The Alamodome has been San Antonio’s biggest stage since May 15, 1993, when the city opened a roughly $186 million domed stadium in hopes of landing an NFL team. The NFL never came, but the building kept picking up roles instead — as the Spurs’ first NBA home, as a five-time NCAA Final Four host, and today as the city-owned, oversized home stadium for UTSA football and the annual Alamo Bowl, even though it sits downtown rather than on UTSA’s campus.
Because it’s enclosed and fully air-conditioned, the Alamodome and its roughly 64,000 football seats function almost like a giant convention hall with a football field at the center — the seating bowl reconfigures for basketball, concerts, boxing, and nearly everything in between. Here’s what to know about its capacity, its design, and what to expect if you’re heading there for a game or a show.
- San Antonio Spurs played here 1993–2002. See every Spurs arena →
Quick Answer
The Alamodome opened on May 15, 1993, after about three years of construction, and yes — it’s fully air-conditioned and climate-controlled, so games and shows stay comfortable no matter how hot San Antonio gets outside.
Capacity depends entirely on the setup: about 64,000 seats for UTSA football and the Valero Alamo Bowl (expandable to roughly 72,000), around 20,662 for a standard basketball arena layout (expandable to 35,888), and anywhere from about 30,000 for an arena-style concert up to 50,000 or more for a full stadium concert configuration.
From NFL Bid to College Football Home
San Antonio built the Alamodome hoping to attract an NFL expansion team or relocation in the early 1990s, but no franchise ever moved in. Designed by HOK Sport and Marmon Mok, the dome instead became home to the Spurs from 1993 to 2002 before they decamped to a purpose-built arena, settling into a role hosting one-off pro games, including three New Orleans Saints home games in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina damaged the Superdome.
Since 2011, the Alamodome has anchored UTSA’s football program, giving the Roadrunners one of the largest stadiums in college football relative to typical campus attendance. The city-owned venue sits downtown, several miles from UTSA’s main campus, and also hosts the Alamo Bowl every December, drawing a mix of conference fans to its expansive concourses.
How Big Is the Alamodome? Capacity by Event Type
At its base, the Alamodome seats about 64,000 for football — the configuration used by UTSA and the Alamo Bowl — and that number can grow to roughly 72,000 when the venue adds temporary seating for high-demand games. For basketball and other arena-style events, the lower bowl alone holds about 20,662 seats, which can expand to 35,888, or further still for marquee events like the NCAA Men’s Final Four, which has used a stadium-style floor setup inside the dome rather than a standard arena bowl.
Concert capacity swings the widest of all, depending on where the stage sits. An arena-style show with the stage at one end of the building typically holds around 30,000 to 33,000 fans in a more intimate bowl configuration. Open up the full stadium seating for a center-stage, in-the-round show, and the Alamodome can accommodate roughly 50,000 up toward 77,000, based on figures in the venue’s own event-planning guide — though most touring concerts use a smaller end-stage setup well under that ceiling. The building’s all-time attendance record came from a non-ticketed event: an estimated 76,483 fans packed in for the Spurs’ 2014 NBA championship celebration.
Is the Alamodome Air-Conditioned?
Yes — the Alamodome is fully enclosed and air-conditioned year-round, which was part of the original pitch to NFL owners in the early 1990s: a controlled-climate alternative to San Antonio’s summer heat and humidity. Despite its name, the building isn’t a true dome; its gently sloped roof is held up by a cable-suspension system anchored to four 300-foot towers, rather than resting on a single domed shell.
The facility covers about 1.2 million square feet on a 57-acre site, with nearly 200,000 square feet of additional meeting and convention space beyond the seating bowl and field — part of why it doubles as one of the city’s largest event venues, not just a stadium.
A Stage for Major Events
Beyond football, the Alamodome has repeatedly landed on the NCAA’s short list for the Men’s Basketball Final Four, hosting the event in 1998, 2004, 2008, 2018, and 2025. Its reconfigurable seating bowl has also supported WWE pay-per-views, championship boxing, indoor football, and large-scale conventions and concerts that take advantage of San Antonio’s downtown location.
