The sad story of the Alamodome

[@chriskay1449]

They just hosted one of WWE's marquee events, The Royal Rumble, this past January and had 51,000 people in attendance. It was the 3rd time the dome hosted it since 1997.

[@fishflake1209]

San Antonio spent $186 million on the Alamodome, which is $28 million less than Atlanta spent on the Georgia Dome, and $94 million less than St. Louis spent on the Dome at America’s Center. The objective was not to break the bank attempting to lure an NFL team: San Antonio needed a functional high-capacity venue that could accommodate a wider variety of sporting and cultural events (a potential NFL team being merely one part of that) than the growing city could host at the start of the 1990s. The Alamodome has certainly succeeded in that objective.

[@DerrickDX]

​@ozzmoises it definitely was to get a NFL team and once they realized it wasn't happening they reverted to making it a large area attraction for the Final Four and large scale events😅

[@yocoolz]

One aspect of the Alamodome story you left out is its location. It's within walking distance of the San Antonio Riverwalk, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state. Having attended a number of Alamobowl games, one of the best parts is the fans filing out of the stadium and down to the bars and restaurants on the river. Neither of the NFL domes in Arlington or Houston can do that, as they are built more remotely with a focus on parking lots. Were SA to get an NFL team today, they probably would only use the dome for as long as it takes to make a more spectacular stadium on the northeast side of town to make it more accessible to fans from Austin. Odds are that it will never get the great refurbishment it deserves.

[@matthewkester3677]

there's nothing wrong with the AlamoDome, it hosts a lot of different stuff

[@jasonmartinez5116]

Yeah I mean recently it got an XFL team. As much as I love the Alamodome I hope it at least gets a renovation or a just a new stadium completely. Currently the main sports tenant is the UTSA Roadrunners college football

[@RedRaiderLobo20]

I remember it hosting the armed drill competition I did in JROTC in high school. The building never got the NFL team it wanted, but they sure get their use out of it.

[@dallas5339]

WWE was one of them

[@MrJoeolive]

Yep people tend to forget it also hosts the All-American Bowl

[@jasonmartinez5116]

@@MrJoeolive And the Alamo Bowl (aka Valero Alamo Bowl)

[@whiteferrett]

Fun fact: the alamodome and hard rock stadium had the same architect HOK Group

[@toddbergman6676]

both were state of the art when they opened! One had pro sports to keep it relevant, one never got it's team

[@allengalley2015]

Only venue to host NBA, NFL, MLB & NHL games. The later two just exhibitions but still hosted those leagues.

[@ericrizojkd]

And now XFL

[@erinmsomers]

And multiple wwe events...

[@larrybenton777]

One Final Four? It hosted the mens Final Four in 1998, 2004, 2008, 2018, and will host the 2025 Final Four. I attended the 2004. It's a great venue in it's half dome setup as the upper deck seems much closer than other domes.

[@lionsfan7500]

Ya I noticed that too. I didn't know the exact amount of final fours it hosted but I knew it was way more than 1

[@peterblue2708]

Alamodome was going to be up for bids for the 2031 Men's Final Four, but the NCAA is now looking to take it off cause they think the dome is outdated.

[@raulsphotography]

Love your ideas on putting bar decks on the columns and a clear roof.

[@brandonfouts4074]

this thing is epic in San Antonio! Its so huge inside. Love it. Been there 3 times,

[@Fred_JMZ]

You forgot to mention the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL and the many other football teams that called the Alamodome home. The Brahmas and UTSA will bring new life into the stadium and hopefully renovate it to be the best college football stadium.

[@altheaaviona1399]

One of my favorite Stadium topics. NFL/MLB places that were once NBA homecourts.

[@bdautch20]

I'm heading to the Alamodome in December, but only because I have a goal of seeing every single bowl game that exists over the course of time.

[@Honeywheremysupersuit]

as a roadrunner fan, i love going there it’s such a vibe to be at when it’s game day and the good thing abot is that this is the only stadium in downtown and that eases traffic unlike houston and dallas that usually have more than one sports stadium in their downtowns

[@carlolson4628]

The Alamodome is perfect for high school graduations!!

[@lionsfan7500]

This is like the 3rd video I've seen this month where you said the Silverdome had 2 decks but it had 3 decks. The upper and lower decks at the Silverdome had blue sears and the middle deck had white seats.

[@MrJoeolive]

So weird looking at the skyline while it's being built

[@guadalupev30]

They recently hosted the Spurs for a NBA record crowd.

