If anyone has attended a UTSA football game at the Alamodome, they have most likely noticed the hordes of fans that begin to form two lines outside the exit doors after the game. One line is used for VIA buses traveling directly to UTSA’s Main Campus and the other line is for the VIA buses traveling to Crossroads Mall.

Since the first football game of the season, VIA has offered discounted rates for UTSA students who wish to travel by bus to the Alamodome.

For $1.25 each way, ($2.50 roundtrip) students can park at either the UTSA main campus or at Crossroads Mall and the buses drop off students by the main entrance of the Alamodome. Students must show their UTSA ID when purchasing their special event tokens and can also purchase tokens for their friends and family at a rate of $2.50 each way.

Aside from the two main park-and-ride lines servicing UTSA and Crossroads Mall, Madla Transit Center on Cantrell Street also offers transportation to the Alamodome. The Yellow Streetcar line that provides regular service between the Downtown UTSA Campus and the Alamodome can also be used to attend the game. Students can receive a discounted rate of .55 when they show their student ID, as opposed to the normal rate of $1.10.

Although parking is available at the Alamodome and in surrounding parking lots, parking rates vary from $10 to $20 per vehicle. Riding VIA saves fans from the hassle of driving through downtown traffic as well as from the cost of parking and gas. The convenience of the VIA transportation service has also been keeping students who live on campus safe when they consume alcohol during the football game.

VIA bus transportation to the Alamodome is typically meant for fans attending the game, and for those fans, the excitement of the game begins once they get on the bus.

“The atmosphere is great, there are lots of people who are going to the game and it’s great to see so much support for UTSA,” reflected UTSA football fan and chemistry major Evin Eiteljorge. “Each time I’ve taken the bus, people are always revved up for the game. Both times the entire bus would sporadically chant ‘U-T-S-A’ as we drove down I-10.”

The only complaint that Eiteljorge has about VIA transportation is that the lines to get into the bus after the game are under the sun.

“I don’t mind the lines, but maybe a tarp or something to prevent the sunshine,” Eiteljorge said.

Special event tokens for VIA can be purchased at the Roadrunner Express store on UTSA’s Main Campus in the UC building (next to Rios Golden Cut), at the Crossroads Mall park-and-ride lot or at VIA information centers. All VIA buses departing from the UTSA Main Campus and Crossroads Mall begin service three hours before kickoff and the last returning bus leaves 45 minutes after the end of the game.