Sports Facilities
Athletics Department and Campus Recreation facilities have been considered in a comprehensive design manner that supports the overall goals of the long term campus master plan for UTSA. In general, the athletic facilities are located in the western part of campus in the vicinity of Rattlesnake Hill. Most of the recreational facilities are also planned for this area of campus, next to the current Recreation/Wellness Center; additional recreational fields are also located in the eastern part of the campus integrated with the proposed building programs.
A few simple design themes will help to organize the athletics and recreational facilities into both an efficient and an exciting environment unique to the UTSA campus. The first is to arrange the fields and buildings consistent with the orientation of the campus grid. In the west, the grid has a northwesterly orientation; in the east it shifts to a northeasterly orientation. This orients the multipurpose fields roughly north-south, an ideal disposition for soccer, flag football, and other sports which will be played on these fields. In the western area, the extension of the West Paseo acts as a primary pedestrian spine that connects the various facilities back into the campus core and parking areas.
The second design theme is to introduce a second pedestrian circulation corridor between the fields, parallel to the West Paseo. This space can be programmed with landscape and streetscape elements, as well as informal gathering places for students, coaches, team meetings, etc. It also allows for a degree of site-related flexibility in determining the final location of the fields, and can also permit service vehicle access.
The third theme is to take advantage of the campus's unique landscape features with the planning of the facilities. In the western area of campus, Rattlesnake Hill is treated as a backdrop for the fields; the extended West Paseo also provides the opportunity for a promenade that overlooks the athletic/recreation complex from a higher elevation. The baseball and softball stadia are nestled into the base of Rattlesnake Hill to provide for settings unique to the San Antonio environment. Similarly, the cross country track and walking/biking trails are planned to weave in and out of the natural open space in the southeastern part of campus.
Campus Recreation
Campus Recreation's building program will establish new ways for students, faculty, and staff to participate in a variety of programs ranging from recreational sports to the use of picnic facilities. Opportunities for team and individual athletic participation will enhance the college experience and will help students to achieve a healthy and active lifestyle. The projects include four miles of multi-use trails that extend throughout the campus, several pavilions to accommodate different sized groups, and many new multi-purpose and softball fields. These facilities will be developed in stages throughout the life of the master plan.
As the athletic facilities relocate to a cohesive area near Babcock Road, the land that opens up will be used for a major recreational area. This arrangement places recreational amenities adjacent to large areas of housing and in close proximity to the academic complex, where it will be most accessible. The terrain in this area is also some of the best on campus for playing fields. The Recreational/Wellness Center and Health Clinic will be expanded with facilities including a natatorium. An exterior swimming pool and area for sunbathing will be located adjacent to the natatorium.
Additional recreational fields will be located at the northeast corner of the campus, and a free-play campus green area will be located next to housing, food service, and research facilities in the eastern side of campus. This part of campus is also a primary recharge area for the Edwards Aquifer, so all development in the area of the softball fields, including sidewalks, must maximize water permeability.
Athletics
The current track will be replaced by a state-of-the art facility located adjacent to the proposed campus road on the west side. The orientation is slightly east of north, which is consistent with the general orientation of the campus core. Throwing events will take place in a field on the other side of the western loop road, located within the floodplain. The track complex is also positioned with the potential to support a football stadium, should that opportunity arise in the future. The footprint indicated on the plan represents approximately 20,000 seats. If an expansion is desired to accommodate up to 30,000 seats, one of the end zones could be filled with seats.
The varsity tennis courts will be replaced by a new complex just north of the proposed track facility along the new western loop road. Ten new courts will be constructed along with a center court with a small grandstand.
The proposed soccer complex is located to the east of the proposed track/football facility, along the same orientation and adjacent to the West Paseo extension with connections beyond. The footprint of the soccer facility is planned to accommodate up to 5,000 seats. A practice field is also located to the north of the soccer stadium.
The new location for the softball field is just to the south of the soccer stadium, towards the end of the West Paseo. This facility has a southeastern orientation, with views looking toward Rattlesnake Hill. Further detailed study of the topography and siting of the facility may also present opportunities for berm seating in the outfield.
The proposed location of the baseball stadium is on the southeastern corner of Rattlesnake Hill, near the future Special Events Center and the expanded Recreation/Wellness Center. This site provides for direct traffic and parking access, and also will offer views into the bowl for visitors approaching or driving along UTSA Boulevard. Like the softball stadium, the baseball stadium will have a southeastern orientation. Detailed site studies may reveal construction efficiencies afforded by the opportunity to build the seating deck on grade with the sloping hillside. The stadium is anticipated to eventually include about 5,000 seats, though the facility may be constructed with a smaller number of seats initially.
Other proposed athletics facilities include the development of offices in the building now used for the Child Development Center. This location, central to all of the athletics facilities, is ideal for offices for the athletics department. As major athletics facilities are built, this location will become less optimal for the Child Development Center, which should move to an off-campus site or to a site closer to married students’ housing. An addition to the PE Building will contain additional locker facilities for the Convocation Center and possibly other athletics functions.
Special Events Center
The Special Events Center will be used for commencement ceremonies, basketball games, and other events such as concerts. With 10,000 to 12,000 seats, it will be smaller than the SBC Center but considerably larger than the Convocation Center. For a sell-out event, approximately 4,400 parking spaces will be needed. Because of this, it was decided to locate this facility near the largest areas of general parking near the academic buildings. By day, these lots will be used by the UTSA community. At night and on weekends, a portion of the same lots will support the Special Events Center.
The most appropriate site for the facility is located southwest of the academic buildings adjacent to UTSA Boulevard. An additional entry from UTSA Boulevard will improve traffic flow to this facility, and existing traffic flow through the adjacent parking lot will be improved. The site now contains several units of the University Oaks Apartments. It is assumed that the construction of the Special Events Center will occur after the long-term lease with the apartments' management company has expired.
A small lake is shown next to the proposed Special Events Center. This area is slightly lower in elevation than most of the land immediately around it, and it currently serves as a run-off area for this portion of the site. The creation of a lake in this area would be a beautiful amenity for the facility and could be used as part of a stormwater run-off filtration system.
| 