[@maureencora1]

2023 San Antonio, TEXAS is Nice Place to Visit in the Fall, Winters & Spring the Riverwalk is Great.

[@dontedrake2316]

In my opinion the alamodome is awesome more the story is a lot it's getting used the UTSA roadrunners football game draw 50 or 60 k they have done that in a past that's an underrated facility in my opinion the depressed Ginger you should do a video on the United center built at the same time it's 30 years old arena have a great week and you have a great channel

[@dillonthatch4624]

I love stadiums just like you do, but with the economy and infrastructure falling apart, I think it’s time we stop valuing 2 billion dollar stadiums as much as we do; and be satisfied with the stadiums we have.

[@orangehoof]

So you could say Bud Adams killed the Alamodome.

[@KGKraetzerMedia]

Will be there for Army vs UTSA college football this fall.

[@EvanEscher]

I went to the Alamodome for the Alamo Bowl back in 2017. I liked the stadium.

[@timiller1235]

Am I the only one that remebers that this was built, in part, to host the San Antonio Riders of the World League of American Football? The Alamodome plan was why San Antonio got a team in that league, too bad the league folded a year before the building opend.

[@johnnyboy830]

However letting in natural light will not really change anything. For events like collage basketball they would have to cover it up since the glare would cause problems during the times when sun is out. Plus the venue does host concerts too so that can be an issue for them if they event requires a dark setting.

[@blakkjack21]

This dude talks about "natural light" in these stadiums like he's selling somebody a 3 bedroom house or he act like he's one of the Property Brothers on HGTV. These are stadiums and concert venues where most of the events take place at night, where "natural light" is not a factor.

[@MrJara1018]

Alamodome is a great venue. It gets super loud.

[@toddbergman6676]

moved to central tx in 2020. this 90's kid always loved watching the great spurs teams of the 90s in front of giant crowds at the dome, as luck would have it (video on my channel) i went to the 50th anniversary game last year. I;ve gone to utsa, royal rumbles, boxing during covid using just 11% of the entire dome ands most recently xfl games. I love the location of the dome. and events aren't typically pricey as its far from a destination stadium. I'm surpirsed the final four is coming back in 2025. I remember even the 2018 event just after the rennovations it was being ripped as a behind the times venue. I went to the two biggest events back to back in a couple weeks apart last year. The royal rumble and 50th anniversary game. Concessions and bathroom lines were a disaster, here's to hoping something can be done for final 4

[@MrEntertainment2x]

I'm from San antonio the dome draws a lot of people

[@Dweller415]

I lived there when the Spurs played there. It was a horrible venue right after it opened. If San Antonio were awarded an NFL team it would build a new stadium from scratch (probably in the same location).

[@Gage_Brumley]

It's a damn shame the Alamodome never got the chance for a permanent NFL team to call it home. Closest it got was when the Saints played their home games there in 2005. There were talks that if the Super Dome was damaged too much, the Saints would stay in San Antonio.

[@gmozzz]

Had my hs graduation in there in 2018. The Dome is such iconic to SA

[@dalejr183]

My parents took me to the new Alamodome May 29,1993 to see Paul Mcartney ( The Beatles on my 13th birthday I still remember that.

[@dalejr183]

The controversy at the time was the high lead levels in the soil when they were doing construction on KENS5 Eyewitness news in 1992

[@dalejr183]

I think it was the first ever event at Alamodome my parents spent allot of money on those 3 tickets even though we were poor

[@admirals818]

You missed the Dragons. They played select home games at the Alamodome in their brief existence. It was known for it's huge ice surface.

[@mzpogi]

The Alamodome is the venue were Manny Pacquiao became a boxing superstar when he beat Marco Antonio Barerra

[@mosescuh3907]

UTSA locking themselves into a 25 year commitment with the dome was a real shame. I understand not wanting to invest so much at the beginning of starting up a D-1 program but there is a certain charm of college football that is lost from being so far removed from campus and outside of maybe one game a year against a local rival or power 5 foe, the Dome is just too cavernous for UTSA. I know even when I was a student 7 years ago, it was a pain to get downtown, find a parking garage across the highway and walk sometimes 3 miles to get to the entrance. Had the university invested money in the land that was plentiful near campus 15 years ago, they could have had a really nice 25,000-35,000 seat stadium similar to Texas St. I think that would have been a much better option because unless UTSA makes the jump to Power 5 play, that stadium is never going to be as big of a home field advantage as it could be.

[@timiller1235]

I saw Pink Floyd there in 1994, and the San Antonio Commanders from the Alliance of American Football in 2019. That Pink Floyd tour lasted longer than that football league.

[@guadalupev30]

Also the Tejano Music Awards as well.

[@AJArreguin]

Nfl needs more suites for the Alamodome.

