Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Recreation Center 1 University Way San Antonio, TX 78224
Year Opened: 2024
Capacity: 900
TAMUSA Jaguars New Rec Center
In 2009 the Texas A&M University System opened its newest stand-alone institution, Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMUSA) on the far southwest side of the Alamo City. In the ensuing decade and a half, the school has gone from holding classes at a temporary campus at a closed public elementary school, to operating a sprawling 580-acre (and growing) campus with a student body of over 7,000 (and climbing).
TAMUSA took a bold step forward in 2019 in hiring former college football star and longtime athletics administrator Darnell Smith to lead the TAMUSA Jaguars Athletics Department. Starting with men’s golf and men’s and women’s soccer, and softball, it was a huge leap for the fledgling university.
In time for the 2024-25 academic year, the school and their athletics programs took another monumental step forward when they launched their first ever men’s and women’s basketball programs. The move coincided with the opening of a brand-new, on-campus recreation center, which serves not only the broader student body, but also is the new home of Jaguars basketball.
Food & Beverage 2 *
For many of the following categories, I am going to be more lenient in my scoring than I normally would be for several reasons. First, this is a brand-new program playing in a brand-new facility, so there are plenty of kinks to work out.
Second, the Recreation Center is just that, a recreation center. It’s not a typical collegiate gymnasium, but was built for students to unwind and relax, and to exercise in, while they’re in-between classes. The facility also just happens to be home to a fledgling basketball program. With all of that said, I’m going to give an “incomplete” grade for food and beverage. Currently, there does not exist any concessions inside the Rec Center, and the only permanent options are a handful of vending machines.
I give this an incomplete, however, because on most game days, the school brings in several food trucks to serve fans. This is a great innovation and one that will continue to be a popular choice for as long as they call the Recreation Center their home. What makes this incomplete, though, is that this solution is wholly predicated on the unpredictability of the South Texas weather – for example during my most recent visit, a cold, rainy, late February day, there were no trucks. I’m willing to come back for another game soon, however, when the weather does comply to get a better answer to this ranking.
Atmosphere 3
As mentioned, the TAMUSA Recreation Center is a brand-new facility, closing out its first season of use. The designers did a great job in building it for its dual uses for students and for Jaguars basketball. The sightlines are fantastic, the seating is top-notch – you’ll be hard-pressed to find another venue where you are sitting closer to the action than here – and it feels like a venue made for lower-level college basketball.
The front doors beckoning you to “Jaguars Country” are also a great touch. The facility really is a blank slate at this point, and I look forward to seeing it get filled in over the coming years as the program continues to grow.
My one gripe, if it can be called that, is the lack of merchandise available for fans. A simple table with some items would go a long way in adding to the atmosphere for fans. I’ve seen this a lot at lower-level programs (especially this season); I hope this is something that can be corrected at the Recreation Center in the future.
Neighborhood 3
The TAMUSA campus is located on the farthest reaches in the southwest area of the city. In the not-too-distant past, the land the campus now occupies was virtually wilderness, but the area has changed a lot with the addition of the university, and more and more signs of life can now be seen. That said, you’re still quite a bit removed from San Antonio’s downtown area (about 30 minutes’ drive away).
The immediate attraction you must take in if you’re heading to a TAMUSA Jaguars game is the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to four of the city’s five historic Spanish colonial missions, which are some of the oldest structures in the southwest, and tell about such a fascinating chapter in history that they need to be experienced in person.
If you’re looking for something else to do before or after Jaguars games, you can always make the trip into town and see the fifth mission, the historic Alamo.
In terms of dining there are quite a few fast-food options in the immediate area around campus. There are also close to a dozen fantastic neighborhood Tex-Mex spots within a few miles of campus, ranging from La Torre Jalisco and Taqueria Guadalajara to La Gran Señora Mexican Restaurant. None of these spots have websites, which only makes them more “legit” to native San Antonians. Throw a rock in any direction before or after your game at the Rec Center, and whichever taqueria you hit will probably serve you some of the best food you’ve ever had.
For lodging options, you are options are kind of limited near the Recreation Center – the nearest spots are going to be Days Inn by Wyndham at Palo Alto and Best Western Plus Palo Alto Inn & Suites. Both are on the affordable side, but if you’re looking for something higher end, downtown San Antonio has a myriad of other options for you.
Fans 4
This area was one that I was pleasantly surprised about. As mentioned, the weather was not in the least bit welcoming on my last visit, but that did not keep the Jaguars faithful from filling the stands. While the Recreation Center was not at capacity, there were still several hundred students and fans filling the stands.
Part of this will admittedly be that the game was the culmination of TAMUSA’s first-ever Homecoming festivities. However, having fans in the building for a ball game is never a bad thing, no matter the reason they’re there. The crowd was loud, and the energy was high. I think the fan base will only grow in the coming years, as the school is really the proverbial “only game in town” in this area of the city.
Access 3
The Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus is about a 30 to 55-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport, and as mentioned, about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown, the literal and cultural center of the Alamo City.
If you’re driving in, the exits to campus are clearly marked from the highway, and you can’t miss the university’s “grand entrance” gate. Signage on campus also points the way to the Recreation Center, which is also appreciated. Parking on campus is ample on game days.
If you don’t want to drive, the city’s public transportation option, VIA Metropolitan Transit, offers routes to TAMUSA’s campus, but plan accordingly as it will take you quite a while to get there.
Return on Investment 3
Single-game tickets for Jaguars games start at just $8 per person, which is a pretty good bargain for some college hoops. To get in on the ground floor of a brand-new program, and see history in the making at such a small cost, is really the big draw here, making this score what it is.
Food and beverage costs will vary based on the food truck status, but parking is free, which is always a bonus.
Extras 2
In terms of Extras, like many of the rest of the ratings in this review, this section is going to be graded on a bit of a curve. The Jaguars offer up some of the accoutrements that most college sports have to offer, for example, the TAMUSA Jaguarettes cheer team can be found on the baseline and in the stands during basketball games.
The school also boasts their own costumed mascot, General the Jaguar, who can also be found at the Recreation Center interacting with fans. More of these Extras will come, as the program stacks years and builds traditions, which will only serve to increase this score.
Final Thoughts
I greatly look forward to seeing what TAMUSA does to continue building this program. Having more basketball in the area is good for everyone. The program and the university are off to a fantastic start, and I think the Recreation Center is the perfect first building block for both.
While it is not a “bucket list” stop in its current iteration, I can see where they want to go, and I’m excited about it.
Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.
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