Food, Festivities and Fun Await Valero Alamo Bowl Visitors
From 100,000 lights along the iconic River Walk, to festive markets at The Historic Pearl, San Antonio sparkles during the holidays. At the heart is the Valero Alamo Bowl, which takes center stage as one of America’s most prestigious bowl games.
On the field, consistent blockbuster matchups and electric finishes already make the Valero Alamo Bowl a can’t-miss event. With San Antonio as the backdrop, fans thinking about attending the Valero Alamo Bowl have an easy decision to make.
San Antonio has established itself as a world-class city. UNESCO recognizes San Antonio as one of only two Creative Cities of Gastronomy in the United States for its “culinary legacy as a confluence of cultures.” San Antonio is also home to the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas, as the San Antonio Missions (including the Alamo) showcase the influence that Spanish Colonialism had on North America.
Visitors during bowl season should understand that San Antonio provides one of the most compact and walkable downtowns in the country. This is highlighted by the River Walk, a 15-mile stretch of the San Antonio River lined with restaurants, bars, hotels and theaters that welcomes the 39 million tourists who visit San Antonio every year. Major attractions are so close to the Alamodome that several teams throughout the years have walked to the game.
With nearly 300 days of sunshine throughout the year and an average December temperature of 64 degrees, a visit to San Antonio serves as the perfect winter escape. Attendees to the Valero Alamo Bowl can enjoy an array of holiday activities for couples or friends and families. Here are just a few bucket-list activities you’ll want to check out throughout Valero Alamo Bowl week:
Team Day at SeaWorld San Antonio, December 25 – Both teams will enjoy San Antonio’s beloved animal theme park which boasts the largest holiday light display in Texas. Select players will interact with animals or ride the Texas Stingray, the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the state of Texas, with speeds of up to 55 miles per hour and a 100 foot drop. Fans are encouraged to enjoy a day in the park with special SeaWorld San Antonio offers during Bowl Week. Holiday hours are 1-9 p.m.
Ricos River Rally, December 26, 5 pm – With the River Walk as the setting, this free event is college football’s most unique pep rally. While the head coaches, team captains and cheerleaders revel in a spirited pep rally at the Arneson River Theatre along the River Walk, the school bands and the rest of the players excite the crowd by making a grand entrance on river cruisers.
Kickoff Luncheon Presented by USAA, December 27, 11:30 am – Emceed by ESPN’s broadcast crew, the Kickoff Luncheon Presented by USAA lets fans experience the anticipation and festive atmosphere that surrounds the Valero Alamo Bowl game. Fans are treated to firsthand insights from the head coaches and the team captains of each school, and can feel and hear the excitement surging in the pageantry from the cheerleaders and band
Bowl Pub Crawl Presented by Mad Dogs Restaurant Group, December 27, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm – San Antonio’s famed River Walk makes this annual Pub Crawl a can’t-miss pregame tradition for any football fan. The party starts at the Little Rein Prost Haus and includes five stops along the River Walk, adorned with more than 100,000 Christmas lights. It finishes with several lucky crawlers getting a ride in a river cruiser with the Valero Alamo Bowl trophy. A portion of each wristband sold will benefit the Valero Alamo Bowl scholarship programs.
Tailgate Town presented by Kiolbassa Smoked Meats, December 28, 9:00 am – Game Day “kicks off” in fine Texas style with extreme tailgating in the Alamodome parking lot. For those without their own tailgate slot or those who just want to sample delicious sausages, samplings will be available on site in Tailgate Town courtesy of Kiolbassa Smoked Meats, a San Antonio institution.
Fan Zone, December 28, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm – As the official gathering place before the big game, Fan Zone, located one block north of the Alamodome, welcomes more than 10,000 fans, alumni groups, and university bands in an exciting free event that features food and drink booths, interactive exhibits, and music and contests on the Bud Light Stage. You also won’t want to miss the new Ace Academy presented by USAA, a virtual reality flight simulator that puts you in the seat of a F/A-18 Hornet combat aircraft. Lines will form, so be sure to arrive early to test your skills as a fighter pilot!
Brake Check Pregame Pit Stop, December 28, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Located one block north of the Alamodome’s main entrance at The Espee, this VIP pregame features all-you-can-eat food stations, an open bar, and access to indoor or outdoor seating.
Make your Valero Alamo Bowl experience truly memorable with unique ticket packages.
From single game tickets, premium packages, group tickets, one-of-kind experiences like post-game field passes and more, there are several exciting fan-friendly ticket options from which to select. Celebrate the excitement and pageantry of one of America’s premier college football bowl games in one of America’s finest cities.