The family of late Harris County (Texas) Judge Roy Hofheinz and the Univ. of Houston yesterday settled their monthslong battle "over the school's effort to sell the naming rights of Hofheinz Pavilion," according to a front-page piece by Joseph Duarte of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Part of the agreement "will ask city officials to rename a street bordering the arena 'Hofheinz Way' in honor of the former Houston mayor who provided a critical donation that led to construction" of the arena in '69. Near the new arena a "bronze statue of Hofheinz will be built," part of a $60M renovation expected to be done in time for the '18-19 season. The settlement will end a dispute that "deeply divided the UH community." UH had said that a naming-rights deal "was needed in order to remain competitive with other facilities across the nation." Duarte notes the school as part of the agreement "will create an area within the UH Alumni Center to recognize the public service of Hofheinz, and the UH library will archive Hofheinz's records in a special collection." Hofheinz Pavilion will "essentially be reconstructed with a new design." Construction is scheduled to begin at the end of the '16-17 season (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/15).
