University of Houston Gets $20 Million Donation

Houston, TX -- Controversial Houston restaurateur Tillman Fertitta will donate $20 million to the University of Houston to help finance renovations to the school's basketball arena. The arena, currently named Hofheinz Pavillion, opened in 1969 and has been undergoing renovations since 2010.

Fertitta's contribution will purchase the naming rights to the facility and will help finance a $60 million redesign. Although the arena has been upgraded multiple times over the years -- the installation of a new ceiling and light system in 1992, the addition of luxury boxes in 1998, a new playing surface in 2004 -- the current plan is the most ambitious yet.

UH plans to use the $20 million gift to kick start a fundraising campaign to pay for the rest of the construction costs.

Fertitta, who is serving his second six-year term as chair of UH's Board of Regents, has mad no attempt to hide his desire to get the university into a more competitive athletic conference -- UH is currently a member of the American Athletic Conference -- and believes that a renovated basketball arena will help the effort.

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