Recreational Sports plays a vital role in the campus and Austin community, as evidenced by the over 5,500 facility reservations recorded last year. Campus departments and student organizations are welcome to reserve facility space for their events, big and small, and many opt to do so making special event planning the fastest growing area of the Division.

Not only does RecSports host over two dozen self-sponsored events annually, the world-class facilities provide the perfect backdrop for many significant events on campus such as the Orange and White Ball, the Queer Student Alliance Carnival, Dance Marathon, the UT Campus Environmental Center’s Trash to Treasure event, Women’s Intercollegiate Volleyball and convocation ceremonies prior to Commencement. In February 2008, the Recreational Sports Center was chosen to provide space for a CNN Democratic Primary Presidential Debate between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama.

In April 2008, RecSports hosted the 59th Annual National Intramural Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Conference and Exposition. Over 2,500 recreational sports professionals assembled in Austin to experience Texas hospitality and all the city has to offer.
Students consider Gregory Gym, Whitaker Fields and Tennis Complex and the Recreational Sports Center as their home away from home and use the facilities as places to study, meet with friends, workout, socialize and hang out between classes.

In the 2008 student survey, 80 percent reported that participation in recreational sports helps them to appreciate and contribute to an inclusive campus community.