Alamodome out of the 2005 postseason picture

[traider2000]

Football: Alamodome out of the 2005 postseason picture

Web Posted: 11/04/2005 12:00 AM CST

Dan McCarney
Express-News Staff Writer

For the first time since 1996, the Alamodome will not host any high school football playoff games.

The popular venue has been rendered off limits by the relocation of the New Orleans Saints and the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championships on Dec. 15-17.

Though the Saints do not play at the Alamodome again until Dec. 24, they've turned the stadium into their de facto headquarters since being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Alamodome operations manager Jim Mery said the decision was a matter of necessity rather than a specific request from the Saints.

"A big part of what we do each year is the high school football playoffs, and we regret we won't be able to host any games this year," he said. "But with the Saints using the Alamodome, there is just no room."

The situation opens the door for such sites as the San Antonio School District's Alamo Stadium, which was the city's main neutral venue before the Alamodome began hosting games in large numbers.

"It's a great thing for us," SASD athletic director Gil Garza said. "There's something to be said for playing football outside. We have a lot of tradition and history."

Austin Westlake beat Churchill 49-23 in front of nearly 17,000 in the Alamodome's first playoff game Dec. 7, 1996.

The venue has hosted 69 postseason games since then, including seven state championships.

Five of those title games did not involve San Antonio area teams, a sign of the Alamodome's growing popularity throughout the state.

The primary attraction is the opportunity to play crucial games in a controlled environment. The venue has been a boon to area coaches, who use it to lure opponents to San Antonio rather than play games on the road.

"I'm very disappointed there won't be any games at the dome," Madison coach Jim Streety said. "But I wouldn't hold anything against the Saints. Their circumstances were pretty critical."

[Rerun]

Damnit To Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bullrock]

The "aints" are not going to play in SA after December this year. Why give them our playground. The dome has put SA on the map when it comes to high school football. Go COWBOYS!.

[ktchamp97]

The Alamodome is easily my favorite playoff venue...that's too bad.

[jrdaniel]

Well Alamo Stadium is better anyway. How is the Astrodome doing post hurricane shelter? Does SA's announcement coupled with the Astrodome being used that way mean there are no playoff games in a dome this year? I hope so!

[garlandowl08]

A while ago (a long time ago actually) there was some press release about no more football at the Astrodome until 2006...not sure if this is or ever was true.

[SVite]

The "aints" are not going to play in SA after December this year. Why give them our playground. The dome has put SA on the map when it comes to high school football. Go COWBOYS!.


Right!The saints would have to win a superbowl,just to get the temporary Cowboy fans to jump off the cowboys bandwagon.As for me.. never!I like the Alamodome ,especially when it`s cold, windy,and raining.But,my wallet breathes a sigh of relief!

[sendero]

If I was Baylor I would petition to Fox now to host the DI and DII Championship games. TV crews could stay in place to broadcast both games.

[Alamo_Mojo]

The 3 game triple header was always fun at the dome! I guess I will be drivng around the city from one location to another this year. I thought we had a tradition going here at the DOME!

[stangsfan]

A while ago (a long time ago actually) there was some press release about no more football at the Astrodome until 2006...not sure if this is or ever was true.

I think that was when it was being used as a residence hall for New Orleans.
Either way, it's not a good venue anymore as has been discussed many times here.

[JC73]

This really stinks, the dome has become a playoff tradition. :mad:

[PaulinPlano]

If I was Baylor I would petition to Fox now to host the DI and DII Championship games. TV crews could stay in place to broadcast both games.

I agree. Waco is a great location in the state. I don't think they will be able to play too many games due to the fact that the field is grass. Maybe for a big playoff game or the Championship games.

Floyd Casey Stadium renovations include:

1) A 23-by-31-foot LED video screen :eek:
2) addition of a state-of-the-art sound system
3) new digital scoreboards in both end zones
4) Baylor's locker room got a $ 2 million face lift in 2001.

