What are the Best Seats for Texas Volleyball at Gregory Gym?

Gregory Gym, on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, was built in 1930 and has been the home court of Texas Women’s Volleyball since 1974 (aside from matches played at the Frank Erwin Center). The listed capacity is 4,000 but the record attendance is 5,344 during a 2022 NCAA Tournament match against Ohio State. “The Greg”, being a small, vertical venue can get loud. The upper level seats feel as close as floor seats in many arenas, which creates an exciting atmosphere when cheering on the 5-time National Championship Texas Longhorns.

Where to sit at Gregory Gym

I’ve been a season ticket holder for Texas Women’s Volleyball for several years and my family has attended matches at Gregory since 2015. Here are some of the best seating options for Texas Volleyball.

The Best Seats

The best seating at Gregory is in sections 31 through 44 which feature contoured, plastic folding chairs. You can see the three rows of chairs in the picture above. These are the most comfortable seats in the gym and provide a good view of the court. The third row (furthest back) does get a little traffic from passers by and can be a bit distracting, so try and sit in the first two rows. Sections 41 and 42 are just behind and above the Texas bench for the first set and additional odd-numbered sets. If you’re at The Greg to for the visiting team, Section 43 and 44 will let you see your team during the first set as those are right behind the visitor’s starting bench. Volleyball teams switch sides after each set, so you’ll get to see both angles on the action no matter which team bench you sit behind. Sections 31 through 35 have great views of both benches from the opposite side.

Runner Up for Best Seats

A close second behind the chairs in the upper level are the end-line sections at Gregory: 6 to 8 and 13-15. Avoid sections 5 and 16 in these areas. The team’s bench players often stand in front of these sections and obstruct views, especially if you are in the first 8 rows. These sections feature fold up seat backs and bench seating. They’re better than nothing but not very comfortable if you’re sitting for a long match. Instead, stand up and cheer for the Longhorns! Many people prefer the end-line view and these sections provide some of the closest seats to the action. In 13-15 you will only be a few feet from the player service, so pay attention during warmups that you don’t catch a stray ball.

Special Seats at Gregory Gym

Courtside Floor Seats in front of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 are owned by some of the biggest UT donors and special guests. I rarely see these seats for sale on the Secondary Market. When his daughter played at Texas, former NBA star Jermaine O’Neal sat in these courtside seats.

Section 16, right next to the UT starting set bench, looks to be controlled by the volleyball program. Coaches’ families often sit here, along with other special guests.

Section 13 is partially filled by the Athletic department. When other visiting UT sports come to a volleyball match, this is where they sit. Basketball, soccer and swimming have all been spotted here (but they often merge into the Student Section).

Speaking of, the Student Section is sections 9 through 12. These are exclusively students during regular season play, although they are for sale during tournament games. The Longhorn Pep Band takes the center of the student section.

Where NOT to sit at Gregory Gym

Matches at Gregory can be a terrible experience if you have a GA ticket and arrive late. In fact, unless you arrive 2 hours before match time, General Admission is the most miserable seating in the gym. It may be the most miserable seating in any venue I’ve experienced, as an adult who wants to follow the match from a comfortable seat. The seats are slim plastic on concrete, not individually marked, some with structural posts blocking some views and are typically very crowded. It is common to see people wandering around the upper sections of Gregory Gym trying to find a place to sit even into the second set of a match. If you’ve ever wondered why there’s a big line outside of Gregory hours before the match starts, it is folks who know you have to arrive early to get a decent GA seat. However, if you want to get into see the Longhorns for the lowest possible price, GA is for you. Plan to arrive early.

The 100s level are your best low-dollar alternative to GA seats. The 100s are the first 4 rows of the upper section but are assigned so you know you won’t have a blocked view and will be able to sit together with your group. Often the prices of 100s level are only a dollar or two more expensive than GA.

What Else to Know about Gregory Gym

Concessions are located just past the main entrance on the left. The line here is often huge, but there’s an alternative. On the second floor, right above the main concessions (just below section 139) is another place to grab foot that usually has a much smaller line. There are also a few restrooms here if the lines at the main restrooms or the restrooms by section 130 are busy.

Chick-fil-A can usually be found next to Section 8 on the first level. If the line is long there, check out their other location on the far right as you enter the main entrance.

If you get your tickets from a season ticket holder, ask them to transfer the Point Texas Club passes to you as well as the tickets. Point Texas Club starts one hour before match time and is a discussion led by the Head Coach or one of the Assistant Athletic Directors. If you’ve ever wanted to ask them a question, here’s your chance. Light refreshments are usually served. If you attend the Point Texas Club, make sure not enter Gregory and scan your tickets first! Enter the Rec Annex (south of the main Gregory building), head up to the second floor and head to the back. You’ll see the Point Texas Club and you can scan your passes there for entry. If you scan into Gregory Gym, you’ll have to ask to be scanned out before you leave and head to the Point Texas Club.

Parking for Texas Volleyball at Gregory Gym

There’s plenty of good parking options available from UT. Check out the parking page and pre-purchase a parking pass at Speedway or Brazos Garage. Speedway Garage empties faster, but the walk is shorter from Brazos Garage.