Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Alamodome 100 Montana St San Antonio, TX 78203
Year Opened: 1993
Capacity: 64,000
UTSA Roadrunners – Alamodome
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) was founded in 1969. As the university has grown, so too has the athletics department. In 2011, the UTSA Roadrunners took the gridiron for their inaugural season under the guidance of future Hall of Fame Head Coach Larry Coker.
UTSA as a university and as a football program has grown by leaps and bounds in the ensuing decade – they would reach their first bowl game in 2016 under the guidance of former Head Coach Frank Wilson. Under his watch, the team would send multiple players to the NFL, including tight end David Morgan II and first round draft pick Marcus Davenport. A member of Wilson’s last signing class, Riq Woolen, would also find stardom in the NFL, and become UTSA’s first-ever Pro Bowler.
Under Head Coach Jeff Traylor, the Roadrunners have reached unprecedented heights, earning back-to-back conference championships in 2021 and 2022, as well as four consecutive bowl game berths. The team moved to the American Athletic Conference in 2023.
The team has played every home game at the venerable Alamodome in downtown San Antonio. Under Traylor’s tenure, the Dome has given a significant homefield advantage to UTSA. While it’s definitely showing its age, it is still one of the most unique venues in college football.
Food & Beverage 4
Over the years, the Alamodome has undergone significant renovations and changes in an effort to keep up with the times (more on that in the next section). One area where they have continually tried to improve is in concessions. Over the past few seasons, the Alamodome has made a concerted effort to bring a number of local vendors and restaurants to fill the stands and kiosks throughout the facility.
The newest options range from Tex-Mex to fried chicken to barbecue options – with Los Barrios Mexican Restaurant, Earl Abel’s, and The Big Bib BBQ, respectively – as well as national options like Johnny Rockets for burgers and Urban Bricks and Papa Johns for pizza. In addition, local beverage distributors such as SipIT and Te Amo Micheladas offer up frozen mixed drinks and Mexican-style beer cocktails for fans up until the fourth quarter.
Another great innovation for this season has been the installation of grab-and-go stands on each side of the field on the main concourse. You can get your traditional stadium fare, your hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, bottled sodas, water, and beer, etc. at these stands, which has greatly improved the efficiency at the Dome.
My one caveat that keeps this section from having a higher score – and I’ve heard this from numerous fans over the past few seasons – is the cost of some items. Prices are a little higher at the Alamodome than what you would expect to find at a program the size of UTSA. However, there are bargains to be had, so just keep on the lookout.
Atmosphere 4
Prefacing this now, I’ve been a UTSA Roadrunners season ticketholder since day one, and I’ve seen virtually every home game at the Alamodome in the last 14 years. The one area that I have seen the most improvement has been in the Atmosphere section.
The parking lots surrounding the Dome have always been home to some of the best tailgating in the State of Texas, and this is said without an ounce of hyperbole. San Antonians love a party, and if you can throw a football game in – especially a winning one – they’re going to show up and show out hours and hours before gametime. If you’ve got time on your visit, spend some time in the lots before kickoff.
In the nascent years of the program, you would be hard-pressed to find anything letting fans know that the Dome was UTSA’s home field. In the last few seasons, however, the stadium has put up a lot of signage in and around the outside of the facility, which is a good start. They will also light up the exterior of the Alamodome orange and blue for night games, and inside, the 2021 and 2022 Conference USA Championship banners proudly hang from the rafters all season.
The lighting, scoreboards, and LED ribbons have all been upgraded in the last five seasons. The pre-game festivities at UTSA, with the band marching on the field while a hype video plays, followed by the football team’s entrance (which I will put up there with the best of any Group of 5 program in the country) is all top-notch.
I freely admit to having a love/hate relationship with the in-stadium DJ, who performs throughout games. When you attend a Roadrunners game at the Alamodome, you might find them to be you’re your new favorite, so to each his own.
The Alamodome provides a unique home field that no other program in the nation can offer; its acoustics make even small to medium-sized crowds sound like you’re standing next to a jet engine warming up for takeoff. Perhaps more important, as a football fan who has seen countless games across the state of Texas in my time, I can’t tell you how much the 72 degrees in the Dome in August, September, and October are appreciated.
Aside from its age, the one thing that keeps this section’s score from being even higher is the lack of a true team store – merchandise tables are available during games, but that feels pretty bush league for a Division I program.
