Foster Pavilion
Foster Pavilion is a basketball arena in Waco, Texas, home of the Baylor Bears (Big 12, NCAA Division I). It opened in 2024, making it 2 years old in 2026 and seats 7,500 for basketball. It ranks 15th of 16 in the Big 12 by capacity.
The closest NBA arena is American Airlines Center in Dallas, about 88 miles away.
Arena facts
- Location
- Waco, Texas
- Home of
- Baylor Bears
- School
- Baylor University
- Conference
- Big 12
- Opened
- 2024
- Capacity
- 7,500
- Also home to
- Baylor Bears women's basketball
- Size rank in D-I
- 153rd of 360
Famous games at Foster Pavilion
- Jan. 2, 2024: Baylor's men opened the arena before a sellout crowd with a 98-79 win over Cornell, ending 35 years of basketball at the Ferrell Center.
- Jan. 3, 2024: Baylor's women played their first game in the building and beat No. 22 TCU 71-50 in the arena's first Big 12 game.
- March 2, 2024: Yves Missi's opening dunk set the tone as Baylor beat No. 7 Kansas 82-74 in front of a sellout crowd.
- March 21, 2025: Foster Pavilion hosted its first NCAA women's tournament game, and Baylor beat Grand Canyon 73-60 in the first round.
- March 23, 2025: Ole Miss ended Baylor's season with a 69-63 second-round upset of the host team in the NCAA women's tournament.
Game night
Parking. The city funded a nearby parking garage as part of the downtown development around the arena.
Seating & views at Foster Pavilion
Baylor's downtown arena seats about 7,500 in a fieldhouse-style bowl designed around fewer, better seats pulled close to the floor. Roughly 1,000 seats go to students. The Bear Pit student section runs along the sideline behind the visiting bench, and student seating continues into the west baseline next to the Golden Wave Band, with a steep rake meant to put pressure on free-throw shooters. Men's games sold out nearly every night in the first season.
Parking & tailgating at Foster Pavilion
Bear Foundation donors park at the Foster Pavilion Garage, the Webster Garage and the Robinson Tower lot. Everyone else can use free public lots in downtown Waco, about 1,600 spaces within a 20-minute walk, or the River Front Garage nearby. Free shuttles, run with the City of Waco, leave from the Ferrell Center lot starting at least two hours before tip. Rideshare drop-off is on Second Street between Jackson and Clay avenues.
Plan your trip to Foster Pavilion
Arenas near Foster Pavilion10
- 1D-IEECU Center — Tarleton State Texans 77 mi
- 2G LeagueH-E-B Center at Cedar Park — Austin Spurs 81 mi
- 3D-ICollege Park Center — UT Arlington Mavericks 81 mi
- 4D-IReed Arena — Texas A&M Aggies 82 mi
- 5D-ISchollmaier Arena — TCU Horned Frogs 84 mi
- 6NBAAmerican Airlines Center — Dallas Mavericks 88 mi
- 7D-IMoody Coliseum — SMU Mustangs 88 mi
- 8D-IMoody Center — Texas Longhorns 93 mi
- 9G LeagueComerica Center — Texas Legends 109 mi
- 10D-IBernard Johnson Coliseum — Sam Houston Bearkats 110 mi
Questions about Foster Pavilion
Where do the Baylor Bears play home games?
The Baylor Bears play at Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas.
How many people does Foster Pavilion hold?
Foster Pavilion seats 7,500 for basketball.
When did Foster Pavilion open?
Foster Pavilion opened in 2024.
Where do I park for games at Foster Pavilion?
The city funded a nearby parking garage as part of the downtown development around the arena.
What other arenas are near Foster Pavilion?
EECU Center in Stephenville is about 77 miles away. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.