Don Haskins Center, the arena at the heart of El Paso, fills the view in front of you. Built in 1977 as the Special Events Center to replace Memorial Gym, this is the home of UTEP Miners men's and women's basketball and a venue that has been renamed in honor of UTEP’s Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins in 1998. Haskins, who lived 1930–2008, is best known for starting five African-American players in the 1966 NCAA Championship game against Kentucky, was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997, and retired from the university in 1999.
Beyond college hoops, the Don Haskins Center serves area schools such as El Paso Community College for graduation and commencement ceremonies, and because of its large seating capacity it became the city’s premier entertainment venue. Over the years it has hosted big-name acts from pop star Shakira on her Tour of the Mongoose, Oral Fixation Tour and The Sun Comes Out World Tour, to Britney Spears during her Circus Tour, comedian George Lopez, and rock band Kiss. Picture Shakira, Britney Spears, George Lopez, and Kiss all filling this arena that bridges sport, ceremony, and big-stage entertainment in the heart of El Paso.