[@michaelwalker7400]

If the NFL comes to San Antonio, they are getting a new stadium. Mainly because of how the owners would want more suites and more bells and whistles that aren't needed at the Alamodome.

[@ConfidentBald-sx9nx]

“Just go ahead and cut up those concrete shear walls and destroy the lateral bracing for the roof columns so they can install some drink rails because I saw that on a rendering…lip smack lip smack….”

[@thpisland2423]

It's kind of surreal when you talk about a place I drive by everyday 😂

[@lionsfan7500]

The Silverdome had 3 decks.

[@pioneer540]

Dude! Have you ever been to a UTSA football game? I'm guessing no. Check out the team introduction and tell me which NCAA team has a better introduction. UTSA is ranked 21rst in the nation with back to back division titles. Go to a UTSA football game in person; then make a judgement. I'm 50 and seen the most exciting football I've ever seen (including the NFL) in the last two years in the dome. Jerry won't allow San Antonio to get an NFL team. Dallas Cowboys held several training camps in the Alamodome over the years in order to squash any efforts to expand. I was in attendance (36,000 strong) in 1999 when my Spurs won their first of five NBA championships. Anyway, Coach Jeff Traylor and Ms. Campos at UTSA have built something special. Its right around 100 degrees for most of UTSA home games. Anyone would prefer 72 degrees and a nice soft full individual seat opposed to frying your cheeks on a metal bench for 3hours. Besides that you got a couple things right 👍 🤠🏈🇺🇸🎸. Also the concers are great KISS, Metallica etc...

[@keeganbrown9967]

Like the Alamodome, I to was born in 1993 in San Antonio. Ive lived in San Antonio my entire life. In my personal and humble opinion. By 2030 the Alamodome should be destroyed. It has surved most of its original purpose and brought the city numerous events, games, concerts and memories. However, times have changed and it has become severely obsolete to the point that i don't see these events returning. I would like for the city to save all the hotel tax, visitor and rental car tax money from now till 2030 to invest in a new stadium. And by 2035 have a brand new stadium built in the footprint of the former Alamodome.

[@guadalupev30]

A lot of Final Fours were hosted.

[@michaelwalker7400]

The only thing that the Alamodome didn't get that it wanted was NFL football on a yearly basis. Everything else they already planned on.

[@rickcobos1724]

Any idea why the Alamodome didn't attract the Oilers?

[@davidbuswa9425]

San Antonio should explore revisiting a CFL franchise again. Obtaining a CFL team won't cost billions to own. The CFL allows community ownership of teams similar to the Green Bay Packers and Saskatchewan Rough Riders. The NFL will never go to San Antonio as long as Jerry Jones owns the Dallas Cowboys within Texas

[@ericrizojkd]

It now hosts a XFL team

[@Anthoag96911]

I think they hosted the Arlington renegades of the XFL but I am not sure. I know they hosted the 2023 XFL championship game

[@timiller1235]

Arlington Renegades play at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington TX, formally The Ballpark In Arlington, and the one good stadium that the Texas Rangers called home.

[@Anthoag96911]

@@timiller1235 Oh yeah! The really good ballpark that they had to stop usage for due to the sun. The new stadium for the rangers is a nice one though.

[@timiller1235]

@@Anthoag96911 the new one it is boring and dull and corprate as hell. I dislike the new one and really miss the old one a lot.

[@Anthoag96911]

@@timiller1235 I like the new one but the older one imo was way better

[@benjaminingram4857]

Demolish the Alamo dome and rebuild an brand new dome to lure NFL team.

[@salvadorrodriguez6741]

Also host the XFL team and 2 Royal Rumbles brought 4 billion dollars

[@jonathanscrutchensYT]

3 Royal Rumble events

[@0fficialdregs]

him and his constant blah blah about see through roofs, domes, retractables, and enclose stands. blah

[@vadimbanner2024]

Don't forget MONSTER JAM

[@warhawk83]

I live here in San Antonio... they need to tear it down. There is no need for it.

[@edlovesbfmv1]

You couldn't be more wrong. Just move out of SA

[@dmead874]

$186 million to build, not 300+. Also nothing special? No it’s not some flash pos like the raiders new place. But it’s f*ckin BIG! Look at the spurs arena, frost bank center formerly AT&T center, under 20k for a game.

[@christianhamilton9192]

Timmy's

[@aaronrivera4504]

Really you talk all this History and forget to mention the xfl and the brahams and the xfl championship game WOW you have clearly not done any research in the past 12 months

[@phillyphill512]

San ant tonio. Lol

[@Samsquamsh]

Lol frootball sucks anyways.