[Urbannizer]

UH basketball arena to be renamed after $20M gift

It's official: Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta is behind the once anonymous multimillion-dollar donation for the University of Houston's basketball arena renovation.

Fertitta, CEO of Houston-based Landry's Inc., donated $20 million, the largest-ever gift in UH Athletics history. The renovated arena, formerly the Hofheinz Pavilion, will be named the Fertitta Center beginning in the 2018-2019 season. The Houston Chronicle broke the news in July that Fertitta anonymously donated the money for the $60 million renovation project.

“Facilities are a critical part in college athletics today, and the Fertitta Center will play an important role as we recruit the best student-athletes to our campus," men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson said in a statement. "Houston basketball will soon have the finest facilities in the country.”