March Madness

San Antonio scores home-court status for major NCAA tournament in 2021

The Women's Final Four will take place at the Alamodome, but all games will be played in the San Antonio region.

Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

San Antonio already was set to play host to the 2021 NCAA Women’s Final Four. Now, Alamo City is serving as the home court — if you will — for this year’s entire NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship in an effort to help contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Sixty-four teams will compete March 21 through April 4 at venues in San Antonio, San Marcos, and Austin. The Final Four will be held at the Alamodome, as originally planned.

In an NCAA release issued February 5, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg says hosting all 64 teams in the San Antonio area “is a remarkable opportunity for our event and hospitality industry.”

Six championship rounds will be played at five venues:

First-round play will take place March 21-22 at the Alamodome, Bill Greehey Arena at St. Mary’s University, the Frank Erwin Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus, the University Events Center at Texas State University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio Convocation Center.
Second-round play will shift solely to venues in San Antonio, with the Alamodome, Bill Greehey Arena, and UTSA Convocation Center hosting games March 23-24.
The championship will move to the Alamodome for the remaining rounds, with the Sweet 16 games played March 27-28; Elite Eight games, March 29-30; and Women’s Final Four, April 2 and 4.

“We are extremely honored that the NCAA has chosen San Antonio and the surrounding region for this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to host the entire NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship,” Jenny Carnes, senior vice president and chief operating officer of San Antonio Sports, a nonprofit that promotes sports in the city, says in the NCAA release. “The confidence they have in San Antonio speaks volumes about our team, experience and what we can offer the event to ensure a safe and successful tournament.”

The NCAA is working with testing provider Diamond Health and the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on COVID-19 protocols for the tournament.

“No decision has been made on fan attendance at this time. If general public attendance is determined appropriate, the attendance policy will follow the established local guidelines,” the NCAA says.

Official 34-member groups representing each team will arrive March 16 and 17 in San Antonio. Practices will take place on nine courts set up at the Henry B. González Convention Center and the Alamodome.

Teams will be housed in hotels around San Antonio and the rest of Bexar County. Only teams and certain other tested people will occupy these hotels during the championship.

sports

Betting on baseball

Baseball stadium backers hit a home run with San Antonio city leaders

San Antonio Missions, downtown stadium, Minor League Baseball

Courtesy San Antonio Missions

A sold-out crowd enjoys a San Antonio Missions game on July 4, 2024, at Wolff Stadium.

San Antonio’s elected leaders reached first base in a push to put a professional baseball stadium downtown.

City Council voted 9-2 on September 12 to approve an agreement with three parties to start the first of a four-phase effort and relocate the San Antonio Missions to a new downtown ballpark.

The approved pact involves Bexar County (whose commissioners haven't yet approved the deal), local developer Weston Urban, and ownership for the Double-A Minor League Baseball team, which includes entrepreneur Graham Weston, former San Antonio Spurs greats David Robinson and Manu Ginobili, and baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan.

Initial plans call for construction of a 7,500-capacity stadium that can host Missions home games, plus other sports and non-sports events. The Missions currently play at the 6,200-seat Nelson Wolff Stadium in San Antonio’s West Side.

The new stadium will be built along San Pedro Creek Culture Park near Fox Tech High School. Developers plan to open it in time for the 2028 baseball season.

The deal is estimated to cost $160 million, including the land purchase and development; the Missions will chip in $34 million. The remaining funds will come from revenues of bond sales issued by a new San Pedro Creek Development Authority, and from the existing Houston Street Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.

The project will require demolition of the neighboring Soap Factory Apartments, and relocation of tenants. The developers promise to offer $2,500 to help displaced tenants in their transition. Developers plan to redevelop the apartment property beginning in fall 2025.

Ballpark supporters said the project could spark $1 billion in new economic redevelopment around the new stadium, including a hotel and apartments.

Some backers added a new downtown Minor League Baseball stadium could get Major League Baseball’s attention, and advance efforts to build a new downtown Spurs arena. The Spurs’ lease at their current home, Frost Bank Center on the East Side, expires in 2031.

The Missions’ owners want to show MLB they are committed to a new stadium that meets MLB’s facility requirements.

“As of now the San Antonio Missions’ baseball field is positioned too far away to draw large crowds,” small business owner Heather O'Neill said. “(A new stadium) will draw people from all over the city, bring more economic growth and commerce to existing businesses, and bring new businesses to the downtown and Southtown areas.”

Project opponents said the deal was rushed, that Soap Factory tenants had no chance for input, and that displacement will hurt residents who are already financially struggling.

Still, critics such Stewart Blanton of community group COPS (Communities Organized for Public Service)/Metro are willing to give the project a chance so long as the developers engage neighbors.

“COPS/Metro is not opposed to the stadium or economic growth for San Antonio, but not at the expense of its residents,” Blanton said. “COPS/Metro will continue to watch each phase of this project, and hold the city and developers accountable to the plan.”

Courtesy San Antonio Missions

A sold-out crowd enjoys a San Antonio Missions game on July 4, 2024, at Wolff Stadium.

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