A.     INTRODUCTION

This Section provides the Consultants' appraisal of selected University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) Athletics' facilities. This assessment was performed within the context of evaluating the University's ability to introduce Intercollegiate Football at the NCAA I-AA and/or I-A level. The Consultants addressed facilities planning, new construction and renovations. The impact of Athletics' facilities on student-athletes' safety and quality of their overall experience and performance plus the accommodation of UTSA's fans was addressed as well. Facilities that house Support Systems for Athletics are presented in Section , Support Systems Analysis.

 B.    OBSERVATIONS

The UTSA main campus (known as the 1604 Campus) is located on 600 acres 20 minutes northwest of downtown San Antonio. The University is exploring the purchase of land directly east of the campus for a Proposed Athletics Complex. Most Athletic Department stadiums, offices and other facilities have received only minor renovations since original construction in the 1970s.

The continued expansion of sport offerings has significantly stressed UTSA Athletics facilities. Some current facilities are unequipped to support year-round practice and competition, contemporary sophisticated support services (sports medicine, strength and conditioning, equipment operations, etc.) as well as locker rooms and offices needed to functionally serve UTSA's 16 sports and 275 student-athletes. The addition of Women's Soccer will magnify this problem. Football will require significant new facility construction and renovation, as well. 

Parking for students, staff and visitors has been identified as a major issue on the campus. Inadequate parking negatively impacts attendance at all Athletics' events.  Additional property acquisition, relocation, park/ride program or additional parking facilities are needed to resolve this campus-wide issue. 

Nationally, athletics facilities have improved dramatically over the past 25 years. While the largest capital expenditures have occurred at Division I-A football programs, universities in all NCAA Divisions have made sizable investments in facilities, especially in the last decade. Regardless of the decision to add Football, UTSA desperately needs to renovate existing space and build more functional space for Roadrunner Athletics.

C.    FACILITIES MASTER PLANNING

As is noted in the UTSA Master Plan and Athletics Vision 2010, a successful athletics program is an asset to the community. UTSA's Athletics vision is to create a state-of-the-art Athletics Complex with facilities placed in a cohesive, organized and easily accessible grouping. Access to major roadways and convenient parking are also key planning considerations. For event management and cost effectiveness, best practices combine facilities for multiple-sport use of ticketing, locker rooms, concessions, athletic training and parking

Recently, renovation proposals for existing athletics' facilities on the 1604 Campus including numerous Athletics' infrastructure requirements have been discussed, reviewed, redrawn and placed on hold.  The campus has engaged an athletics facilities planner to develop a comprehensive facilities plan for the athletic department. Regardless of the decision to add Football, some of the proposed facilities will be mandatory to maintain all sports of UTSA Athletics.

 D.    REVIEW OF FACILITIES

Following is a description of selected facilities, noted improvement needs, a proposed facility and Consultants' comments:

1.   Convocation Center, constructed 1975

The arena has a seating capacity of 4,496 for basketball and volleyball. Seating and playing surfaces are sufficient for current athletic competition crowds and team practices.  This multi-use facility also serves as an indoor practice facility for all of UTSA's sports teams as well as many campus events including academic classes, graduation events, concerts and career fairs. The playing surface is varnished maple hardwood.

This facility houses offices for Women's Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Men and Women's Track and Field coaches, assistant coaches for Men's Basketball, the Head Trainer and assistant Trainers.  Many "offices" in the Convocation Center are converted storage rooms; one is a converted restroom.  In some cases, offices for coaches within a particular sport are located in separate areas creating inefficiencies in daily operations.

The Center's lower levels include locker facilities for the Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball Teams, as well as an athletic training room. The Women's Basketball Locker Room and Training Room are only accessible by descending stairs, which is an ADA problem as well as logistical problem for injured student-athletes seeking treatment in the training room. The training room is too small for the number of student-athletes and the limited space precludes private areas for physical examinations and physician consultation.

The upper level includes two practice basketball courts and unsightly, wire-mesh storage cages. The current Ticket Office is in a metal building outside the south lobby.

Improvement needs: Locker rooms (minimum of 3 to accommodate Women's Volleyball, men's visiting team and women's visiting team), training room, permanent Ticket Office; expanded merchandise and concession stands, storage space and possibly offices.

