Alamodome

The Alamodome is a domed indoor multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of sixty-four thousand in San Antonio, Texas, USA. It is located on the south eastern fringe of downtown San Antonio. The Alamodome construction was started on 5^th November 1990 and it opened on 15 May, 1993 at a total cost of $186 million. Other particular sports such as baseball, hockey, skating and American Football have been conducted in Alamodome. Several renovations have taken place to enhance the stadium's appearance to give it a modern look. 

Early History of Alamodome Stadium

The Alamodome stadium was planned to increase the city’s convention traffic and attract a professional football franchise. The Alamodome is currently the home of the University of Texas at San Antonio (“UTSA”) Roadrunners. Earlier it was home to the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) from 1993 to 2002, the San Antonio Texans of the CFL in 1995 and the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football (“AAF”) in 2019.

Significance

• The infrastructure is designed to reshape the stadium according to the events.
• This is one of the best stadiums for hosting any sports and other entertainment.
• Paul McCartney's "The New World Tour" concert was held here in 1993 as the first major event since the official opening.
• The "Dallas Stars" defeated the "Los Angeles Kings" in two consecutive NHL pre-season games, held in 1994 and 1995.
• The NBA All-Star game in 1996 was conducted in Alamodome.
• In 1997, American film director Gregory Nava opted for Alamodome in place of Astrodome for his biopic "Selena".
• It has hosted three men's NCCA Final Four basketball games, the first being in 1998, which Kentucky (US State) won.
• The stadium was also awarded the 2001 HOSPY Award for Outstanding Recreational Facility by the Greater San Antonio Hotel and Motel Association.
• The facility even hosts special events such as the annual Alamo Bowl football game, UTSA’s graduation ceremonies, and most of the Northside ISD’s high school graduation ceremonies.
• Moreover, UIL State Football Playoff games are held regularly in the Alamodome stadium including the State Quarter finals / Region 4 finals and championship games were held in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
• In 2011 for the first time, UTSA began the season of their tournament against Northeastern State in September 2011. The record attendance of the audience was 56,743, which was the highest-attended game for NCAA Division I FBS startup program.
• In June 2013, a concert was played by the George Strait, in which the highest recorded attendance was 73,086.

Architectural Facts

Construction

• Alamodome is a rectilinear 5-level stadium that can hold up to 64,000 spectators for a typical football game and is expandable to hold 72,000 spectators.
• The stadium was designed to easily convert into a basketball or hockey arena. The conversion of the stadium for basketball and hockey takes around twelve to eighteen hours to set up retractable seating and placing the playing surface.
• Moreover, in this type of arrangement, usually the two lower levels at one or both ends are used with 20,662 spectator’s seats and are expandable to 39,500 when the upper level is opened.
• Alamodome has two permanent Olympic-size ice rinks that are used for NHL games, figure skating and speed skating. The facility also contains 30,000 square feet (2,800 square meter) of meeting rooms and 160,000 square feet (15,000 square meter) of continuous exhibit space.

Renovations (Facilities)

• In 2016, the San Antonio City Council approved $50 million worth of upgrades to modernize the facilities to keep it competitive for NCAA events. The improvements included a new media center, upgrades to the locker rooms, expanded concourses and added concessions, 4 new video screens and ribbon boards wrapping the 5^th level, a new sound system, upgraded lighting and other technology upgrades.
• In 2011, the Alamodome stadium introduced a smaller auditorium space, branded as the “Illusions Theater” with an enclosed setting and seating upwards of 11,600 using the north grandstand and 1,000 seats of floor space.
• In 2009 new LED video panels were added to the 5^th level.
• In the summer of 2008 the audio system was upgraded.
• The San Antonio City Council unanimously approved an additional $8.3 million to fund renovations and enhance the facilities.
• The Alamodome was opened with 38 luxury suites and 6,000 club level seats but the original design specifications had 66 luxury suites. It was because of the San Antonio Spurs who were the only full-time tenant at the time so only 38 luxury suites were built;  further in 2006 the Alamodome underwent an expansion to accommodate 14 new luxury suites.
• The Sports Club and Top of the Dome restaurant had also gone under renovations in 2004.

Stakeholders

• Architect - Populous -part of HOK Group (Marmon Mok, LP)
• Structural Engineer - W.E. Simpson Company (Engineer of Record) and Martin & Martin (Preliminary Roof Structural Design)
• Services Engineer - M-E Engineers, Incorporated
• General Contractor – Hunt Construction Group (Huber, Hunt & Nichols)
• Tenants –

1) American Football:

Alamo Bowl (National Collegiate Athletic Association -“NCAA”) (1993 – present)

HS All-American Bowl (2002 – present)

New Orleans Saints (National Football League -“NFL”) (2005)

UTSA Roadrunners (“NCAA”) (2011 – present)

San Antonio Commanders (American Advertising Federation - “AAF”) (2019)

2) Canadian Football:

San Antonio Texans (Canadian Football League -“CFL”) (1995)

3) Indoor Football:

San Antonio Talons (Australian Football League -“AFL”) (2012- 2014)

4) Basketball:

San Antonio Spurs (National Basketball Association -“NBA”) (1993-2002)