Red & Charline McCombs Field – Texas Longhorns
- Chris Green
- Mar 24
- 4 min read
Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Red and Charline McCombs Field 2001 Comal St Austin, TX 78705
Year Opened: 1998
Capacity: 1,254
Texas Softball Greatness
The softball field at the University of Texas at Austin, despite being one of the oldest in the SEC, is a beautiful facility which features a team with some very passionate college sports fans. Taking in college softball can sometimes feature some run-down or featureless stadiums, but Red & Charline McCombs Field is quite the exception. With loyal fans and a sports facility that impresses from the start, this is a great facility in the Texas athletics catalog.
Food & Beverage 3
For being a small college stadium, the food options are quite varied at Red & Charline McCombs Field. Regular nachos ($5) or a regular hot dog ($4) are popular picks, while sausage wraps ($5), popcorn ($3), jumbo pretzels ($5), peanuts ($4), and even pickles ($3) also populate this incredibly affordable concessions menu. Drinks include soda ($3-$5), water ($3-$5), beer ($5-$6.50), and even wine ($12).
While there is only one main concession stand, some games also include various local vendors as well, selling anything from empanadas to ice cream.
Atmosphere 4
Red & Charline McCombs Field is beautiful, matching stone accents with modern construction and featuring comfortable seating throughout the bowl. Seating options are varied, with two outfield grandstands for general admission tickets populating the outfield wall. Left field also features a standing-room only viewing platform for fans to watch from. There are fan giveaways, and the fans are always engaged in the action on the field – the hot sun of Texas can be a bit overwhelming, however, on those cloudless afternoons, as there is no roof or shade of any kind in the seating areas.
Neighborhood 5
Red & Charline McCombs Field is in the heart of downtown Austin – the city center is visible from the softball field’s grandstand, so you are right there in the middle of one of the most vibrant and quickly growing cities in the nation. The airport is a bit of a drive, however, depending on traffic.
For great food, you can’t skip The Salt Lick or Torchy’s Tacos. Austin is also home to the University of Texas’ main campus, as well as Zilker Park on Lady Bird Lake. Finally, for a hotel, look for Hilton Austin Airport or Holiday Inn Austin Airport as two options that are great, due to their proximity to the airport and to major highways that lead to downtown.
For sports fans, the stadium’s location right near the other athletic facilities on campus is great for watching multiple games in a day, with the Texas Tennis Center located right across the street.
Fans 4
The fans at Red & Charline McCombs Field are loyal, as fans are with all Texas Longhorns athletics events. While the grandstands may not be packed during afternoon games, evening matchups feature a greater fan turnout, as you would expect at a non-major sport at any given college. Even multi-team tournaments feature a healthy crowd of fans watching the other teams play before or after the Texas games have been played.
Access 5
Red & Charline McCombs Field enjoys the luxury of being quite literally one block from the nearest interstate highway – located off exit 235 on I-35, the facility is refreshingly easy to access.
Parking is located on site in the East Campus Garage, as well as in nearby lots through the Texas parking website. Various street parking is also available nearby, but that fills up rather fast.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets to Texas softball game start at just $6 for general admission outfield seating; reserved grandstand upper level seats are $8, while lower row seating next to the field costs just $10 each. This is an incredibly affordable option for sports fans in the Austin area looking to take in some stellar college sports.
Extras 5
Red & Charline McCombs Field features game day giveaways throughout the year for fans in attendance. The facility also features a large campus map outside the stadium to help give you a lay of the land around you.
There is also a team store located inside the main concourse, which makes picking up your fan gear an easy accomplishment for both new and long-time fans alike.
The stadium concourse also features notable players in Texas history, including National Team players, All-conference and All-American players, and various teams and highlights from the program’s history. Fans can also get an up-close view of the bullpen in right field, thanks to the ramp to the upper level being located right next to it.
Final Thoughts
Texas is known for everything being bigger, and it is clear that UT softball is no exception. Yes, Red & Charline McCombs Field is quite grand when compared to the likes of your average mid-major D1 program softball field, but it doesn’t feel forced or overly large – on the contrary, the venue feels quite comfortably designed for fans to enjoy a nice day of softball.
With a great food selection as well as affordable tickets and easy access, it is easy to see why locals flock to Red & Charline McCombs Field on weekend evenings.
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