Ferrell Center Waco: The Complete Student Guide to Baylor's Events Arena
If you've been to Baylor for more than a few weeks, you've probably heard someone mention the Ferrell Center — and then watched the conversation immediately get complicated. Is basketball there? Does volleyball play there? Is that where graduation happens? The Ferrell Center Waco students know is one of the most versatile venues on Baylor's campus, and understanding what actually happens there (and what doesn't anymore) saves you a lot of confusion on event night.
Here's the complete guide.
What the Ferrell Center Is — and What It Isn't Anymore
The Ferrell Center at 1900 South University Parks Drive is a 321-foot gold-domed arena that's been part of Baylor's campus since 1988. President Ronald Reagan spoke there in September of that year — before the first basketball game was even played — and for decades it was the beating heart of Baylor athletics.
That changed in the 2023-24 season. Both Men's and Women's Basketball moved to the brand-new Foster Pavilion, a 10,284-seat arena near McLane Stadium on the Brazos River. If you're looking for basketball, the Ferrell Center isn't your destination anymore — head to Foster Pavilion for that.
What does the Ferrell Center host now? Volleyball and Acrobatics & Tumbling (A&T) are the primary sports. Beyond that, both spring and fall graduation ceremonies happen here. Add in occasional concerts and special events, and you've got a venue that sees meaningful use throughout the academic year — just in a different form than it did a few years ago.
Volleyball and Acrobatics & Tumbling: The Heart of Ferrell Center Sports
Volleyball is the sport that drives the most student attendance at the Ferrell Center. The capacity for volleyball matches is 7,500, making it an intimate enough venue that students in the Bear Pit can genuinely be a factor in the atmosphere.
Baylor's volleyball program competes in the Big 12 Conference and has become one of the more competitive programs in the conference in recent years. Home matches against conference opponents like Kansas, TCU, and Texas fill up quickly — check baylorbears.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule for the current season schedule.
Acrobatics & Tumbling is one of Baylor's NCAA-sanctioned sports and doesn't get as much student attention as it deserves. If you want an energetic, athletic event with shorter wait times and easy parking, A&T matches are a great option — especially early in the fall season.
How to get student tickets: All student athletic tickets go through the Baylor Student Gameday portal at studentgameday.web.baylor.edu. Create your account with your Baylor credentials, select the sport, and claim your ticket. Student tickets for volleyball and A&T are free or nominal cost with a valid student ID. The student section (the Bear Pit) is located behind one of the baskets — arrive early for the best spots.
Graduation at the Ferrell Center: What to Know
For many Baylor students, the most significant time they'll spend at the Ferrell Center is graduation. Both spring and fall commencement ceremonies are held here.
Spring commencement typically takes place in mid-May across multiple ceremonies — in 2026, Baylor held four ceremonies on May 15-16 with over 3,100 graduates walking across the stage. The Ferrell Center's graduation configuration seats up to 12,000, accommodating students, faculty, and families. Fall commencement is typically held in December (December 19, 2026 for fall 2026 graduates).
A few things to plan for your graduation day:
- Arrive early. Families and students start arriving 60-90 minutes before the ceremony, and parking fills up fast.
- Clear bag policy applies. Your family members need to know this too — see the section below.
- Parking alternatives. Consider having family park further from campus and rideshare to the Ferrell Center rather than fighting for the closest spots.
For a full breakdown of graduation weekend logistics — restaurants, hotels, and where to celebrate after — see the Baylor graduation week guide.
Getting There: Parking, Shuttles, and Walking
Here's where living close to campus pays off. The Ferrell Center sits on Baylor's main campus, which means students who live walking distance to Baylor — like those at Centre Apartments on S 11th Street — can walk to events in about 15-20 minutes without dealing with event parking at all.
For students commuting from farther away, Baylor offers a free parking lot specifically for the Ferrell Center. The commuter lot provides free, unlimited day parking with an express Baylor shuttle running every 10 minutes from 7:25 AM to 5:25 PM on class days. For evening events, the Baylor parking guide has the full breakdown of which lots are available and when.
Rideshare is the other practical option for students who live off campus. Uber and Lyft both service the Baylor area, and fares from South Waco to campus typically run $5-12 depending on time of day. During major events, book your rideshare before you leave rather than waiting until you're outside the arena — surge pricing hits quickly when 7,000+ people are leaving at the same time.
One note on game days: if there's a football game at McLane Stadium the same day as a Ferrell Center event, the traffic situation gets complicated. Check the Baylor football schedule to know when these overlap and plan accordingly.
What to Bring (and Leave at Home)
The Ferrell Center enforces a clear bag policy for all events:
- Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag — no larger than 12" x 6"
- One-gallon plastic freezer bag (also acceptable)
- Small clutch approximately 4.5" x 6.5" (no clear requirement)
- Medically necessary items in non-clear bags (subject to inspection)
Large backpacks, purses, and tote bags are not allowed. This trips up a surprising number of students and — more often — their families at graduation. Remind anyone who's coming to an event with you to check the bag policy before they arrive.
Other things to know:
- Valid student ID gets you into the student section at sporting events
- Outside food and drink are generally not allowed (concessions are available inside)
- Professional cameras with detachable lenses are typically restricted at sports events (check with Baylor Athletics for specific events)
Living Close to Campus Makes Ferrell Center Events Easier
Centre Apartments sits at 1901 S 11th Street — walking distance to Baylor's campus and by extension to the Ferrell Center. Students who live at Centre skip the commuter parking scramble for events throughout the year: volleyball matches in the fall, A&T in the spring, and the most significant walk across any stage they'll take in their academic career.
The gated community includes parking in every lease, so there's no extra cost for the nights you drive rather than walk. And with high-speed internet included, catching event livestreams or checking the Baylor Athletics schedule from home is straightforward.
If you're planning your housing search and wondering which events you'll actually want to attend in person, proximity to campus venues like the Ferrell Center matters more than students often expect. Being a 15-minute walk away versus a 20-minute drive changes which events you actually go to.
Explore floor plans and pricing or schedule a tour to see the location in person.
The Complete Picture: Which Events Are Where at Baylor
If you're new to Baylor athletics venues, here's the quick reference:
- Ferrell Center: Volleyball, Acrobatics & Tumbling, graduation, concerts and special events
- Foster Pavilion: Men's and Women's Basketball (since 2023-24 season)
- McLane Stadium: Football, major concerts, May commencement (weather permitting)
- Baylor Ballpark: Baseball
- Getterman Stadium: Soccer and track
The McLane Stadium complete guide covers everything you need to know about football and large-event logistics at Baylor's biggest venue. For basketball — Men's or Women's — the action is now across campus at Foster Pavilion.
The Ferrell Center's gold dome has been on Baylor's skyline since before most current students were born. Now that it's the home of volleyball, A&T, and the ceremonies that mark the most important transitions in student life, it's worth knowing the practical details before you're standing in a parking lot trying to figure out where to go.
