million invested in the project, the Foster Pavilion is adjoined by the Jay and Jenny Allison Development Center, housing separate practice courts, dedicated locker rooms, team lounges, office facilities and elite sports performance spaces, including strength and conditioning, athletic training, hydrotherapy and nutrition. The Allison Development Center is anticipated to open in 2024.

Progress continues with the adjacent Brazos Riverfront Development project, transforming the riverfront real estate of downtown Waco and further connecting Baylor campus to the heart of the city. Additional projects include apartments, parking garages, restaurants, premium hotels and retail space.

While both basketball programs have said “farewell” to the Ferrell Center, the reallocation of space in Ferrell provided a significant boost to Baylor’s women’s volleyball and eight-time defending NCATA national champion acrobatics and tumbling teams. The programs will now both reside in the Ferrell Center, taking over the fully loaded locker rooms and office spaces vacated by the basketball programs.

Newfound flexibility in scheduling floor time at the Ferrell Center and the added space of two full-sized practice gyms in the adjoining Lt. Jack Whetsel Jr. Practice Facility will provide instant upgrades for both programs. In addition, the Ferrell Center will continue to host commencement ceremonies for Baylor graduates.

Tickets to both the men’s and women’s basketball games in the Foster Pavilion will be hard to come by, particularly in this debut season. Single-game tickets will be extremely limited when available and will be dynamically priced with prices adjusted in real time based on market demand and opponent.

For more information about the Foster Pavilion and ticket options, visit baylorbears.com.