Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Bulldog Stadium University Drive Seguin, TX 78155
Year Opened: 1976
Capacity: 2,200
Texas Lutheran Bulldogs – Memorial Gymnasium
Founded in 1891 as the Evangelical Lutheran College, the present-day Texas Lutheran University (TLU) is a private institution of higher learning based in the south Texas town of Seguin. Nestled on the banks of the Guadalupe River, the school is able to tout nearly one-third of its full-time 1,400 undergraduate students as competing members of their intercollegiate sports programs.
Competing as members of the NAIA until the 2001-2002 athletics season, the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs now compete at the Division III level in all sports as members of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The TLU men’s and women’s basketball programs play their home games at Memorial Gymnasium at the Jesse H. Jones Physical Education Complex (named for the former U.S. Secretary of Commerce).
The Bulldogs have called Memorial Gymnasium their home since the ‘70s. In that time, the teams have had a fair amount of success on the court, making numerous tournament appearances and winning multiple conference titles. Read on to learn more about the “Dog House” in Seguin.
Food & Beverage 2
Like most venues at this level of competition, Memorial Gymnasium has just one concession stand for fans during Bulldog games – this stand offers up your standard menu of game day items, such as hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, and bottled soda, water, and sports drinks. No alcohol is served. It’s not flashy, but it will get the job done.
One interesting wrinkle is that the facilities are cash only, which is quite the outlier in this day and age; be advised to hit the ATM before heading to Memorial Gymnasium.
Atmosphere 2
Old wood paneling and old wooden bleachers give the look and feel of a distinct time gone by.
Just inside the main entrance you’ll find the TLU athletics trophy cases, as well as its Hall of Fame lining the walls. Inside the gym banners adorn virtually every surface of the walls – these include banners for nearly every sport the Bulldogs participate in, as well as banners memorializing departed members of the program.
Neighborhood 3
Seguin is a very underrated town, in my opinion. Just a short 45-minute drive east on Interstate 10 from San Antonio, Seguin is a town steeped in Texas history, and a haven for those looking to enjoy fun on the Guadalupe River.
The Jesse H. Jones Physical Education Complex and Memorial Gymnasium are located on the Texas Lutheran University campus, which is a short drive from Seguin’s historic downtown square. When looking for things to do, a couple of options are on the table, including ZDT’s Amusement Park and the Texas Agricultural Education Center. Both are fun, family-friendly locations that offer different types of attractions for visitors before or after (some) Bulldogs games.
For dining options, I want to heartily recommend two of my personal favorites in the area. First is Burnt Bean Company, which is home to some of – if not the best – barbecue in Texas. I promise, you have not had better brisket than what they offer up here; also, don’t sleep on the side dishes. Most barbecue joints treat their sides as an afterthought, but not here in Seguin. Then next up is 1838 Grill – in my experience you can tell how good a place is by how many locals go there; I’ve never seen this place not packed to the brim with locals lining up for the fried catfish and chicken fried steak.
In terms of lodging there aren’t really any traditional options near campus. Vacation rentals might be an option, but there are also hotels which are not far away. Your nearest options are going to be La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Seguin and Super 8 by Wyndham Seguin. There are other options as well, however, and traveling to nearby San Antonio is always an option too.
Fans 3
The crowd at the last game I attended was pretty good, especially in the student section – the game was a “pink out”, and quite a few folks understood the assignment. Despite the game getting pretty lopsided fairly early on, the crowd was still very enthusiastic.
I do have a hard time envisioning a full capacity crowd inside Memorial Gymnasium. However, if the team were to get back to some of its glory days, I could see the community as a whole getting behind them and filling the place they call the Dog House – especially given they are the proverbial only game in town.
Access 3
The TLU campus is accessible off Interstate 10, with signage clearly marking the way. It is a 38-minute drive from the San Antonio International Airport, which is the closest place you can fly into. Once on site, parking is plentiful and free in unmarked spaces.
The one drawback that keeps the Access score from being higher is the lack of public transportation options – you have to drive to Seguin to get to Memorial Gymnasium, meaning you will have to battle the perpetual traffic and construction on Interstate 10.
Return on Investment 3
Single-game tickets for TLU Bulldogs games cost just $5 per person for general admission seating. I saw no concession item that cost more than that, either. With free parking, you’re getting a tremendous bargain when attending games at Memorial Gymnasium. The one reason the ROI score isn’t any higher is that you will only ever see DIII and lower-level competition on campus for games.
Extras 2
The only real extra for games at Memorial Gymnasium are the Texas Lutheran Cheerleaders. The squad can be seen performing on the baseline and on the court during breaks in the action. They are a real highlight and perform quite a bit more than I have seen teams at this level perform. Beyond that, however, there is not much else for fans at the games.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a hardcore basketball fan, you’re going to love games at Memorial Gymnasium and Texas Lutheran University. It’s got the look, feel, and history these fans have come to expect. If you’re not into that, though, honestly a game here in Seguin might not be your cup of tea.
I personally enjoyed myself, however – I think if you’re visiting Seguin (which I would recommend), you could do worse for yourself than taking in a game at TLU.
Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.
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