CSA comments: The arena is a fair-to-good facility for basketball and volleyball competitions and practice. There is cooperation between teams for it is difficult at times for 3 varsity programs to practice on the same floor. The biggest conflicts occur in the fall when both basketball and volleyball programs are in season. However, the "backstage" support areas including locker rooms, offices, training room and storage are woefully inadequate. There are ADA problems in the facility, lack of adequate walkways in the seating area, and a lack of electrical power for major events. Additionally, relocation and centralization of the maximum number of Athletics staff and support systems is the preferred strategy. Vacated Convocation Center space would be utilized for additional locker room facilities. As planned, an auxiliary building on the west side of the Convocation Center should be built to house a new easily accessible training room and weight room.

2. Physical Education Building (PE) Athletics Administrative Offices, Constructed 1970

Building (PE) is located approximately fifty (50) yards from the Convocation Center. A covered walkway through a courtyard provides access between the two buildings. Presently it is not possible to accommodate the UTSA Volleyball team plus visiting volleyball and basketball teams with dressing rooms in the Convocation Center. The primary men's and women's locker rooms are located in the PE Building.

The women's locker room has two separate dressing rooms for Softball and Volleyball. The Track & Field team has lockers in the main room; all three teams share the shower and bathroom area. The women's locker room situation will become more of a space problem with the addition of Women's Soccer in 2006007.

The men's locker room has one separate dressing room for baseball and a baseball equipment storage room. The Track & Field team has lockers in the main room; both teams share the shower and bathroom area.

The upper level of the PE Building currently houses thirty-two (32) administrators, coaches and interns in nineteen (19) offices, resulting in multiple staff members in single offices. The conference room has been converted into a seven-cubicle office space. Currently, the Athletic Department has no conference room or academic support/study hall facilities.

The weight and conditioning facility for student-athletes is located on the first floor of the PE Building in a recently-renovated basketball court with approximately 7,000 square feet of space. The weight-lifting equipment is owned by both Athletics and Physical Education. Athletics requires Olympic weights and lifting platforms; however, the need to accommodate PE courses has resulted in other equipment purchases and space utilization.

The south gym on the first floor in the PE Building is an undersized practice court with a new surface of varnished hardwood for Men and Women's Basketball and Volleyball. The equipment/laundry room is also located on the first floor.

Improvement needs: Additional permanent office space to accommodate most staff members and coaches; equipment room and additional storage areas, new laundry space, video work space and viewing area, Academic Support Center including computer lab, study hall and tutoring space.

CSA comments: Again, relocation and centralization of the maximum number of Athletics staff and support systems is the preferred strategy. If existing facilities are not moved, the PE Building is centrally located in relation to current venues for Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Volleyball.

The construction of a new East Campus Athletics Complex would still require the renovation of offices for Men and Women's Basketball and Volleyball. Additionally, use of this space for the Student-Athlete Academic Support Center would keep this function in the academic core of the campus.

3. Proposed Athletics Complex

Facilities Plan: The Consultants concur with plans formulated by UTSA staff to build an Outdoor Athletics Complex on land near the existing 1604 campus. Approximately 70 acres of land would be needed for the Athletics Complex which would include the following: competition facilities for Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, and Soccer; Athletics Administrative Offices; Football practice fields; Weight Room; Training Room; Equipment Room and Locker Rooms. Competition facilities would share common fan amenities including restrooms, concessions, ticketing, and parking. The competition site for football games would be the Alamodome.

Administrative Center:
Office space to accommodate administrative, coaching and support staff; locker rooms for coaches and staff; and support facilities to accommodate the needs of 400+ student-athletes that includes a training room, video room, weight room and equipment room.

Baseball:
Competition/Practice Fields
Lighted field with automated sprinkler system, bullpens and batting cages.

Stadium
Seating capacity of 3,500 chairback seats with expansion capability to 5,000 seats; scoreboard, press box, dugouts with access to locker/team room and restrooms.

Locker Room
Dressing areas for 40 players, showers and restroom facilities, team meeting area, and satellite coaches offices.

Storage Area:
Adequate storage area for field maintenance equipment immediately accessible to the field.

Softball:
Competition/Practice Fields
Lighted field with automated sprinkler system, bullpens and batting cages.

Stadium
Seating capacity of 1,000 chairback seats with expansion capability to 2,000 total seats; scoreboard, press box, dugouts with access to locker/team room and restrooms.

Locker Room
Dressing areas for 25 players, showers and restroom facilities, team meeting area, and satellite coaches offices.

Storage Area:
Adequate storage area for field maintenance equipment immediately accessible to the field.