[lonny23]

I need to move back to San Antonio. Look what happens when I'm not around.

The Spurs win a title in 1999 while I'm in Korea, 2003 while I'm deployed to Afghanistan, and 2005 after I move.

Judson fell apart after I left, but had a revival while I was there.

The best playoff stadium says they won't host any games. I say don't buy any vehicles from Benson and see if the Saints let the Alamodome host games. BOYCOTT BENSON!

I loved the tripleheaders and the good weather. I didn't like paying for parking, but sure saw a lot of good games at the dome. Dude, you can't top heading to the dome at noon and staying until almost midnight! :D

[ruffshod]

Well Alamo Stadium is better anyway. How is the Astrodome doing post hurricane shelter? Does SA's announcement coupled with the Astrodome being used that way mean there are no playoff games in a dome this year? I hope so!


the Astrodome hasn't been used even before the hurricanes. It's just to rundown and the sightlines are awful for football. It was an exciting place for the players at one time, but the prices and theconditions suck for the fans.

[lonny23]

the Astrodome hasn't been used even before the hurricanes. It's just to rundown and the sightlines are awful for football. It was an exciting place for the players at one time, but the prices and theconditions suck for the fans.
Yeah, the sightlines are bad. It was showing wear the last time I went in 1992 and it has to be a lot worse now.

[ruffshod]

It's a dungeon right now. Even before the evacuees blew in. I hadn't liked watching games there since I was in school. There are plenty of venues in Houston area to host games, weather notwithstanding for the casual fans.

[SVite]

It's a dungeon right now. Even before the evacuees blew in. I hadn't liked watching games there since I was in school. There are plenty of venues in Houston area to host games, weather notwithstanding for the casual fans.


Yeah,like Rice staduim.We played there in the semi 2002.

[caesarscott]

I agree. Waco is a great location in the state. I don't think they will be able to play too many games due to the fact that the field is grass. Maybe for a big playoff game or the Championship games.

Floyd Casey Stadium renovations include:

1) A 23-by-31-foot LED video screen :eek:
2) addition of a state-of-the-art sound system
3) new digital scoreboards in both end zones
4) Baylor's locker room got a $ 2 million face lift in 2001.
are you saying you think the field at FCS is still grass? becaue it's not. they installed the grassy astroturf last year. they hosted 5 or 6 playoff games last year

[lonny23]

Yeah,like Rice staduim.We played there in the semi 2002.
I thought you played that game against Katy in San Marcos.

[GoRangers]

I thought you played that game against Katy in San Marcos.

I believe it was 2001, the last year SV was 4A, that they played at Rice Stadium vs Port Neches Groves.

[lonny23]

I believe it was 2001, the last year SV was 4A, that they played at Rice Stadium vs Port Neches Groves.
You need Rice Stadium when you play PNG! :D

[SVite]

I believe it was 2001, the last year SV was 4A, that they played at Rice Stadium vs Port Neches Groves.

01-02 (years are flying by) school year.Your right it was the first half of the year-2001.SV(4A) (14-0) vs Nederland Bulldogs.Misty,fog,and cold (lots of coffee sold).I was there,it was worth it.Sv 38 Nederland 14.SV rushed for 318yds (138 by Clint Haney)530 total yards.The next week we lost the state championship in Waco, in triple overtime,to Denton Ryan.There was a heavy downpour for most of the game.Most exciting h.s. game i ever witnessed.In my opinion the best football team SV has ever had.

[Alamo_Mojo]

......said on one board and I'll say again here!!!

Why are they SHUTTING the door on the people that helped buid it? Your going to sacrafice 5-6 weeks of rich San Antonio tradition for 1 game played in the Alamodome on Christmas EVE?

Texas Stadium venue is the same if not more for the BUCK$$$ when the Cowboys play such as: tickets, parking, and concessions. If "Capital" is the purpose then open it up for both VENUES - High School Football and Professional Football! Wouldn't that make sense?

