Moody Coliseum is a multi-purpose arena on the SMU campus in University Park, Texas, an inner suburb of Dallas. Opened on December 3, 1956, as the SMU Coliseum, it was renamed in 1965 to honor Galveston businessman William Lewis Moody Jr., whose foundation has long supported the university.
Designed by Dallas-based architecture firm HKS, the arena has served as the home court for SMU Mustangs men’s basketball since the day it opened, with the women’s program joining in 1976. Beyond college hoops, it briefly hosted the Dallas/Texas Chaparrals of the old American Basketball Association and even an NBA playoff game, cementing its place in Dallas sports history well before the city built its modern downtown venues.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): SMU Mustangs men’s and women’s basketball
- Location: University Park, Texas (Dallas)
- Opened: December 3, 1956
- Capacity: 7,000 (reduced from 8,998 after 2013-14 renovation)
- Architect: HKS, Inc.
- Notable fact: Hosted the Dallas/Texas Chaparrals (ABA) from 1967-1973
From ABA Home to College Arena
Before Dallas had an NBA franchise of its own, Moody Coliseum was the home arena of the Dallas/Texas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association from 1967 to 1973, the franchise that later relocated and became the San Antonio Spurs. The building also hosted a Dallas Mavericks playoff game in April 1984 and a short stint for the Dallas Diamonds of the Women’s Basketball League in 1980-81.
Through all of it, the arena’s primary purpose never changed: it has been the home court for SMU men’s basketball since the day it opened in 1956, with the SMU women’s team joining in 1976, making it one of the longest continuously used college basketball venues in Texas.
A Modern Facelift
In 2013, SMU undertook a roughly $40 million renovation ahead of the program’s move into the American Athletic Conference, funded in large part by a $20 million gift from the Moody Foundation and a $10 million donation from David and Carolyn Miller. The project added new concourses, luxury boxes, an LED scoreboard and signage, and modern locker rooms, while trimming seating capacity to around 7,000 for a more intimate game-day atmosphere.
Moody Coliseum reopened in January 2014, with SMU upsetting the eventual national champion UConn Huskies in front of a sellout crowd. Beyond basketball, the coliseum has also hosted touring musical acts over the decades, including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and the Grateful Dead.
Explore more: Explore more iconic stadiums and arenas.
Keeps chili hot from the tailgate to the fourth quarter.
Team-color face paint in a twist-up stick — no brushes, no mess in the car.
Sized to the NFL's 12x6x12 clear-bag rule. Fits snacks, a jacket and a rally towel.
Moody Coliseum FAQs
When did Moody Coliseum open?
It opened on December 3, 1956, originally under the name SMU Coliseum before being renamed in 1965.
What is the current capacity of Moody Coliseum?
Following a 2013-2014 renovation, the arena seats about 7,000, down from a peak of over 9,300 in its original configuration.
What professional teams have played at Moody Coliseum?
The Dallas/Texas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association played there from 1967 to 1973, and the Dallas Mavericks played a playoff game there in 1984.
Get More from Moody Coliseum
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Moody Coliseum, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Greenstrat / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.