Bag Policy
The Alamodome enforces a clear-bag policy at every ticketed event. Allowed bags include clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC totes up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″, one-gallon clear freezer bags, and small clutches or wallets up to 5.5″ x 8.5″. Backpacks, purses, briefcases, and any opaque or patterned bag larger than a small clutch are turned away at the gate. Guests with medically necessary items or an accompanying infant can bring larger bags, but they go through extra screening at entry.
Check the official Alamodome clear bag policy page before you go, since exact rules can be adjusted for specific events.
Parking & Tailgating
Parking at the Alamodome’s own lots is generally sold in advance online rather than at the gate, and prices are set per event rather than at a single flat rate — big games and concerts cost more than a weekday convention. For UTSA football and the Alamo Bowl, the dome’s own lots typically open around midday for tailgating and close roughly an hour after the final whistle; tailgating outside of those events generally isn’t permitted. Plenty of paid downtown lots and garages within walking distance fill in the gaps on sold-out game days.
For the current rate and lot map for your event, check the official Alamodome plan-your-visit page.
Getting There
The Alamodome sits at 100 Montana Street in downtown San Antonio, an easy walk from the River Walk and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. VIA Metropolitan Transit runs Park & Ride service to many major events from outlying lots, and UTSA students can ride free with a U-Pass. Rideshare pickup and drop-off for most events is staged in a dedicated lot near the convention center rather than curbside at the dome itself, which is worth building into your timing if you’re ordering a ride after a late game.
Best Seats & Sightlines
For football, the most popular sideline seats sit between the 20-yard lines on the lower level, closest to midfield and the team benches; corner sections offer a similar angle at a lower price. UTSA’s student section fills lower-level sections behind one end zone, so expect the most noise — and, since the whole building is enclosed, no sun or weather at all — in that corner.
Gate Times & Accessibility
Doors typically open about an hour before kickoff or showtime for most events, with earlier access for season-ticket holders at designated gates. The Alamodome offers accessible seating throughout the bowl, wheelchair escorts from Guest Services near the main entrances, and welcomes service animals; guests who need a wheelchair for the trip from the gate to their seat can request one on arrival.
As with pricing and parking, exact gate times vary by event, so confirm them on the official Alamodome website before heading downtown.
Photos
For late-season football, outdoor hockey and October park nights. Shake, pocket, and stay warm for hours.
12 x 10.5 x 6 in. — built to the common stadium clear-bag size. Check your venue's rules.
USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Alamodome FAQs
When was the Alamodome built?
The Alamodome opened on May 15, 1993, after about three years of construction, at a cost of roughly $186 million. It was built primarily in hopes of attracting an NFL team to San Antonio.
Is the Alamodome air conditioned?
Yes. The Alamodome is a fully enclosed, climate-controlled building, so events stay comfortable year-round regardless of outside weather or San Antonio’s summer heat.
What is the Alamodome’s capacity?
It seats about 64,000 for football, expandable to roughly 72,000; basketball configurations run from about 20,662 up to 35,888 or more, depending on the event.
How many people does the Alamodome hold for a concert?
Concert capacity depends on the stage setup — around 30,000 to 33,000 for an arena-style end-stage show, and up to roughly 50,000 or more for a full stadium configuration, per the venue’s own event-planning figures.
What is the Alamodome’s max capacity?
The building’s highest recorded attendance was an estimated 76,483 people, set during the Spurs’ 2014 NBA championship celebration; the event-planning guide lists a theoretical stadium-concert ceiling near 77,000.
How big is the Alamodome?
The facility covers about 1.2 million square feet on a 57-acre site, with nearly 200,000 square feet of extra meeting and convention space beyond the main seating bowl and field.
Who plays home games at the Alamodome?
The UTSA Roadrunners college football team has played its home games there since 2011, and the venue also hosts the annual Alamo Bowl.
Did an NBA team ever play at the Alamodome?
Yes. The San Antonio Spurs played there from 1993 until 2002, when they moved to a new arena now known as the Frost Bank Center.
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