A look inside Texas Longhorns' new $80 million indoor football facility. 'Incredible'

AUSTIN – Texas celebrated the grand opening of its new Frank and Wofford Denius Football Training Complex on Friday afternoon, just an Arch Manning pass away from Royal-Memorial Stadium.

School officials board of regents chairman Kevin Eltife, president Jim Davis and athletic director Chris Del Conte all spoke before the official ribbon-cutting of an indoor training complex with a cost one school source estimated at more than $80 million.

The 79,000-square foot structure includes a 100-yard Field Turf football field but also an outdoor grass field that could serve as a precursor to changing the stadium surface to grass in the next two years. The facility also includes a four-story underground parking area with 450 stalls for all Longhorn athletes and the Itkin Silver Spurs reception area for events.

More than 100 Longhorn fans, including former players like quarterback Donnie Wigginton, running back Billy Dale and defensive tackle Stevie Lee, attended the ceremony. The football team has practiced indoors in the complex since Monday and starts the season with a home game Saturday against Texas State.

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Grand Opening Ceremony attendees look through garage-style doors connecting the indoor and outdoor training fields as Texas Athletics celebrates the official grand opening of the new Frank and Wofford Denius Texas Football Training Complex, Sept. 4, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)

Manning called the facility “very plush” and “incredible,” and Wofford Denius, the son of legendary Longhorn benefactor Frank Dennis, helped commemorate the building with a passionate speech about growing up as a Texas fan.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian recalled his first season at Texas in 2021 at Denius Fields and one of his first practices when Eltife showed up.

“What’s that brown thing?” Eltife asked.

“The bubble,” Sarkisian replied about the indoor facility.

Eltife also noticed the yellow buses that transported the players several blocks from Moncrief Complex to the fields and said Texas needs to do better. That marked the genesis of a commitment to infrastructure improvements.

“We have lofty dreams,” Del Conte told the crowd.

Eltife also spoke and ended his remarks, “Now let’s go win a natty.”