Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center 4301 Broadway St San Antonio, TX 78209
Year Opened: 1989
Capacity: 2,000
UIW Cardinals – Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center
The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is the oldest and largest catholic university in the state of Texas; the school is renowned for its academic programs and its contributions to theological studies the world over. Founded in 1881, the school has a long history of excellence, and its growing student body has the pleasure of attending one of the most beautiful college campuses in the Southwest.
For the better part of the 21st century, the UIW Cardinals have made great strides in athletics as well. Currently, UIW has 25 athletics programs, including its lauded volleyball program. Since 1989, the UIW Cardinal volleyball squad has called the Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center its home. Also serving as the home to UIW men’s and women’s basketball, McDermott Convocation Center has seen several dominating years of Cardinals volleyball.
Read on to learn more about UIW and the McDermott Convocation Center.
Food & Beverage 3
In past visits to UIW and its gymnasium, I was not overly impressed with their food and drink offerings for games. I believe a new vendor has been brought on board since my last visit, however, what they have now is significantly upgraded.
In addition to traditional game day offerings like nachos (which now feature multicolored red and black chips in honor of UIW and can be gussied up with chili and cheese, or just traditional cheese and jalapeños), they also offer hot dogs – my dog was honestly one of, if not the best ballgame hot dog, I can say I’ve had in recent memory. You can also get the dogs with chili and cheese, and there are also boxes of candy, as well as fountain sodas (which I am personally a fan of) and bottled water.
Food-wise, the selection really leans into the roots of San Antonio, with items such as Mexican fruit cups and chicken on a stick – it is pretty great. Canned beer and cocktails are also available.
Atmosphere 3
I have always enjoyed my visits to McDermott Convention Center. Inside, it looks, feels, and sounds like a high school gymnasium – this is a good thing. The acoustics make it seem very loud even when crowds are at far less than capacity. This adds to the energy, permeates through the crowd, and makes the games more exciting.
UIW also uses the facility to display its championship trophies and also houses a display for its athletics Hall of Fame. Inside the gym, banners hang from the walls highlighting said championships and tournament appearances for both the volleyball and basketball teams.
The main draw is and has always been the beautiful and historic UIW campus, with its red-brick buildings and walkways and bridges that crisscross the San Antonio River, which flows through campus. The scene here is gorgeous, especially at night and especially when the holiday season returns and everything is lit up. Be sure to make time to take a stroll before you head to the game.
Neighborhood 5
The UIW campus is located on one of the main streets – Broadway – in San Antonio. It leads directly to the city’s vibrant downtown, which is home to the Alamo, Tower of the Americas, River Walk, Hemisfair Park, and the Alamodome. These are some of the city’s most well-known attractions, and they are all less than a 10-minute car ride from McDermott Convocation Center.
The facility is also located within the UIW athletics complex, adjacent to Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, home of UIW football, and Sullivan Field, home of UIW baseball. If you time your visit right, you might be able to double up on games during your visit to catch the volleyball team.
If you drive the Broadway corridor, you’re going to bump into some of the best and most iconic restaurants that the Alamo City has to offer. You can get award-winning barbecue at the Smoke Shack or some of the best burgers and shakes at Cheesy Jane’s.
Do you want a taste of old-school San Antonio? Go to Good Time Charlie’s, and those few I just mentioned don’t even scratch the surface of all the amazing spots at the Historic Pearl – you’re going to eat good either before or after a UIW volleyball game.
For lodging, you’re going to have to travel to the farther ends of Broadway near downtown to find a traditional hotel/motel to stay at. The closest options include Best Western Plus Downtown North and WinnQuest Inn Near Fort Sam Houston. Vacation rentals are also in abundance closer to the UIW campus if you choose to go that route.
Fans 3
There isn’t any reliable way to track what UIW brings in terms of attendance for its volleyball program. However, from what I saw during my last visit, the Cardinal fans love their team. The crowd was better than I was expecting for a midweek visit, and they were loud – which was only amplified by the acoustics of the gymnasium. Fans were also, by and large, decked out in UIW gear.
Having a crowd of even just a few hundred greatly adds to the overall atmosphere in a facility like McDermott Convocation Center.
Access 4
As I’ve mentioned, the UIW campus and its athletics facilities are pretty centrally located in the city. If you’re driving in, the school is visible from US 281, and the exits off the highway are marked. The campus is a 10-minute drive from downtown San Antonio and a 12-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport.
Parking for the athletics complex is plentiful and only a short walk from the gym. However, if you choose not to drive in the city’s public transportation option, VIA Metropolitan Transit has several routes that run to the UIW campus.
Return on Investment 4
General admission tickets for UIW volleyball are just $5 per game. This is a tremendous bargain for fans wanting to see a squad that is consistently good and brings in some quality opponents to McDermott Convocation Center.
Parking is free for games – just make sure you’re not parking in a marked spot (e.g., something reserved for faculty). The concessions are also priced at bargain levels, so you’re getting a great deal when you catch a UIW Cardinals volleyball game.
Extras 2
There is not a lot in the way of Extras at McDermott Convocation Center for women’s volleyball games. The Cardinals do have a lot of themed nights for fans, though – the game I most recently attended was a Pink Out, which saw the team and cheer squad decked out in pink and/or pink-accented versions of their traditional gear.
Speaking of the UIW cheerleaders, they can be found at the baseline area of the gym during games, cheering and performing and tossing out souvenirs to fans after every set won by the Cardinals.
Final Thoughts
I hadn’t been to a volleyball game at any level since high school, so I was more curious about the experience than anything. I can honestly say that this was a really fun experience, and it has got me looking at calendars for a way to see more.
While McDermott Convocation Center might not be on par with some of the larger facilities across the college landscape, it is not without charm. I think if you’re a fan of the sport or sports in general, you’re going to enjoy yourself at a UIW Cardinals volleyball game.
Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.
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