From a sweat-covered basketball court to a state-of-the-art news arena, the Recreational Sports Center has undergone an overnight transformation in preparation for the much-anticipated Democratic debate on Thursday.
Starting at 2 p.m. Monday, the center closed to allow teams from CNN and the Secret Service begin the conversion of the facility from a gym to a debate forum. Houston Secret Service members will make sure the area is secure before and during the debate.
UTPD Police Chief Robert Dahlstrom said that other than having an extra 2,000 people in the area, the event should not be much of an inconvenience to students. The C parking lot and portions of 20th and San Jacinto streets may be closed as the debate date nears, said Associate Director of Recreational Sports Jennifer Speer.
"Rec Sports being closed really won't affect me. I'm just going to head over to Gregory instead," said second year law student Stephen Tatum.
The Division of Recreational Sports is doing its best to accommodate the 2,500 to 5,000 students who use the center each day, Speer said.
"We understand this is an inconvenience to a lot of members," she said.
Rec Sports has taken steps to ensure that students will still have access to all of their workout needs. Indoor cycling pass holders can participate in free TeXercise classes at Gregory Gym while the center is closed, and students with lockers in Rec Sports will be able to use coin lockers in Gregory Gym free of charge. TeXercise classes held in Rec Sports will not be rescheduled.
Undeclared natural sciences freshman Sean Neller said he thought the Rec Sports Center seemed an unlikely location for the debate.
UT spokesman Don Hale said that CNN chose this location because the event will be widely telecasted, and they needed a location that can function as a studio.
"It is unfortunate that the location they chose has such a limited number of seats and most students won't get to experience it," said public relations senior Sara Giles.
The Recreational Sports Center will reopen Saturday, Feb. 23.
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