Highschool tickets, parking, and concessions would just be icing on the cake if the DOME was looking at this from a profit stand point! Not to mention the people from out of town booking hotels, eating out, and shopping during this Holiday season!

IF the Cowboys can open up their Home field don't you think the Visiting Saints can sacrifice a 5 or 6 Saturday's for only one game their going play in the dome!!! I'm sure the Saints will have a couple ROAD games during the months of November and December where the Dome won't be in use!

[lonny23]

......said on one board and I'll say again here!!!

Why are they SHUTTING the door on the people that helped buid it? Your going to sacrafice 5-6 weeks of rich San Antonio tradition for 1 game played in the Alamodome on Christmas EVE?

Texas Stadium venue is the same if not more for the BUCK$$$ when the Cowboys play such as: tickets, parking, and concessions. If "Capital" is the purpose then open it up for both VENUES - High School Football and Professional Football! Wouldn't that make sense?

Highschool tickets, parking, and concessions would just be icing on the cake if the DOME was looking at this from a profit stand point! Not to mention the people from out of town booking hotels, eating out, and shopping during this Holiday season!

IF the Cowboys can open up their Home field don't you think the Visiting Saints can sacrifice a 5 or 6 Saturday's for only one game their going play in the dome!!! I'm sure the Saints will have a couple ROAD games during the months of November and December where the Dome won't be in use!
San Antonio stinks as a town, always has, and always will. There are a few people in town that realize it has and probably always will be a 2nd class town. They don't have vision, leadership, or planning because they're happy being who they are and that's probably the #5 town in Texas after Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Fort Worth! I used to get so mad because SA was bragging about something of their's and I knew it wasn't top-notch. Look no further than the SBC Center. It's supposed to be this great top-of-the-line arena and you can't read anything in the upper deck because they don't have any lights. The Alamodome is so cheap they don't open the gates until the last minute to not pay the workers.

[jrdaniel]

Dude, you aren't supposed to be reading during Spurs' games. Maybe your team was getting blown out by SA when you were there and you felt the need to read some Harlequin novels. There aren't any lights in the upper decks to make the view of the court better - the same way pilots don't have white light inside the cockpit.

[Haysrebels#1]

san antonio is okay.i know that used to in the late 90's they played 4A tital games there (alamodome)

[jrdaniel]

San Antonio stinks as a town, always has, and always will. There are a few people in town that realize it has and probably always will be a 2nd class town. They don't have vision, leadership, or planning because they're happy being who they are and that's probably the #5 town in Texas after Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Fort Worth! I used to get so mad because SA was bragging about something of their's and I knew it wasn't top-notch.

If we are talking about the cities you mentioned and not the suburbs surrounding them then yes Austin is probably tops, but I wouldn't want to live IN Houston, Dallas or Fort Worth. If you are comparing greater metropolitan areas, which I assume you are, then you must realize that most people live in the burbs and those outside San Antonio are equal to those outside Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

[slcdragons]

Could Reliant host a state title game? I've heard nothing but good things about that stadium. Plus I'll get to go to my favorite hamburger/steak joint in the world: Bill's cafe in Kingwood!!! Nothing is close to a Bill Burger or a Bill T-Bone Steak--they are scary good!!!!!! :D

[rellufnalla]

Katy enjoyed the season opener against the Woodlands at Reliant. It was top shelf in terms of venue.

But, San Antonio has a better total package with the Riverwalk and hotels at the door of the Alamodome. It makes for a fun weekend - win or lose. A weekend where I don't mind dropping a wad of cash.

[LoneRocket]

The "aints" are not going to play in SA after December this year. Why give them our playground. The dome has put SA on the map when it comes to high school football. Go COWBOYS!.
The leaders of the city of SA make another questionable decision I wonder how much money they are going to lose this time and how many people are going to be put out of work during the playoffs because of the Saints.