Track & Field:
Competition/Practice Track & Field areas

1. Entire facility should be lighted to allow maximum use
2. Nine (9) 48" lanes that meet international standards
3. Curbing with built-in timing system
4. One high jump area - accommodate two pits
5. Two Shot Rings
6. Two Discus Rings
7. Four Pole Vault Runways (built side-by-side)
8. One Hammer Throw Area (outside of the stadium)
9. Four Long Jump/Triple Jump Runways (built side-by-side)
10. Two Javelin Throwing Areas
11. Steeple Chase Pit inside lane one

Stadium
Seating capacity of 5,000 with expansion capability to 10,000; scoreboard, video board, press box, team bench areas across field from fan seating.

Locker Rooms
Two dressing areas for 45 to 50 student-athletes each, showers and restroom facilities, team meeting room, and satellite coaches offices.

Storage Area: 
Need an area to store field maintenance equipment and jumping pits, hurdles, pole vault equipment, and throwing equipment.

Soccer
Competition/Practice Fields
Two lighted fields (one natural grass for competition, one artificial surface).

Stadium
Seating capacity of 1,000 with expansion capability to 5,000; scoreboard, press box, team bench areas across field from fan seating.

Locker Room
Dressing areas for 30 players, showers and restroom facilities, team meeting room, and coaches satellite offices.

Football:
Practice Fields
Two lighted practice fields (one natural grass, one artificial surface).

Locker Room
Dressing areas for 125 players, showers and restroom facilities.

Coaches Offices, Meeting and Administrative Support Facilities:
Office space for the head coach and 9 assistant coaches, 2 graduate assistants, operations director, administrative assistants and support staff, especially video operations and storage; two large conference rooms; 8 position meeting rooms; one auditorium with 150 seats.

4. Common/Shared Facilities:

1. Ticketing/Entry Areas
2. Restrooms
3. Concession Areas
4. Merchandise Areas
5. Parking
6. Officials Locker Rooms
7. Visiting team locker rooms
8. Field maintenance storage areas
9. Equipment Room

5. Alamodome

Competition site for UTSA football. The Alamodome is located in downtown San Antonio and is the annual host to a major Division I-A bowl game.   Additionally, the Alamodome hosted three (3) National Football League (NFL) games during the 2005 season, along with nearly thirty (30) high school football games. This is an excellent facility and would be a significant recruiting highlight for UTSA Football. Various seating configurations allow for a capacity of 20,000 to 65,000 seats. The only drawback of this venue is the distance from the 1604 campus. UTSA would need to consider bus transportation and other incentives to encourage the general student body to attend home games.

CSA comments:  Combining most athletic venues to a single complex is a cost-effective and operationally efficient manner to conduct an intercollegiate athletics program. This plan opens valuable space to accommodate the need for new academic buildings in the core of the main campus. This proposal benefits not only UTSA Athletics, but also meets the needs of the fast-growing general student body at UTSA. Of course, this approach is contingent on the availability of land.

E.     CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

UTSA Athletics is near the top in competitive excellence in the Southland Conference, despite its disadvantage in the number and quality of athletics facilities for student-athlete development, practice and competition. UTSA's record of success has been achieved through exemplary dedication and teamwork of its coaches, administrators and campus community.  With the next step in UTSA's continued advancement, the University must overcome its deficit in Athletics facilities, regardless of the decision to add Football. There are many compelling needs for facilities, which require an effective, strategic response from the University and its constituents.

1. UTSA Athletics should continue to cooperate fully with the University in developing an updated Campus Master Plan. In addition, renovations to the Convocation Center and the PE Building should be incorporated into master planning activities to include an academic/study skills center.  A decision to add Football would require the planning and construction of a new Outdoor Athletics Complex.  Even without the decision to add Football, an Outdoor Athletics Complex would provide facilities for Baseball, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Track while vacating valuable space in the campus academic core.
   
2. Facilities projects should be prioritized and integrated into Athletics strategic planning. Considerations should include year round training, Title IX compliance, ADA guidelines, fan amenities as well as University and community multi-use capabilities. 
   
3. Where appropriate, facilities planning should give careful attention to revenue-producing capabilities in each facility e.g. ticketing, priority seating, concessions and sponsorship signage. Institutional funding sources and private donors should be identified as well.
   
4. UTSA should continue to seek appropriate opportunities to join with the City or County for further improvements to its Athletics facilities.