Neighborhood 5
In numerous past reviews I have extoled the virtues of my city and its downtown area, which is where the Alamodome is located. A walkway under State Highway 281 connects the Dome to the area of San Antonio that is home to the Alamo, Tower of the Americas, the River Walk, Hemisfair Park, the Shops at Rivercenter (which, in itself, is home to an IMAX Theater, a Legoland Discovery Center, and a SeaLife Aquarium), and an abundance of some of San Antonio’s best shopping, dining, and lodging options.
For dining options, there are a few in the immediate, walkable area of the Alamodome. Nearby options include Tony G’s Soul Food (of which I’m a big fan), which serves up scratch-made Southern classics like fried chicken, meatloaf, and fried catfish, and The Cherrity Bar, which in addition to serving up award-winning cocktails also offers a legit menu of Japanese food including yakitori, soba noodles, and ramen.
There are a few hotels within walking distance of the Alamodome, including a couple that you don’t need to cross the highway for – these are Staybridge Suites San Antonio Downtown Convention Center and City View Inn & Suites. Both are less than a 10-minute stroll from the Dome’s front door. Again, downtown SA has options aplenty for food and shelter, with your only limitation being your budget.
Fans 3
For the majority of the seasons in the Jeff Traylor era, the UTSA Roadrunners have managed to average a robust and healthy attendance of 28,000-29,000 fans per game. This was rarely if ever the case before his tenure. Their inaugural game in the Alamodome featured a record-breaking 56,000-plus fans for that magical night, and the team has been chasing that vibe ever since.
When the team starts to dip and/or the competition is not a recognized brand to casual fans, turnout is pretty light. Such has been the case at the start of this current season, as a combination of a history-making and graduating senior class and a “when it rains, it pours” spate of injuries has seen attendance dip to 20,000-22,000 per game averages.
The good thing is that the student section continues to be packed and has, in recent years, been expanded to allow room for the most vocal and passionate fans of the team. And as mentioned, the tailgating in the lots is an experience unto itself thanks to the fanbase here.
Regardless, this is a loud group of fans, most of which come to games decked out on in UTSA orange and blue. Their vociferousness can be counted on to cause problems for opposing teams, which has been a boon to UTSA. Sustaining growth in attendance will bump this section’s score higher.
Access 4
As mentioned, the Alamodome is located off a major state highway, and is sandwiched between two major US highways in Interstates 10 and 35. The stadium is a short nine-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport.
San Antonio’s mass transit option, VIA Metropolitan Transit, has routes all over the city that end up at the Dome. There are even park and ride locations in other parts of the city, which is often a great option. On site, the Dome has two parking lots open to fans who pre-purchase a parking spot; you cannot purchase a pass in these lots on the day of.
However, the Alamodome is situated adjacent to a residential neighborhood, and for blocks and blocks, industrious residents and business owners rent out spaces in driveways and parking lots on game days. Spots in these can be had for as little as $10, depending on how far you’re willing to walk.
What keeps the Access score from being higher is the egress situation – there is only one main road out of the Alamodome, and this will bottleneck especially on dates with larger crowds.
Return on Investment 4
Single-game tickets for UTSA games can be found for as little as $6 on the secondary market. This is an incredible bargain for a team that has seen the success the Roadrunners have had. Typical seasons will feature one or two big name out-of-conference opponents at the Dome, and the American Athletic Conference also has some of the more recognizable Group of Five teams anyway. The low-ticket costs are what gives this section the score it has.
Parking costs are on the average compared to programs the size of UTSA, but as mentioned in the Access section, bargains can be found if you’re willing to walk a bit. What brings this section’s score down is the aforementioned concession costs.
Extras 3
UTSA brings out pretty much all the traditional pageantry that can be found at most Division I football programs. The award-winning Spirit of San Antonio (SoSA) marching band performs throughout the game and at halftime, while the UTSA Pom Squad and Cheerleaders, as well as the beloved mascot Rowdy, can all be found on the sidelines interacting with fans both before and during games. The student section also raises a giant flag with UTSA’s “Let’s Go 210” (which is the area code for the Alamo City) at the start of the fourth quarter.
It’s all fun, but beyond that, there isn’t much else in the way of Extras. The program has started and abandoned quite a few traditions over the years – I think getting the right one started in the coming years will only make this section’s score higher.
Final Thoughts
I’ve been to more games at the Alamodome than any other venue – I’ve seen virtually every home game for the UTSA Roadrunners here since 2011, which is all to say I’m very familiar with this facility. I still find a great deal to enjoy about this stadium, however, even with its sometimes glaringly obvious wear and tear.
There is no other venue like the Alamodome in college sports, and I do think it belongs on bucket lists. I’m pretty confident that if you come in for a UTSA game, you’ll see what I see and will come away with an appreciation for the program, the venue, and the city.
Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.
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