24 years ago, the Texas Longhorns opened "The Bubble," an indoor practice facility famously known for its voluminous presence on the corner of Red River and Dean Keaton.
Now, after nearly two and a half decades of practices, camps, and Pro Days in The Bubble, the Horns are moving on to something new. That something new, to be exact, is an $80 million, state-of-the-art practice facility with a new outdoor practice field to go alongside it.
This week, when the Horns announced that they would return to campus on Aug. 5 for the start of fall camp, Texas fans noticed that the new facility, dubbed the "Frank & Wofford Denius Indoor Football Facility," had made a lot of progress.
And it was just in time, with the practice facility set to open in August, right when the Longhorns and the rest of the University of Texas population were returning to campus.
Steve Sarkisian and Texas are set to move on from The Bubble
"The memory I have is the first time we were outside, and we had a transition to go into the bubble because of weather and lightning," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian recently told 247Sports. "It just didn't dawn on me how long it would take to get 120 players plus staff and video into the bubble [through that one revolving door]. I was tapping my foot, and I was thinking to myself, 'If [Nick Saban] were here today, the top of the bubble might have blown off,' because, as a coach, you want to be efficient and go, go, go."
Of course, the reason that it took players so long to get into The Bubble was because of its not-so-beloved and rather infamous revolving door.
"It's been a lot of great players that have practiced in the bubble, but I'm definitely looking forward to moving into the new indoor [facility] for sure," Sarkisian said.
Latest photos showing the progress being made on the #Texas #Longhorns’ new football practice facility, which will open in August.https://t.co/0Dujl1JYYl pic.twitter.com/Kvqli5Gy1X
— Chip Brown (@ChipBrown247) July 16, 2026
Over the last two decades and change, The Bubble has been called home by legendary Texas football players and coaches. From Vince Young to Arch Manning and Mack Brown to Sarkisian, undeniable greats have walked through that revolving door.
Also read: 3 Texas position battles every Longhorns fan needs to watch in fall camp
As a child growing up in Austin, I have such vivid and cherished memories of attending spring practices and scrimmages at The Bubble and the Frank Denius Fields right next door with my grandfather.
However, in the new era of college football, where having the best (and shiniest) things is all a part of building a successful program, Sarkisian was most likely right about it being time to move on from The Bubble.
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