The recent concert by Colombian artist Karol G at the Alamodome has led to a scheduling dispute between the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and the city of San Antonio. The conflict centers around the availability of the venue for the Roadrunners' preparations ahead of their football game against UTRGV.
On Friday, prior to the anticipated matchup, both UTSA and UTRGV were unable to conduct their usual walkthroughs at the Alamodome. This unexpected change was attributed to differing accounts of communication regarding the venue's availability. A city spokesperson claimed that an agreement had been reached months in advance, stating that the Alamodome would not be open for walkthroughs due to the extensive production requirements of the concert, which attracted nearly 50,000 attendees the previous Wednesday.
In contrast, a UTSA representative indicated that the university was only informed about the unavailability of the facility the preceding Friday. This lack of timely communication left the teams scrambling for alternative arrangements. Ultimately, UTSA opted to hold a brief pregame walkthrough at their RACE facility, which is their usual practice site.
On Thursday, city officials announced that they had hired additional personnel to prepare the Alamodome for UTSA's walkthrough on Friday. However, by that time, the teams had already made alternative plans and chose not to adjust their schedules on such short notice. A city spokesperson expressed their commitment to supporting UTSA football and noted that staff had been working diligently to ensure the venue was ready for the team.
Despite the city's efforts, UTSA stood by its account of the situation. The Roadrunners' spokesperson reiterated their understanding that they would have access to the Alamodome for their regular walkthrough, emphasizing that the communication received prior to the game indicated otherwise. Coach Jeff Traylor described the revelation about the Alamodome's unavailability as "pretty shocking," marking a rare instance in his tenure where the team had to adapt to such a last-minute change.
While UTSA had the option to use the on-campus Convocation Center for an indoor walkthrough, Traylor pointed out that the team required a proper football field with hash marks to practice specific game situations. The RACE facility, which opened in 2021, was designed with future enhancements in mind, including an overhead pavilion for practice fields, but construction on these plans has yet to commence.
Looking ahead, both UTSA and city officials have confirmed that the Alamodome will be available for walkthroughs prior to all remaining home games. However, the scheduling of other events, including a Bruno Mars concert and an event featuring Usher and Chris Brown, raises questions about future accessibility. Under the terms of UTSA's license agreement with the Alamodome, signed in 2012 and effective through 2035, the city is required to provide at least 90 days' notice of any conflicts that would prevent access to the venue.
Despite the current dispute, both parties maintain that they have a strong partnership and have typically navigated scheduling conflicts without relying on contractual language. The recent situation has highlighted the importance of clear communication and collaboration between UTSA and the city of San Antonio as they work together to support local events and the university's athletic programs.
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